CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 047: BROUGHT BACK FROM HER PARENTAL HOME

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"Third Sister-in-law, you are the new wife, you don’t need to do this!" Xie Jingzi entered the kitchen and saw Fifth Sister-in-law sitting on a stool, while her own freshly introduced Third Sister-in-law was scrubbing away with a rag! Immediately, she bristled and scolded:

"Fifth Sister-in-law, when you first married into the family, you didn’t even leave the bridal room!"

Xie Jingzi was originally just speaking out of anger, even though she raised her voice, it wasn’t much higher than usual. Her intention was to be nice to Third Sister-in-law, almost pleading on her behalf, thankful for a new set of clothes she had made for her—little did she know that her words would lead to a drama, almost causing her embarrassment.

"Yo, little aunt, it’s not like I told her to do it! Why are you snapping at me? Besides, can she even compare to me? At least I was properly married off from my parents’ home! Unlike some people, who just showed up ambiguously at the doorstep, pfft!"

Wang Xiaocui, upon hearing the little aunt’s rude words, immediately flared up! Seeing that her husband was about to make a name for himself, she felt her status was higher among the sisters-in-law, and could not allow the little aunt to speak to her like that!

Absolutely, outrageous!

Clearly, the ’marry’ in Wang Xiaocui’s words was emphasized louder by two tones, sounding particularly harsh and even someone as naïve as Xie Jingzi could sense the sarcasm in Fifth Sister-in-law’s words.

Upon hearing this, both Zhang Shan Ni and Xie Jingzi turned grim, both staring intently at her with displeasure on their faces.

In fact, Wang Xiaocui’s parental home, to put it nicely, was just in the town, but in reality, it was quite poor back then and had to ask the Xie Family for a substantial amount of grain as a dowry, managing to get through with great effort.

Because of this, Zhou Xiuhua had been displeased for a long time.

Therefore, during the first few years after she entered the Xie Family, she indeed strived to be a good wife, even if she managed to get some wild delicacies, she dared not openly take them back to her parents’ home, so her status wasn’t high there!

Who knew she would have such a dog’s luck, one morning on the way to her parents’ home, she found a small black bag containing many papers, which she didn’t mind, but she saw a thick bundle of tickets and big silver coins!

At that time, Xiao Si was still young, sleeping sweetly in her arms, her eyes saw someone approaching from afar, so she immediately stuffed the big silver into her bosom, tossed the black bag back by the roadside, and swiftly hid in the bushes.

It turned out to be the original owner who had dropped the items and was tracing his steps back! Seeing the important papers still in the black bag, he didn’t seem to care about the missing big silver, looked around, saw no one, probably in a hurry, and rode off in his carriage!

Wang Xiaocui was terrified at that moment, almost screaming out, fortunately, Xiao Si was still small, too early woken by her, and by mid-way, he was sleeping so soundly, completely silent, allowing them to remain unseen by the man.

Suddenly having more than a hundred big silver coins, and a bundle of grain and meat tickets, in the early 1970s, it was truly a fortune! Back then, materials were indeed scarce, and the most valuable thing was food that could fill the stomach.

Having stumbled upon sudden wealth, Wang Xiaocui, just an ordinary farmer’s wife, how could she keep calm? Under stress, her own mother discovered it. She reluctantly handed over most of the tickets and big silver to her mother, saying it was for her brother’s business and family sustenance, claiming she would not forget her goodness when benefits came.

At that time, her parental home was indeed very poor, her nephew was ten years old and didn’t even have a decent piece of clothing. Seeing her poor brother and nephew, her heart softened, she kept only ten big silver coins for emergencies, and handed the rest of the tickets and big silver to her brother! That was truly the big silver that lifted her family up!

Big brother thanks her, even the little sister married in the county thanks her for her connection to her maternal family. Therefore, whenever she returns to her maternal home, whether it’s her own mother, elder sister-in-law, or nephew, they all treat her with great respect. This is also why she can visit her maternal home from time to time without much objection from both her husband’s family and her own family.

Her maternal family now has significant wealth and connections, living in a two-story building and is considered noteworthy in town! Compared to her sister-in-law’s and Fourth Sister-in-law’s impoverished situations, her maternal family’s condition is the best among Mrs. Xie’s family.

But this new Third Sister-in-law, she literally has no support from a maternal family! Now feeling proud, her tail is lifted high, no longer the cautious new bride she once was, daring to pick faults in front of her sisters-in-law.

"Xie Jingzi, how can you say such things!" Xie Jingzi, infuriated by Fifth Sister-in-law’s vicious words, roared with a red flushed face.

"Alright, little aunt, don’t be angry. This household matter is indeed my own doing; it’s nothing to do with Fifth Younger Sister-in-law."

Zhang Shan Ni gently soothed her annoyed little aunt, then turned to Wang Xiaocui and said indifferently with her dark face and deep black eyes glaring:

"Fifth Younger Sister-in-law, I may have no maternal family, but who are you to say I’m not innocent?"

"What are you implying? Isn’t it just because I jumped into the river and was saved by Second Uncle, only then you lazily came onto him? What did I say wrong!" Wang Xiaocui angrily stood up and retorted rudely.

"So by your logic, being saved means I’m not innocent?" Zhang Shan Ni squinted her eyes and replied calmly.

"I..." Wang Xiaocui was momentarily stunned by Zhang Shan Ni’s retort, then suddenly remembering that this new third sister-in-law had already been living in the same room with her little uncle, she sneered.

"I’m saying you’re not innocent, so what?! The wedding feast just started, yet you were already sent to Second Uncle’s bed, weren’t you?! As for our Second Uncle, he’s indeed a fortunate man!"

"Shut up!" Zhou Xiuhua shouted, striding into the kitchen and smacking away Wang Xiaocui’s arm pointed at Zhang Shan Ni, yelling:

"What do you mean by this? Are you dissatisfied with the Xie Family? Do you want me to take you to the Civil Affairs Bureau with Mao Dan again? What excellent family values the Wang Family must have to have you so rudely talk back to your elder sister-in-law!"

"Mother," Wang Xiaocui rubbed her arm, Zhou Xiuhua’s strength was not slight, it instantly tingled with pain.

But now, facing her furious mother-in-law, she didn’t dare to breathe loudly. Her little aunt’s seemingly enjoying-the-drama eye contact secretly infuriated her indeed.

As Xie Jingzi was mirthfully watching, she saw her mother glaring fiercely at her, she then scurried out of the kitchen and stood by the door, eavesdropping with her ears perked.

"Stop! I dare not accept your call for Mother!"

Zhou Xiuhua had been tolerating these discontent daughters-in-law; who would have thought that shortly after the wedding, this youngest daughter-in-law would dare to point fingers and insult her elder sister-in-law, questioning who is innocent?

"What right do you have to speak of Ni? She may have no maternal family, but she has a husband! And her mother-in-law, me, is still alive! You mock others without considering how much your betrothal gifts demanded and what trash your dowry was! We both know very well, don’t force me to reveal everything publicly and shame us both!"

Zhou Xiuhua, protecting Zhang Shan Ni, scolded Wang Xiaocui loudly, publicly disclosing Xiaocui’s most hidden secrets, turning her face alternatingly green and white with shame. What made it unbearable for her was hearing her mother-in-law fiercely throw coarse words, and then, a robust man suddenly stormed into the kitchen—