Chapter 14

Bai Xiuxiu’s words were like a heavy hammer, striking Zhao Cuihua dumb.

A thousand…

Yes! A thousand yuan!

“Didn’t they say the fifth son’s wife would go home and figure something out?” Zhao Cuihua seemed reluctant to face reality, her face visibly pale.

Seeing her like that, Bai Xiuxiu looked at her with a “you’re so naive” expression: “That’s all an act. If they didn’t say that, and took the money out, would you be happy? We don’t know how much money is actually in the family. Our mother-in-law manages the money, and if she empties it out, then in a few years when we split the family, she’ll say that the whole family eats and drinks too much and didn’t save any money.

“How could we possibly say anything?

Besides, the money for renovating the house isn’t a small amount either.

We’ll have to share the burden.”

Zhao Cuihua became even more restless: “How can that be? In this family, my husband and I work from dawn till dusk, earn ten work points each, why should we be taken advantage of?

“Who told you our mother-in-law favors the second and fifth sons? We don’t know how much money is in the family. My brother and I have nothing to say, he’s capable, and my family is willing to help me. After we split, we’ll save up again.”

Bai Xiuxiu acted unconcerned, making Zhao Cuihua even more distressed.

Her sister-in-law could be unconcerned, but she couldn’t!

How long had it been since her son had new clothes made?

Autumn was approaching, and it would soon get cold! Yet, her mother-in-law made a set of clothes for the fifth son’s wife for her wedding just to save face.

How could she be so shameless?

No! She couldn’t let this money matter be brushed aside.

She would have to talk to her husband, Qingzheng, after work this afternoon, and make her parents reveal the family finances.

Otherwise, they would be left with nothing, while she was still working!

Seeing Zhao Cuihua’s silence, Bai Xiuxiu added fuel to the fire: “Actually, there are five brothers in the family, all working equally hard. Since the money went to the second and fifth sons, it should also be given to us. It should be fair, right?

Especially for renovating the house, the house is being expanded for the brothers to live in, that’s fine.

But our mother-in-law is renovating a house for the fifth son and his wife, and we’re not getting one, then the renovation money should be divided equally amongst us, according to the amount.”

Bai Xiuxiu’s words were like a breakthrough for Zhao Cuihua!

Yes! Why shouldn’t they get a share?

Expanding the house was fine, after all, there were five brothers, they needed a place to live. But renovating the house was unacceptable! The eldest sister-in-law’s house was still from her own dowry!

Why should the fifth son’s family get money from the family?

“Sister-in-law, you’re right, this matter…” Zhao Cuihua looked back at Bai Xiuxiu.

“My brother and I don’t care about these things. If you’re willing to speak up, we’ll stand by you. If you’re not willing to speak up, my brother and I have no opinion.” Bai Xiuxiu smiled, she wouldn’t take the lead!

In this kind of situation, whoever took the lead would be blamed.

Although she didn’t care, who would want to be the target of slander if they could avoid it?

Seeing that her sister-in-law was determined to stay out of it, Zhao Cuihua became even more frustrated.

She would have to ask the fourth son’s wife later.

“Third son’s wife? Where are you? Dead?” Zhao Guifen shouted from outside, grumbling.

Zhao Cuihua quickly went out: “Mom, I’m here.”

“What are you doing in that dead person’s house?” Zhao Guifen couldn’t stand her eldest son and Bai Xiuxiu. The third son’s wife was her distant relative from her hometown, she should be on her side!

Seeing her mother-in-law’s anger, Zhao Cuihua quickly found an excuse: “Mom, I just went to see my sister-in-law. Her little girl was crying, and I thought my sister-in-law might give her something good to eat to cheer her up. I just wanted to see if I could get some benefit.”

“Pfft! You expect her to give you food? She’s greedy! She wants to eat everything herself.

Having a daughter-in-law like that is my bad luck!

Alright, don’t expect anything from her, go to the kitchen and help me wash the vegetables and cook.”

Zhao Guifen dragged her third son’s wife to the kitchen.

Zhao Cuihua was very uncomfortable. Seeing her mother-in-law, she thought of what her sister-in-law had just said.

Although she and the third son had only been married for two years, they had done a lot of work.

She and the third son only had one son, how much could they eat?

Her son would go to school later, and that would cost money! Her mother-in-law gave all the money to the second brother and the fifth son, what would they eat and drink?

This matter couldn’t be left like this!

After preparing the food, Zhao Cuihua thought more and more that she needed to speak up sooner. She got up and ran out: “Mom, I’ll go see when they’ll be back.”

“You lazybones, you’re learning to be lazy too!” Zhao Guifen saw her third son’s wife running faster than a rabbit, and she couldn’t help but say a few words. But she didn’t say anything else.

At noon, Zhao Cuihua returned with the whole family.

Along the way, she walked behind her husband and quietly told the third son, Wang Qingzheng, about the matter.

Wang Qingzheng thought about it, and it was indeed the case.

Although the second brother and the fifth son were brothers, they couldn’t be closer than their own wives and sons!

He couldn’t give everything to them, could he?

Expanding the house was fine, but renovating the house was unacceptable! The second brother didn’t renovate when he lived in the east room, why should the fifth son get to renovate when he moved in?

And the matter of buying jobs!

This job wouldn’t be passed down to his son, he didn’t want to spend money on it.

His wife was right, the family finances needed to be transparent!

At mealtime, Bai Xiuxiu took the initiative to come to the main room for dinner.

Zhao Guifen felt a little relieved when she saw her eldest son’s wife coming.

Humph! No matter how tough she is, she still has to listen to her and eat in this room?

Zhao Guifen enjoyed dividing the food for the family! It made her feel like she had the most power in the family!

As long as the spoon was in her hand, she was the one who made the decisions in this family.

She divided the food for everyone, and the old man, Wang Shoucheng, started eating first, then everyone else followed.

While Bai Xiuxiu was eating, Wang Qinghe was feeding the children.

The third son’s wife, Zhao Cuihua, kicked her husband under the table, and the third son, Wang Qingzheng, spoke up: “Mom and Dad, I have something to say.”

“What can’t wait until after you finish eating?” Zhao Guifen glared at her son. She hadn’t eaten properly in two days!

She had been so angry at her eldest son’s wife for two days, and finally had some peace this noon, why was there more trouble now?

Wang Qingzheng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

After the family finished lunch, Wang Qingzheng spoke up: “Mom, I wanted to talk about the matter of renovating the house for the fifth son and his wife.”

“What’s there to talk about? Didn’t we already agree? After the autumn harvest, we’ll renovate the house for the fifth son and his wife, and then build an extra room next to yours for your second brother and sister-in-law.” Zhao Guifen was confused.

“Building an extra room for my second brother and sister-in-law is reasonable, but… there’s no need to renovate for the fifth son and his wife, right? The east room hasn’t collapsed, and it was fine when the second brother and sister-in-law lived there, why does it need renovation when the fifth son and his wife move in?

Isn’t that favoritism?

Besides, where will we get all that money? We need to buy jobs, renovate the house, and build a new one.”