“Eat, eat, eat, can’t you think of something other than eating?”
Lin Jiayi interrupted him, and was it just for eating white flour bread to solve satiety that she married him?
In her previous life, even though it was the same, marrying into the Qin Family she would also eat white flour buns every day.
“At home, anyone can take care of it, but both younger sisters are old enough as well. They can do the laundry and cooking. You don’t always have to keep an eye on the minor farming work. Guang Yuan, I know you’re not satisfied with our current life. You’re so smart, just think of any business idea, and it will make money. I am counting on you in this lifetime.”
Li Guangyuan didn’t understand why Lin Jiayi was so obsessed with doing business, but being trusted by his wife like that, he felt a sense of accomplishment deeper inside and instinctively comforted her, “Alright, don’t worry, let me think about it a bit more.”
Lin Jiayi kissed him happily, “I knew I didn’t misjudge you.”
“Wait a moment,” she took out 200 yuan from a secret corner of the box to show him, “This is my dowry money, you don’t have to worry about the capital. If it’s not enough, I’ll ask my parents for more. Guang Yuan, remember, your abilities are worth any effort.”
Because of her affirmation, Li Guangyuan’s confidence skyrocketed, “Wife, rest assured, I will definitely make you live a good life.”
Lin Jiayi absolutely believed him, was about to ask him what business he planned to do, when she turned her head and saw two sister-in-laws walking in through the front door.
Each of them was wearing a floral coat, the brand-new fabric looked strikingly familiar.
Thinking of something, Lin Jiayi quickly ran to the box, rummaging through her own things, and finally screamed in despair, “My fabric is gone, they actually stole my fabric.”
Li Guangyuan also saw the clothes on his two sisters, frowning slightly, but still comforted his wife first.
“My younger sister has been spoiled by mom, Jiayi, don’t be angry, I’ll mention this to mom in a bit, tell them to stop going through your things from now on.”
“Just mentioning it, that’s it? Li Guangyuan, don’t you see they even took our wedding gift to make clothes? That was your gift to me, my own belongings.”
Lin Jiayi went mad, she had planned to make a new cotton garment with that fabric, the cotton was already picked.
Li Guangyuan didn’t understand why she was reacting so intensely, “What else can be done? The clothes are already made, even if you make them take off the clothes for you, you can’t fit into their sizes either.”
Lin Jiayi knew that too, so she was anxious, “If they can’t return my fabric, then return the money. You go and talk to your mom, tell her how much the fabric is worth and to give me that amount.”
Li Guangyuan stared at the money in her hand, “We’re all family, it’s just a piece of fabric, why make such a big deal out of it?”
He himself had so much money in hand, yet she wanted him to ask his mother for money. His mom struggled to raise the three of them and even got him a wife, which was already not easy.
Seeing that Li Guangyuan was reluctant, Lin Jiayi hid the money again and turned to leave, “If you won’t speak, I will…”
Old Mrs. Li, contentedly watching her two daughters, heard Lin Jiayi’s accusation and didn’t even glance her way.
“Guangyuan’s wife, since you’ve married into the Li family, you are part of the Li family. Don’t distinguish between your things and mine, and besides, you don’t even do any farming at home, what are you saving this fabric for? Hongmei and Dongmei are not young anymore; if they dress nicely and find good in-laws later, wouldn’t you as their sister-in-law also benefit?”
“That was my wedding gift.”
No wonder they gave her eight feet of fabric as a wedding gift, now looking at the clothes they’re wearing, Lin Jiayi doubts that it was a calculated move by the Li Family.
“You also know that it was your dowry, where did your dowry come from?” It was from the Li family after all.
Li Guangyuan’s eldest sister, Li Hongmei, also chimed in, “Exactly, big sister-in-law, plus, with so many new clothes yourself, you surely don’t need this fabric. Consider it a gift for us two, isn’t it proper for a sister-in-law to make clothes for her sisters-in-law?”
“Exactly, I heard when Zhang Chunlan’s sister-in-law got married over here, they bought her ready-made clothes; we’re just asking for a piece of fabric from you and haven’t even started complaining about you being stingy,” Li Guangyuan’s second sister, Li Dongmei, also expressed her dissatisfaction.
Lin Jiayi trembled with anger, spinning around to face Li Guangyuan behind her.
Li Guangyuan, worried his wife might offend his mother, came over, but upon meeting Lin Jiayi’s gaze, he instinctively wanted to retreat inside the house.
There are several women in the household he can’t afford to offend.
He must show filial respect to his mother, his two sisters have been spoiled rotten by their mom since childhood, his wife… seems like she shouldn’t be angered either.
Lin Jiayi didn’t let him off, quickly following and tugging him to help speak for her, “Guangyuan, look at them.”
If it were her previous life, she would never have clung to Qin Yang asking him to speak up for her, but Li Guangyuan was different.
These days since their marriage, she felt his consideration and thought he would stand by her.
But before Li Guangyuan could even speak, Old Mrs. Li sighed deeply first, “Really, I am old and useless, nobody understands my hardships, I only have this one son, they say one can’t succeed alone, hoping my daughters might have good marriages supporting the family a bit, but nobody understands, as if I really care about those trivial things.”
“It’s our fault that our Li family is poor, this old lady failed, all I could manage for my son’s wedding was a dowry and a feast, it’s also unlucky Guangyuan’s father passed away early, why didn’t you take me too, left me to raise three children by myself, now because of a piece of fabric someone’s pointing fingers at our backbone…”
“Guangyuan’s wife, don’t blame Hongmei and Dongmei, blame me instead, I didn’t raise them well, can the mother-in-law apologizing on their behalf not suffice?”
Lin Jiayi, watching the old woman in front of her, nearly couldn’t catch her breath and turned to look at Li Guangyuan, only to see his eyes red and face full of guilt.
“It’s not like that at all, Guangyuan, it’s wrong for them to secretly take my things.”
“I’ve already said, my old self is apologizing on their behalf,” Old Mrs. Li sat at the edge of the brick bed looking heartbroken.
Lin Jiayi widened her eyes, “This isn’t about apologizing…”
“Enough, mom already apologized, what more do you want?” Li Guangyuan interrupted Lin Jiayi and without further words, pulled her out.
Lin Jiayi hadn’t even realized how things had turned out this way; even Qin Family’s big sister-in-law’s deep calculations were plainly visible.
With nowhere to vent her feelings of injustice, Li Guangyuan even scolded her, Lin Jiayi’s tears fell unchecked.
Li Guangyuan pulled her into their room, and upon turning around to see Lin Jiayi crying, he immediately panicked, “Don’t cry…”
Lin Jiayi shook off his hand and ignored him, climbing onto the brick bed to tidy up her clothes.
She had never been wronged or aggrieved like this in her life; she wanted to return to her parents’ home.