Chapter 4: Going Back to My Parents’ Home to Retrieve My Dowry

Shen Chunfen’s face was ashen. “She even hit me! She dares to hit her mother-in-law; what won’t she do? Our family has been dragged down by her all these years.”

Shen Yuchu simply stared at Shen Chunfen, watching her badmouth her in front of Lin Xuan.

Her calm face betrayed no emotion.

It was the late 1980s. Some families already had telephones, like the Lin family.

The phone rang. Shen Chunfen answered; it was her father-in-law.

Shen Chunfen knew it was a call from the director of the cannery, the Wu family. Lin Hui had fallen ill, was receiving an IV, and their child was also sick.

The blame was entirely placed on Shen Yuchu. From the tone of Mrs. Wu, the factory director’s wife, Shen Chunfen was expected to pay for Lin Hui and the child’s medical expenses.

At the mention of money, Shen Chunfen immediately apologized to Mrs. Wu and showered her with compliments.

She had little money, earning a small amount selling vegetables from her garden, vegetables that Lin Hui often pilfered.

Now, Shen Yuchu had thrown river water on Lin Hui, causing her illness and the child’s sickness.

After hanging up, Shen Chunfen turned to Shen Yuchu. “You troublemaker! Your older sister is sick, and it’s all your fault. You threw river water on her, causing her hospitalization and IV treatment. You pay for it!”

Shen Yuchu replied, “Mom, isn’t all our family’s money with you, including my brother’s allowance? I haven’t seen a cent.”

Lin Xuan turned to Shen Yuchu, “You… said…”

Shen Chunfen rushed over and grabbed her son’s arm. “Son, don’t listen to her. She’s always been like this. Since marrying into our family, she’s been discontent, disrespectful to her in-laws, and constantly stirring up trouble – a real troublemaker!”

Shen Yuchu knew the original owner had lived a life of grievance and resentment.

Now, she was being unjustly blamed by her biased mother-in-law.

Shen Yuchu said to Lin Xuan, “Whatever your mother says is true? You’re still a mama’s boy!”

Lin Xuan’s dark eyebrows furrowed. He pointed inside, “Go back to your room!”

“I won’t!”

Lin Xuan insisted, “I told you to go back to your room.”

“Why should I? I want you to go back to your room! You come back after three years of marriage? Go to the village committee, get the paperwork, and I’ll divorce you!”

Shen Chunfen pointed at Shen Yuchu. “You said it yourself! My son will definitely find someone better than you. He’s handsome, tall, a military officer – he’ll find someone better, a city girl. Look at yourself!”

“Shen Yuchu, besides your face, what do you have? No height, no education, no strength. What makes you worthy of my son?”

Shen Yuchu scoffed, “Shen Chunfen, are you crazy? Back in the haystack, if your son hadn’t begged me to marry him, clinging to me… tearing my clothes and getting people to watch me, ruining my reputation… would I have married him?”

Lin Xuan’s cold eyes flickered, his lips trembling slightly. “No, you… Shen Yuchu…” Wasn’t she saying the opposite?

Wasn’t this Shen family’s doing? They demanded 2,000 yuan in dowry. Lin Hui even took 1,000 yuan from his own family to marry her.

How could she say this now?

Shen Yuchu, without blinking, said, “What? Having second thoughts? The dowry is still at my parents’ house!”

She had followed her mother’s instructions to “save” the dowry money.

But it had been three years, and she hadn’t touched a penny!

Shen Yuchu’s eyes twinkled as she looked at Lin Xuan’s car.

She said to Shen Chunfen, “Don’t you want to pay for your older sister’s medical expenses? I have no money. Have your son drive me back to my parents’ home to retrieve my dowry. If my mother doesn’t give it to you, beat her up! Don’t worry about my feelings!”

Shen Chunfen was stunned. She stared at Lin Xuan, speechless. “She’s… gone mad?”