Lin Jiayi looked at Lin Chuxia, raised her hand to touch the corner of her lips, lost in thought.
Then she smiled again, “Seeing my younger sister marry such a good man, I am happy for her.”
“Then I should thank big sister,” Lin Chuxia said sincerely.
In the past few days of interacting with the Qin Family, she had seen their true character, which was far superior to the Li Family’s, with their two-faced ways.
Even though it was her homecoming as the bride, Second Aunt Lin came over with her daughter-in-law to help, and they couldn’t rely solely on them to cook.
While the men were in the room talking and drinking water with the new son-in-law, Second Aunt Lin chatted with Lin Chuxia while picking vegetables, asking about her situation in the Qin Family.
Mother Lin turned to listen as well.
Truth be told, when she saw Qin Yang today, she still felt that her eldest daughter was foolish.
“The in-laws are very nice, and Brother Qin and Eldest Son Qin’s wife aren’t troublesome people,” Lin Chuxia answered genuinely.
“That’s really lucky, Qin Yang is also quite spirited.”
Second Aunt Lin’s words were irritating to Lin Jiayi, “Alright, Chuxia, there are no outsiders here, you don’t have to pretend. We can guess what the Qin Family is like even if you don’t say it. Since Qin Yang started university, he wasn’t home much, and even though the in-laws are in charge, they’ve been overpowered by Eldest Son Qin and his wife. Can a newcomer like you get a good deal? Wait until Qin Yang goes back to his job in a few days, let’s see if you can still smile then.”
This was just pretending to be more than one actually is.
If life were really that good, would she look this haggard? It’s hard to say how much she suffered at the hands of Old Lady Qin and Eldest Son Qin’s wife.
Eldest Son Qin’s wife is clever with her words — kind to others in public, earning a good reputation, but calculating privately.
With Qin Yang earning a salary, Brother Qin and his wife kept encouraging Old Lady Qin not to split the household, all because they were eyeing the younger brother’s money.
If it wasn’t for Old Lady Qin holding onto Qin Yang’s salary, would they have argued about it on their wedding night?
In her past life, it wasn’t until Qin Yang brought that child home that they split the household. Before that, she suffered a lot.
“Speaking of which, I have to mention Guang Yuan. Although he has two sisters, he’s the only son of the Li Family, so in a few years when his sisters are married off, my husband and I will be the ones calling the shots inside and outside the house, with no sibling-in-law conflicts.”
Second Aunt Lin smiled, “That’s true, having just one brother does mean fewer complications.”
Lin Chuxia’s eyes twinkled slightly, and she smiled faintly, “Big sister has a point. I am actually quite envious of you. Once married, you can make your own decisions about everything. Unlike me, who not only has my in-laws above me but also Brother Qin and his wife. As the new bride, I can only be submissive.”
She realized that in the previous life, Qin Yang returned to his work right after getting married and probably didn’t split the family then either.
However, she did not want to elaborate. This was for the better, as a daughter without say in her in-laws’ house held little value in her maternal home.
Seeing that she had admitted it, Lin Jiayi was satisfied, “When it comes to marriage, you have to marry someone who’s by your side, who knows when you are cold or warm. No matter how capable Qin Yang is, he’s in a different place. Can he really take you with him to work?”
To be separated and unable to meet for a year was no different from being a living widow.
Mother Lin was enlightened by these words, and upon reflection, the change in her eldest daughter’s marital prospects seemed good.
“Guang Yuan is different; he’s with me every day, always considering me in everything he does. Although farming is tiring, he said I won’t have to work in the fields in the future, just stay at home and cook.”
“You don’t have to work in the fields? My goodness, would the Li Family agree to that?” exclaimed Second Aunt Lin.
“Why wouldn’t they agree? Guang Yuan is competent. He can handle most of the farm work by himself. Besides, there’s his mother and two sisters, and the Li Family doesn’t have any land that belongs to me.”
She doesn’t even work in the fields at home, why should she in her husband’s family?
Once Li Guangyuan starts his business, she’ll be managing the money, and she’ll have even less need to work in the fields then.
Second Aunt Lin said with envy, “Guang Yuan is really good to you. I’d be content if my Huahua could find a family like that.”
Lin Chuxia bowed her head, tending to the fire, seeming to grow lonely from the conversation between the two.
Lin Jiayi’s lips curled into a satisfied smile, just as she was about to add something, a tall figure entered the kitchen.
Qin Yang came straight to Lin Chuxia’s side and handed her a cup of water. “Have some water first, I’ll take care of the fire.”
He said, and without caring about the gazes of those around him, he took the fire poker from her hand.
The words that Lin Jiayi was about to say got stuck in her throat, and her eyes widened in shock.
Is this the Qin Yang she knew?
Since when did he start serving tea and water for women? Not to mention helping with the fire.
Second Aunt Lin teased with a laugh, “Qin Yang is truly affectionate. My man hasn’t helped me with the fire once in all these years we’ve been married.”
After saying this, she cast a glance, intentionally or unintentionally, at Lin Jiayi.
Mother Lin also said, “There are so many people here, Qin Yang, go back and talk in the room, we don’t need your help.”
Lin Chuxia didn’t expect Qin Yang to come help either. Under his persistent gaze, she quickly drank the water from the cup and handed it back to him, “Go join Dad and Uncle in the conversation. We don’t need you here.”
Fearing he wouldn’t leave, she stood up and pushed him out of the kitchen, which made Second Aunt Lin and her sister-in-law Yang Jing laugh heartily.
Even after Qin Yang had entered the main room, Lin Jiayi’s face was still full of disbelief.
Looking at the mocking glances of Second Aunt Lin and her sister-in-law, and seeing Li Guangyuan, who appeared as stable as Mount Tai while sitting on a chair through the glass, she felt as if she’d been harshly slapped on the face.
A wave of anger surged in her chest, “Lin Chuxia, have you no shame, cavorting with a man in front of others? Do you think this will show how much Qin Yang values you? If he really valued you, why wouldn’t he even give you your wages?”
Mother Lin, who had been pondering about Qin Yang coming over, heard Lin Jiayi’s remark and asked, “What’s the matter? Qin Yang didn’t give you your salary?”
Lin Chuxia added a few sticks to the stove, “Mom, the Qin Family are farmers after all. For our marriage, they already gave a dowry of 300 yuan, and I heard our family still owes debts from the famine,” she said, neither confirming nor denying whether she was given anything.
Mother Lin, however, believed Lin Jiayi’s words; after all, a dowry of 300 yuan was tangible, and it was not easy for any family to come up with such a sum at once.
She felt a bit disappointed, hoping that with Qin Yang’s salary, their second daughter would be able to help the family in the future.
This second daughter really was of no use at all.
With no outsiders present, the entire family sat down for the meal.
Lin Family’s two sons-in-law were naturally the center of attention; Qin Yang was seated with the elders by Uncle Lin, while Li Guangyuan sat next to Qin Yang.
During the meal, Qin Yang spoke eloquently with Mr. Lin and Uncle Lin, showing impeccable manners. In contrast, Li Guangyuan seemed much more restrained, just drinking when asked to drink and eating when asked to eat, the rest of the time he would just listen dumbly, unable to get a word in edgewise.
Lin Jiayi wanted him to show off a bit more, but he seemed deaf to the several times she called him.
Lin Chuxia secretly smirked to herself; Li Guangyuan was too honest. In the early days of their business, he was the same, doing whatever he was told to do, only focused on the work, while she was the one running around dealing with clients.
It was only later, when their business grew, and those clients had to rely on them, that he emerged from all the flattery and compliments.