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The third son was at his wit’s end. When the second son got married, they barely had anything—just around eighty yuan for everything.
With such a meager amount, how was he supposed to marry Meina? He didn’t want her to suffer!
The third son decided not to confront Wu Zhiqiu. Today, she might have been upset by the eldest son and his wife. He hadn’t stood up for her, so it made sense she was taking out her frustration on him.
He would just let it go for now. After all, his mother wouldn’t sell her job to raise money for the eldest son; that was enough.
The third son fell silent.
Wu Zhiqiu spoke again, “Starting today, everyone washes their own clothes. The second daughter-in-law will cook, and the third will take turns doing the housework with Fengchun.”
“Mom!”
“Mom!”
The third son and Fengchun shouted in unison.
“What are you yelling for?” Wu Zhiqiu snapped impatiently.
The third son shrank back; today was not a good day to speak up.
“Mom, I still need to study. When do I have time to do housework?” Li Fengchun, who had always felt like an invisible person, couldn’t hold back anymore now that it involved her interests.
“Is doing housework going to hinder your studies?”
Li Fengchun nodded. “It will!”
Wu Zhiqu nodded in agreement.
Li Fengchun thought that as long as she said this, her mother would definitely let her off the hook.
“Then does that mean if it doesn’t hinder your studies, you’ll definitely get into university today?”
Li Fengchun… She couldn’t guarantee that, especially given her current performance. She might not even get into a junior college!
In her past life, she had taken the entrance exam three times before finally getting into a junior college! Later, she had a chance to go abroad after dating a teacher at the school.
In her last life, she had definitely favored this youngest daughter; aside from the eldest son, she was the best in her eyes.
But she had clearly heard that her youngest daughter didn’t want to contribute a single cent for her surgery.
In this life, she couldn’t expect to live at home while everyone served her; that was a dream! In her dreams, everything was perfect!
“But if I don’t study, I really won’t have any chance!”
“If you get into university, you’ll have to give half your salary to the family,” Wu Zhiqiu said, her expression unyielding.
“Why?” Li Fengchun blurted out.
“Why? Because you enjoy the services the family provides for you, because your education is funded by me! Why should you even ask? If you don’t want to pay the family money in the future, then from now on, you’ll do your own things and share the household chores! I’m only giving you this one opportunity to get into university; if you don’t get in, you’ll have to find a way to cover your own tuition and living expenses. My obligations will be fulfilled!”
“Mom, are you out of your mind?”
Wu Zhiqiu raised her hand and slapped her youngest daughter.
Fengchun’s face immediately swelled up!
The third son gasped. Fortunately, he was smart enough to realize today wasn’t the day to provoke his mother; otherwise, that slap would have landed on him!
The second son and his wife felt a chill in their necks and quickly covered the children’s eyes.
Li Mancang swallowed hard. His daughter had never been hit even once in her life, and today his wife was clearly enraged!
“How dare you hit me?” Li Fengchun covered her face.
“Because I’m your Mother! When I tell you to do something, you call me crazy? You’re eighteen now, you’re an adult. If you think this family isn’t good enough for you, then leave! Don’t go around acting like you’re too good for everything and everyone!”
Anyone who wasn’t blind could see the indifference and disgust in Li Fengchun’s eyes when she looked at this family. Since that was the case, Wu Zhiqiu wasn’t going to be polite anymore—if she had the guts, she could leave right now!
If she didn’t, then she’d have to follow the rules of this household!
“Father!” Li Fengchun cried out, her eyes brimming with tears, full of grievance.
Li Mancang quickly lowered his head—his words held no weight in this home, so what was the point of speaking up? If his wife ended up hitting him, what would he do?
“Listen to your Mother. In our home, she’s the one in charge!”
This family… Father, did you have to be so blunt about it? We all know anyway.
Li Fengchun glared bitterly at the entire family—not a single person stood up for her, even though she was the only one still preparing for the college entrance exam.
And they still expected her to go out and bring money back? Bleed her dry? Dream on. Not a chance.
“Fine! I’ll do it myself!”
With that, Li Fengchun flung down the basin and stormed back into her room.
The rest of the people in the room didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly. Today, Old Madam Wu was in a foul mood—don’t provoke her, don’t provoke her, don’t provoke her!
Everyone chanted the warning silently in their hearts. The second daughter-in-law began clearing the dishes.
The second son went to light the bed alcove in Old Madam Wu’s room. The stove inside was burning bright, the kettle was filled with boiling water, and the footbath water had already been mixed to just the right temperature.
Wu Zhiqiu hadn’t expected that after such a long and exhausting day, she would be treated like this tonight! In her previous life, she and her husband had never once enjoyed this kind of care and respect!
Looks like a person really has to stand up for themselves. If others see that you’re easy to bully, your own family will take turns bullying you!
Li Mancang stared longingly at the footbath prepared for Old Madam Wu.
The second son quickly arranged one for their Father as well.
Li Mancang broke into a wide, wrinkled grin. It had to be his wife—she was always right! Just look, the second son was much better than the eldest! The eldest had never even poured him a cup of water, let alone prepared footbath water!
He’d said all along that they should’ve asked the eldest for support, but his wife had called him selfish, said the eldest had it tough. Now look—by not asking, they didn’t get anything out of it!
He just didn’t like to speak up, but every time he did, he was never wrong! Soaking his feet in the hot water, Li Mancang was content and smug.
Wu Zhiqiu had no idea what the old man was thinking. At this moment, she was resting with her eyes closed. After all the fuss of coming back and dealing with everything, she was still thoroughly worn out.
Tomorrow, she still had to go demand a bride price from the eldest son—another tough battle lay ahead!
As she lay down to sleep, Wu Zhiqiu felt full of ambition. At fifty, this was the prime of her life for fighting and striving!
In the second son’s room—
“Xingye, do you think Mother has truly accepted me?” The second daughter-in-law, Chunni, leaned against her husband’s shoulder and asked anxiously.
“She definitely has. Just look at today—when Big Sister-in-law cursed at Mother, out of all her children, none of them stood up for her except you. You couldn’t stand it and fought with her. Mother may be biased, but she’s not blind—she saw everything you did!”
“And you still have the nerve to say that? When Big Sister-in-law insulted Mother, you, her son, didn’t say a word. Imagine how hurt she must’ve felt!” Chunni pinched her husband hard.
“Ow ow ow, that hurts! It hurts! Our Mother is clearly biased—who dares say anything to the eldest? You might end up scolded for nothing!”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Just because you’re afraid of being scolded, you’re going to let someone curse at our Mother? Are you even her son? If our son acts like that in the future, let’s see what you’ll do!”
“I realized afterward I was wrong. I won’t do that again, I promise.”
“And stop always saying our Mother is biased. If you were the one with a son who graduated from University, your heart would be biased too! We’re not that capable, so we should show more filial piety and stay close to her. A family shouldn’t keep tallying grievances.” The second daughter-in-law stared up at the dark ceiling. She had thought it over before—if she were the Mother-in-law, she’d probably be biased too.
“I just feel bad for you, that’s all. You do so much all day and can’t even get a kind look from her. You’ve suffered because of me.” The second son ached for his wife. She was so good—kind and filial—yet his Mother couldn’t even spare her a glance.
“What is there to feel bad about? Even if our Mother doesn’t care much to talk to me, she hasn’t mistreated me either. The chores around here aren’t even that tiring. Now it’s even better—I just cook a little and that’s it. She’s actually been treating me fairly well.”
The second son wrapped his arms around his wife. What a fool she was. Just a few kind words from his Mother, and this silly woman had already forgotten all the grievances she’d endured these past few years.