CHAPTER 339: CHAPTER 316: A MARRIED DAUGHTER IS LIKE WATER SPILLED OUT

Yu Xiaolian returned to the house, took some apples and pears from the supermarket, wrapped a big pack of fruit candies in oil paper, and then went to Sun Fengshou’s house.

Now that there are many people working, Sun Fengshou, like Yu Changhe, only needs to occasionally go to the workshop to inspect the progress. With Qi Dalian already in the late stage of pregnancy, Sun Fengshou is concerned and has to come back several times a day to check on her.

When Yu Xiaolian arrived, Sun Fengshou was also at home. He had hired a midwife from the city for Qi Dalian and was currently instructing her to take good care of Qi Dalian, as she was due in a few days.

Sun Hongmei ushered Yu Xiaolian into the house, and Yu Xiaolian cheerfully put the fruits on the cabinet, saying, "Auntie, I came to visit you."

Sun Fengshou glared at Yu Xiaolian, "Don’t call her Auntie with ’little,’ drop the ’little’." He seemed to feel it made him look old.

Yu Xiaolian was not at all afraid of Sun Fengshou and didn’t even glance at him. Instead, she instructed Sun Hongmei, "Go wash two fruits so my aunt can satisfy her craving."

Sun Hongmei responded and carefully took one apple and one pear to wash them.

"Lian’er, how can these apples look so fresh in the dead of winter?" Qi Dalian couldn’t help but ask upon seeing the fresh fruit Yu Xiaolian brought, as if it had just been picked off the tree.

In their Taohua Village, they didn’t just have peaches; there were other fruit trees as well, but peaches were the most abundant. In autumn, they would store some fruits deep in the cellar, but even those at most would last a little over a month before they would rot.

By now, it was already the twelfth lunar month, and the fruits they stored were long gone. Sometimes when Qi Dalian craved something fresh and cool, she would gnaw on radishes from the cellar.

Seeing such fresh fruit now made her incredibly happy.

"Auntie, I had someone buy these for me in Luocheng. I heard that the family there has a very deep cellar, and fruits can last a long time in it. If you want more fruit in the future, just let me know, and I’ll bring you some," Yu Xiaolian began to concoct a story.

By this time, Sun Hongmei had also washed the fruits and handed them to Qi Dalian.

Qi Dalian couldn’t wait to take a bite of the apple, and the sweet juice exploded in her mouth, making her exclaim how delicious it was.

"Fengshou, this fruit is really sweet. You should try a bite," Qi Dalian offered the apple to Sun Fengshou.

Sun Fengshou waved his hand, "I don’t want it, you eat it!"

Sun Fengshou had no idea his wife was craving this; if he had known earlier, he would’ve asked his niece for it.

Recently, Qi Dalian hadn’t had much of an appetite, not caring much for fish and meat, but preferring light, simple vegetarian foods.

Seeing Sun Fengshou not eating it, she pushed the apple back to her mother-in-law, Sun Grandma, smiling, "You eat, mother doesn’t like it!"

Qi Dalian ate the big apple in one go, feeling satisfied and full.

"Lian’er, this fruit must be quite expensive at this time, right?" Qi Dalian asked.

Yu Xiaolian laughed, "It’s not expensive. Our family can afford whatever fruit we want. It’s just a matter of finding it available. If it’s up for sale, our family can buy it, Auntie. You don’t need to worry about money."

Qi Dalian once again felt in her heart that she truly fell into a nest of blessings.

Her mother-in-law treated her kindly, never bossing her around, and her husband was obedient, never fighting or yelling. She was satisfied with such a family.

Her mother-in-law was nice, her husband was nice, even her sister-in-law was nice to her. Qi Dalian dared to say that no one else in the neighboring villages had as good a life as she did.

At this moment, Qi Dalian not only felt fortunate that the original family had called off the engagement, but also wondered otherwise how she would have met such a good man like Sun Fengshou, who, except for being more than ten years older than her, had no other flaws.

Just as Qi Dalian was marveling at her luck, an angry shout came from outside the Sun Family’s courtyard.

"Qi Dalian, come out here, you dead girl!"

Upon hearing her mother’s voice, Qi Dalian wrinkled her brows instantly and said to Sun Fengshou, "Go tell Aunt Mei not to let her in."

Sun Fengshou sighed, "In the past month, your mother has come over ten times, and you haven’t seen her once. What if she really has something important?"

Qi Dalian sneered, "I understand my mother better than anyone. What important thing could she possibly have?

Unless it’s about taking advantage!

Besides, even if there’s something important, she should go find my brother and sister-in-law. Why come to me?"

Back then, her fifty taels bridal gift was completely pocketed by her mother. Her mother had told her that as long as she agreed to leave the fifty taels with her, she would consider her daughter nonexistent and never demand anything from her when she was old or sick.

Her mother had always favored her brother since she was little, treating her like a workhorse maid. If it wasn’t for her father’s protection, Qi Dalian doubted if she could have made it to adulthood.

Thus, the day she married into the Sun Family, Qi Dalian had already decided in her heart to cut ties with her mother.

However, to avoid being criticized and labeled unfilial, Qi Dalian had to maintain some appearances to deal with her greedy mother.

Although it was just for appearances, Qi Dalian had her limits; she would never lend money to her mother.

Xun had asked Qi Dalian several times for money and failed, so she changed her target and asked to borrow from Sun Fengshou instead.

Sun Fengshou thought it was Qi Dalian being embarrassed and secretly loaned money to Xun twice.

Later, when Qi Dalian found out, she had an argument with Sun Fengshou about it.

Since then, Qi Dalian took full control of the household’s finances. Her mother-in-law and husband had to get money from her, as one was indecisive and the other had a soft heart.

As for the twenty taels Xun "borrowed," Qi Dalian knew they would never be repaid, so she considered it Xun’s pension and decided never to contribute any further.

"Qi Dalian, you dead girl, you’ve grown wings and can fly. Seeing you is harder than seeing the Emperor!" Xun shouted from outside the gate, hands on hips.

Qi Dalian, unable to hold her anger, put on her shoes and went outside, standing in the courtyard and yelling back at Xun, "You don’t come here again. The fifty taels of bride price and twenty taels for your pension make seventy taels in total. Save it wisely; it’s enough for your lifetime."

Hearing Qi Dalian say that, Xun cursed, "How can seventy taels last a lifetime? Your brother’s school fees alone require about ten taels of silver each year. Add to that the cost of buying brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Just recently, your brother made a brocade robe that cost seven taels of silver. What is seventy taels for?"

Qi Dalian almost fainted from anger, "Whether it’s enough or not is none of my business. I’m a married daughter, like water poured out. Don’t come looking for me again!"