Gu Jinfeng was fuming!  

She shot a glare at her mother, then guiltily glanced at her daughter-in-law who had followed her over, before turning her gaze back to her mother: Oh, you sly old woman, playing tricks on me, huh? You’re determined to make my life difficult, is that it?

“Fine, fine, fine!!!”  

Chi Yue watched the mother and daughter locked in their staring match and decided to pour more fuel on the fire. Standing at the door, she innocently asked Gu Jinfeng, “Mom, do you have anything to pass down to me too?”  

Gu Jinfeng immediately stamped her foot. “Wait here!”  

With that, she clomped back to the Lin family home.  

Zhong Meixian watched her daughter stomp away and scoffed, “What could she possibly offer?”  

Wen Tang and Chi Yue were also curious.  

Soon, Gu Jinfeng came clomping back. She shoved a stack of bills into Chi Yue’s hand. “Take it, daughter-in-law. Your mom doesn’t have any silver bracelets to pass down as a dowry,” she said, shooting a pointed look at Zhong Meixian.  

Zhong Meixian guiltily averted her eyes.  

After all, she was Gu Jinfeng’s mother. Not having a silver bracelet to give was a failure on her part as a mother, so of course she felt guilty.  

But soon, Zhong Meixian’s guilt vanished. Back then, everyone was so poor they could barely put food on the table—it wasn’t just her family. Besides, she hadn’t sent Gu Jinfeng off empty-handed. There was no reason for her to bring it up now.  

Thinking this, Zhong Meixian lifted her chin defiantly.  

But she quickly lowered it again—because she was furious.  

Gu Jinfeng had actually given Chi Yue fifty yuan.  

Gu Jinfeng handed all the money to Chi Yue and said, “This is fifty yuan in total. It’s all yours. Buy whatever you want—a silver bracelet, a silver necklace, whatever you like.”  

“Isn’t that better than some outdated old bracelet nobody wants?”  

Zhong Meixian couldn’t let that slide. “Who are you calling an outdated old bracelet?” she demanded, hands on her hips.  

Gu Jinfeng wasn’t about to back down either. Originally, since the Gu family had no sons, she had been prepared to stay and take in a son-in-law, which had made her feisty by nature.  

Now, she immediately mirrored her mother’s stance, hands on her hips. “Whoever responds is who I’m talking about.”  

“What’s the matter? Too stingy to fork out money but still want to act like a big shot?”  

Zhong Meixian: “…You—you—!” She pointed at Gu Jinfeng from a distance, but in the end, she just turned around and stormed back into her room.  

Soon, Wen Tang was also holding fifty yuan. “Tch, fifty yuan. Who do you think you are, some big spender?”  

“Like you’re the only one who has it.”  

“Daughter-in-law, keep the money safe, and wear the bracelet too. Let certain people seethe with envy,” Zhong Meixian said, lifting her chin proudly.  

Wen Tang was sweet-tongued. “Thank you, Mom!”  

“Mom, you’re the best!”  

Zhong Meixian’s chin lifted even higher.  

As for Gu Jinfeng? She was livid!  

She clutched her forehead, feeling all the blood rush to her head. Her mind buzzed so loudly she couldn’t think straight, consumed by one thought: If I can’t have the bun, I’ll at least have the dignity.

Her mother’s behavior was just too infuriating. She couldn’t let her get away with it.  

And so, Gu Jinfeng ran back home again.  

Soon, Chi Yue was holding another fifty yuan.  

This time, Gu Jinfeng didn’t have any sharp remarks left.  

She couldn’t muster them. Even if she’d won this battle of pride, it would take her at least ten days to half a month to recover from the anger.  

A hundred yuan—just a few days ago, the betrothal gift had only been a hundred and twenty yuan!  

Now she’d given away a hundred in one go, leaving the family’s savings nearly depleted. Gu Jinfeng couldn’t even bring herself to make any cutting remarks—she was afraid that if she opened her mouth, she’d just start wailing.  

Gu Jinfeng couldn’t speak, but Chi Yue could. She quickly counted the money. “Another fifty yuan. Mom, you’re too good to me.”  

“Marrying into the Lin family was the best decision I ever made.”  

Wen Tang, meanwhile, looked pitifully at Zhong Meixian, who was also silent, and whimpered, “Mom…”  

The silent old woman immediately turned and went back into her room.

Wen Tang and Chi Yue exchanged a secret glance, their beautiful eyes brimming with barely concealed amusement. Wen Tang knew her fifty yuan was also guaranteed.  

Sure enough, Zhong Meixian soon returned and slipped a few bills into Wen Tang’s hand.  

After Gu Jinfeng had handed over that last fifty, the room had fallen silent. But Zhong Meixian, after giving her share, still managed to shoot her daughter a challenging look and let out a disdainful “Hmph!”—her contempt couldn’t have been clearer.  

If she hadn’t hmphed, Gu Jinfeng might have held back. But now, she couldn’t take it anymore.  

Her chest heaved violently before she suddenly shouted, “You old hag, are you deliberately trying to make my life difficult?”

The moment she spoke, Zhong Meixian immediately squared her shoulders, her displeasure evident. “Who’s making your life difficult?”

“Who’s making your life difficult?” Zhong Meixian repeated, even bumping her chest against her daughter’s as she spoke.  

Wen Tang and Chi Yue exchanged another glance. They couldn’t just stand by—they’d only wanted to pocket a little extra money, not start a full-blown mother-daughter brawl!  

Wen Tang rushed to pull Zhong Meixian back, while Chi Yue grabbed Gu Jinfeng.  

Both called out, “Mom!”

Wen Tang said, “Mom, don’t be angry. If you’re upset about the money, I don’t need it. I’ll give it back—just don’t fight.”

Her words immediately put Zhong Meixian on the spot.  

Chi Yue chimed in, “Yeah, Mom, your kindness means more than money. We’re family now—what’s yours is mine. I’ll return the money.”

Zhong Meixian’s lips twitched before she declared, “No. What’s given is given. No take-backs.”

Gu Jinfeng also insisted, “Don’t worry, I can afford this much. Keep it.”

But the moment Gu Jinfeng said that, it looked like the two were about to clash again.  

Wen Tang quickly intervened, sweetly clinging to Zhong Meixian’s arm. “Mom, if you’re really giving this to me, then you can’t keep arguing with Auntie.”

Chi Yue tilted her head and asked Gu Jinfeng, “Right, Mom? You wouldn’t fight with Grandma over money, would you?”

At that, both Zhong Meixian and Gu Jinfeng pressed their lips together, their cheeks trembling slightly before they silently turned and stalked off to their respective rooms.  

They had nothing left to say—Wen Tang’s words had boxed them in from the start.  

If they kept arguing now, it would mean they hadn’t really wanted to give the money—that they’d only done it out of spite and actually regretted it.  

And if they regretted it, didn’t that just make them stingy?  

Who would admit to being stingy now?  

So they could only swallow their anger in silence.  

Wen Tang and Chi Yue each hurried after their mothers-in-law.  

Wen Tang asked Zhong Meixian, “Mom, where are you going?”

Zhong Meixian waved her off. “Going to rest. You go do your own thing.”

Chi Yue caught up to Gu Jinfeng, who gave the same response.  

So the two daughters-in-law didn’t follow.  

The fathers—Father Gu and Father Lin—seemed used to this kind of scene. Without even sighing, they shouldered their hoes and headed out to the fields, only pausing to tell Gu Yanli and Lin Jingshen they were leaving.  

Gu Yanli and Lin Jingshen also appeared unfazed.  

Gu Yanli went to the kitchen to wash dishes, while Lin Jingshen returned to their room to fetch the bedsheets Chi Yue had changed out earlier, then started washing them.  

Left alone in the main room, Wen Tang and Chi Yue sat down to count their money.  

Wen Tang remarked, “You have to admit, these two mothers-in-law are kind of adorable.” 

Chi Yue nodded with a smile.  

“If it weren’t for the female lead and her sister, we really would’ve married into good families,” Wen Tang added.  

Chi Yue kept nodding, still smiling.  

“So… should we just stay like this?” Chi Yue suggested.