Chapter 4: True Feelings Revealed in Times of Trouble, Reputation Reversed!

Wang Guifen couldn’t drag her daughter away and was both angry and anxious!

Zhou Quansheng, along with his wife Chen Aihong, as well as Zhou Changping, Zhou Changan, and the others, had also snapped back to their senses.

The Zhou Family, who had previously looked cold and distant, began to soften their expressions after hearing what Su Luyun said.

Especially Chen Aihong, the mother-in-law.

She looked at the grief-stricken and tearful Su Luyun and thought to herself: although her third daughter-in-law was a bit of a spendthrift, not good at managing a household, and had a heavy hand when it came to money, it was in adversity that true feelings were revealed.

She hadn’t expected that even with Lao San (third son) ending up like this, Su Luyun was still willing to stay!

Just this one point alone made up for all her shortcomings!

But Chen Aihong also knew that they couldn’t keep her anymore.

With Lao San like this, how could they expect this beautiful and delicate daughter-in-law to stay?

She wanted to persuade her to get a divorce and go home.

After all, it could still be considered a dignified and respectful separation for both sides.

But He Yuling spoke up first. She said: “Third sister-in-law, back then you and Changdong didn’t even have a proper wedding night. Then he left with his comrades overnight, and it’s been three years since. Not to be harsh, but you probably don’t even remember what Company Commander Dong looks like anymore, right?”

She knew exactly what kind of person this sister-in-law was!

A typical opportunist, who loved the rich and despised the poor!

Her younger brother-in-law had ended up like this, and she would willingly stay to take care of him?

Impossible!

She was probably just eyeing the Discharged Soldier Benefits, the Compensation Money, and the three years’ worth of unpaid wages and subsidies!

Her younger brother-in-law’s comrades were worried that someone might try to pocket the money, so they announced it publicly in front of the neighbors—there was a total of three thousand yuan!

After He Yuling said this, everyone present clearly understood her implication, and all eyes turned to Su Luyun.

After all, in the past three years, Su Luyun had built up quite the image of a wasteful, irresponsible woman!

Three thousand yuan—one third of a ten-thousand-yuan household—this wasn’t a small sum at all…

Su Luyun, wanting to clear her name, refused to let this sister-in-law ruin things and snapped unceremoniously: “What do you mean by that? First you say I can’t just pat my butt and leave, and now that I want to stay, you say it’s because of Changdong’s money?”

He Yuling denied it: “I didn’t mean it like that—”

Su Luyun impatiently interrupted her: “If it is, just admit it! Why deny it? But you’re right, Changdong and I didn’t even have a wedding night. He followed his comrades and left that very night! But so what?! That doesn’t change the fact that I’m Zhou Changdong’s wife! Yes, over these past three years, I did complain that he vanished without a trace!”

“But every time during New Year’s or festivals, when I saw other families celebrating together in warmth and joy, while I was all alone, who wouldn’t have some grievances? But if because of that, sister-in-law, you think I’m only staying because of Changdong’s money, then that’s going too far! You’re insulting me! Insulting the love a wife has for her husband!”

“……”

After she finished speaking, she ran over in tears and opened a cabinet, pulling out a cloth bag!

Inside that cloth bag were Zhou Changdong’s Discharged Soldier Benefits, his Compensation Money, and the unpaid wages and subsidies from the past three years!

Not to mention what had been handed over to her three years ago, just this time alone amounted to a full three thousand yuan!

In the year 1980, that was undoubtedly a huge sum!

She didn’t hesitate at all and stuffed the money into Chen Aihong’s hands, saying: “Mom, this is what Changdong’s comrades gave me. They said it in front of all the neighbors—three thousand yuan total, wrapped in newspaper and put here. I haven’t even opened it to count. Now I’ll open it right in front of everyone and show you!”

As she spoke, she tore open the newspaper wrapping, revealing stacks of neatly arranged ten-yuan bills!

Su Luyun said without hesitation: “Mom, count the money yourself and accept it in front of everyone, so that heartless woman can’t say I stayed just for this money! And let me make it clear to you all: I won’t divorce Changdong. I’m staying to take care of him! I am Changdong’s lawful wife. We got a marriage certificate. None of you can drive me away!”

“……”

Her mother-in-law was a fair and reasonable person, and her father-in-law was a department head in his work unit, earning a good salary. Over the years, her mother-in-law had never asked her sons for money.

Since she wasn’t short of money herself, there was no way she would covet this sum!

Su Luyun had no worries about leaving the money in her hands.

And sure enough, after saying all those noble-sounding words, this little green tea threw herself back into Zhou Changdong’s arms, sobbing pitifully, crying with heart-wrenching sorrow and overwhelming grievance!

Zhou Quansheng and Chen Aihong snapped back to attention, and the way they looked at their third daughter-in-law—there was no need to say more!

Their third daughter-in-law really was willing to stay—there wasn’t a trace of pretense!

Though she used to be immature, her sincerity toward Lao San couldn’t be questioned!

Zhou Changping and Zhou Changan, the two brothers, were also filled with emotion.

You only know a horse’s strength after a long journey; true feelings are revealed in hardship!

Their third brother had truly married the right woman!

It was just a pity that their third brother had ended up like this…

Off to the side, He Yuling: “……” She was completely stunned.

This sister-in-law was actually really willing to stay and take care of a vegetative younger brother-in-law?!

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

Yet she had actually given the money to their mother. He Yuling couldn’t find a single angle to refute her!

Even Lin Fang, who had been standing there with a cold and indifferent face, couldn’t help but glance twice at Su Luyun—this sister-in-law who had always been brash and brainless in behavior!

Not only was the Zhou Family inside left speechless, even the eavesdropping neighbors outside were just as shocked.

Among the neighbors watching earlier, some had shared the same thoughts as He Yuling, whispering quietly that maybe she was staying for the three thousand yuan.

But the moment Su Luyun turned around and shoved the money into her mother-in-law’s hands—

It was a slap in the face to them all!

Now, no one doubted Su Luyun’s sincerity in choosing to stay.

Everyone was moved and began talking about her character:

“Actually, come to think of it, though Changdong’s wife is a bit of a spender, she’s really a decent person.”

“Yeah, she might look down her nose at people and act like she’s above everyone, but if you really think about it, she’s never done anything truly outrageous.”

“I’ve always said she’s a good person. Just last time when my grandson was getting bullied by a few rascals, she stepped in and chased them off!”

“This is true devotion in times of hardship! So many people seem fine on the surface, but when disaster strikes, they scatter like birds. It’s women like Changdong’s wife who actually stay and don’t abandon their loved ones!”

“……”

For a moment, Su Luyun’s reputation flipped completely.

Everyone started talking about her virtues.

Among the crowd, the face of a young daughter-in-law flickered with a trace of sarcasm.

She was the famously well-praised good daughter-in-law of the neighborhood—Zhao Yuzhu!

She had grown up together with Su Luyun and was also her younger cousin. They had married into the area around the same time three years ago.

Others might not know what kind of person Su Luyun was, but how could she not?

Sharp-tongued, selfish, greedy for profit, willful, unreasonable—that was the real Su Luyun!

Especially in these past few years, she herself had lived in happiness and comfort, while Su Luyun had been alone from beginning to end, her eyes red with envy and jealousy!

So in places where no one knew, when her husband wasn’t around, and she was living like a widow, Su Luyun had even started exchanging flirtatious glances and developing feelings with a man who had returned from the countryside!

These things were hidden from everyone else, but Zhao Yuzhu knew them very clearly!

Because Su Luyun had confided her thoughts to her!

And yet, she had never once tried to stop her!

Of course, to avoid unnecessary trouble, on the surface she would still put on an act and remind her that she was already a married woman!