Chapter 11.1

Aunt Wang, who had just walked out of the door, stopped in her tracks and stood awkwardly in place.

After all, when you think of it, Lin Meiru also sold vegetables in the market, and the partnership with Jiang Rou meant she was taking advantage of Jiang Rou.

Jiang Rou, on the other hand, showed no fear at all. She stood at the entrance of the courtyard and observed the person with a flushed face and a thick neck in front of her. After a while, Jiang Rou said calmly, “This is how it is. We ran out of money at home, so I decided to work with Aunt Wang for a small business.”

“A small business?”

As soon as Lin Meiru heard these words, she exploded: “Take a look at the situation in the market. How many people are buying it? Who knows how much money you earn in a day! This is such a good opportunity; why did you find an outsider? Is it easy for me to sell it? Their family sells meat; they already earn a lot of money, and yet you still dare to give them more money. It’s like feeding a tiger while pulling its tail, being taken advantage of without even realizing it.”

She was so angry that she directly scolded her, feeling that her daughter-in-law was both foolish and malicious.

Earning money through honest business, yet not considering her own family—giving preferential treatment to others?

She works tirelessly every day, picking and selling vegetables, earning just enough money for the whole family to eat and drink.

Did this foolish woman not realize how envious she was every day, seeing the thriving business of the Wang family?

Being informed that this was her daughter-in-law’s business broke her heart.

“Hey, your words are too harsh. What do you mean by being taken advantage of? When did I take advantage of Xiao Rou?”

Aunt Wang couldn’t help but be unhappy as she listened to Lin Meiru’s words. She couldn’t help interrupting, “The business between me and Xiao Rou is clear. We have proper accounts. Don’t falsely accuse people.”

Lin Meiru was in a fit of anger. Upon hearing these words, she became even more furious. She was sure that the Wang family had said something to make her daughter-in-law turn away from her. She couldn’t help but shout at her, “I’m not talking to you.”

Then she pointed at Jiang Rou and cursed, “You little white-eyed wolf! My son is really unlucky for letting you marry into our family. I even used to bring you vegetables often, but you’ve really shown your true colors. If you don’t give me this business, spit out the food you’ve eaten.”

The more she spoke, the angrier she became. Her eyes turned red, and she took two steps forward, looking like she wanted to tear Jiang Rou apart.

Jiang Rou looked at her speechlessly, feeling that she was too unreasonable. She had the urge to wake her up, so she interrupted, “Why did I choose to work with Aunt Wang? Haven’t you figured it out? Li Xiao isn’t at home, and I’ve been pregnant for so long. Have you ever come to take care of me for a day? I’ve wanted to ask for a long time, who is your real son, Li Xiao, or He Wenhua? When He Wenhua comes home, you would buy meat and fish for him to eat, but what about Li Xiao? When he comes home, you don’t even show up. 

A few days ago, I took a piece of meat from your basket, and you acted like I had taken flesh from your own body. If someone didn’t know your relationship, they would think you’re not his real mother.

Even if I cooperate with you, the money earned will end up in the pockets of that father and son. Will there be a share for me and Li Xiao? You said I’m being deceived? That I am a white-eyed wolf? But I think you’re treating me like a fool. At least, working with Aunt Wang has lower costs. What about you? Whether I have a share in this business in the end is still uncertain.

If you’re willing to be a servant to that father and son, that’s your business. Don’t think about sucking our blood—mine and Li Xiao’s.”

Jiang Rou touched her belly and spoke one sentence after another without taking a breath, pushing Lin Meiru back.

After all, she had been arguing with her brother from childhood to adulthood. In childhood, it was physical fights, and as they grew up, it turned into verbal sparring. She had mastered the art of arguing.

“You…”

Lin Meiru couldn’t find words to refute for a moment. Her face turned alternately green and white. After a long while, she squeezed out a sentence: “Is what you’re saying even human language? Where have I not treated him like my son? Didn’t I give him meat?!”

Early in the morning, people around who hadn’t gone to work yet heard the commotion and came out to watch. There were even a few children holding their bowls.

Seeing more people coming out, Jiang Rou raised her voice: “You treat Li Xiao like a real son? Fine, today I’ll settle the score with you right here!”

“From childhood to adulthood, have you ever taken care of him? When others said Li Xiao wasn’t studying well and played with bad kids since childhood, did he hang out with delinquents from birth? Other parents, when their children go astray, at least know to use a stick to straighten them out. What about you? You joined in saying he was bad from childhood. Let me ask you, after Li Xiao’s father died, how many times did you make breakfast for him? How many times did you give him an umbrella on rainy days? What were his grades in school? Who was his homeroom teacher? In which class did he study?”

Li Xiao had a bad reputation, and he was used to it, but Jiang Rou didn’t want to live with her child and faced judgment every time they went out. She didn’t want her child to endure gossip when growing up, either. If the child was bullied, people would say it was natural.

As for Lin Meiru, since she could do such things, was she afraid of what others might say?

Lin Meiru, who was facing her, blushed and couldn’t answer a single question. In the end, she spoke loudly with a lack of confidence, “Stop bringing up this nonsense with me. Clearly, you’re the one selling pig intestines.”

Jiang Rou sneered, not giving her a chance to dodge the question, and said directly, “You don’t know, do you? Let me tell you. Once, he had nothing to eat in the mornings during junior high, to the point of developing a mild stomach problem. Despite that, he consistently ranked in the top five in school. He entered the Ninth Middle School with the highest score in the high school entrance exam. His junior high school homeroom teacher was Liang Meili, and in high school, he was in Class Three with Wang Ying as the homeroom teacher.

You know nothing. You only care about He Wenhua. You worry about him being hungry, cold, or thin. When Li Xiao, who repeated three years, dropped out unfairly, you didn’t even bother going to the school to take a look.

Which mother is like you? When Wang Shen’s daughter was in her senior year, Wang Shen went to the school every day to deliver meals, not missing a single one even on rainy days. Even after her daughter got into college, she never thought of resting, only focusing on earning money for her daughter’s dowry. What about you? What have you done? “

I don’t know about others, but I know that when Li Xiao became a delinquent in the eyes of others, you bore a great responsibility for that. When he was a child, you didn’t care for him. When he was bullied later, not only did you not help him, but you stood by and cheered on the bullies, finding a man who was worse than your previous one. Have you forgotten? When you were beaten by that man, who supported you and brought you back to the village? Was it He Wenhua? Was it your current man? No, it was thirteen-year-old Li Xiao.”

When he treated you like a mother, did you ever treat him like a son? ”

These words were something Jiang Rou wanted to say when she read Li Xiao’s profile in her previous life. 

Li Xiao’s father died early, and if Lin Meiru hadn’t found a bad person to be with and lived a good life with Li Xiao, everything might have been different.

Lin Meiru would have cared a bit more about Li Xiao, making some effort to take care of her granddaughter when Li Xiao went south. It might have prevented her granddaughter from being bullied in school if she had noticed early on and told Li Xiao. That warm-smiling little girl might still be alive, and Li Xiao wouldn’t have ended up like this.

Looking at Jiang Rou’s imposing manner, Lin Meiru couldn’t lift her head. She didn’t want to acknowledge anything her daughter-in-law said, but when she opened her mouth, she found she couldn’t say a word.

Seeing the gazes around her, she felt as if she had been stripped naked, her face blushing with embarrassment.

She was so confident just now, and now she felt extremely awkward.

Unfortunately, Aunt Wang couldn’t help but interject and shouted loudly to the others, “Indeed, raising a child is a delicate job. It’s not just about giving him food and clothing. You have to care for him and discipline him. When my daughter didn’t listen when she was young, her father and I didn’t hesitate to discipline her. After a while, she learned to behave. Once she started school, we began focusing on her grades. I’m not bragging, but my daughter got into college, and half of that is thanks to her father and me.”

Li Xiao is also a pitiful child. That child is really smart. If he had studied well, he would have gotten into college a long time ago.”

People who were watching from afar heard this and nodded in agreement. Some joined in and said, “That’s right. When my son was in third grade, he spent some time with troublemakers. I carried a stick every day to look for him, and now he ranks in the top ten in every exam.”

“That’s true. Didn’t the ancients say, ‘If you don’t teach your child, it’s the father’s fault’? Li Xiao had no father, and Lin Meiru didn’t care. It’s not surprising he turned out crooked. Fortunately, that child has improved a lot now and even goes out to earn money for the family. He’s not too bad. Maybe he’s just young and doesn’t understand. If someone had guided him when he was younger, he would be a good child.”

Someone else expressed dissatisfaction with Lin Meiru, saying, “Your daughter-in-law is pregnant, and you come here to make trouble for her. Suppose you won’t help the young couple, fine. Li Xiao is now working outside, and instead of supporting him, you take the opportunity to come and bully people. Are you even human?”

“That’s right. I’ve wanted to say this before. You don’t want your own son and instead become a stepmother to someone else’s child. Are you so desperate for a man? You didn’t care before, and now that the young couple is living well, you come to interfere. I really don’t know what to say about you. Can’t you stand seeing your son doing well?”

“You’re their elder; you’re still doing this; how can you not be ashamed of yourself? Your son’s wife is much more clear-headed than you.”

Lin Meiru was somewhat incredulous. How could the old neighbors, who used to be very sympathetic to her, suddenly change after hearing a few words from Jiang Rou?

In the past, whenever she talked about how Li Xiao’s father abused her and criticized Li Xiao for being unruly, they would comfort her and tell her to be open-minded. But now, they were all blaming her.

But she hadn’t done anything wrong.

How could they blame her for Li Xiao’s bad behavior? Clearly, he took after his father.

She admits that she was a bit biased towards He Wenhua, but that was also because her stepson was sensible, remembered her kindness, and knew how to be grateful.

So what if Li Xiao is her biological son? In the future, when she gets old, she can only rely on her stepson.

Lin Meiru felt more and more aggrieved as she thought about it. She felt that these people didn’t look at the bigger picture. These people were just enjoying the show without knowing what she had been through. Finally, with red eyes, she angrily said to Jiang Rou, “Fine, I can’t argue with you. I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll pretend you’re not my daughter-in-law.”

Jiang Rou hugged her stomach and said it calmly. “Suit yourself.” 

“…”

Lin Meiru gave her a resentful glance and then walked quickly with a gloomy expression.