After the two borrowed the shoe sample, Li Xiaoqin used the excuse that Old Man Shen needed to make the shoes before the New Year, and dragged Li Xiang to ask her for shoe-making skills.
One was cutting the shoe uppers while the other was spinning the thread. The two sisters-in-law seemed to be getting along harmoniously in front of Old Man Shen.
Old Man Shen also felt that the third son's wife was very filial. When chatting with her, his words revealed that he was very satisfied with her.
This made Li Xiaoqin feel proud, and she kept praising Old Man Shen.
Li Xiang served as a foil, only responsible for occasionally smiling and showing support.
The scene of three people talking and laughing in the room greatly stimulated Wang Huilian.
In previous situations like this, she was always the protagonist.
Now the limelight has been stolen by a young wife who is not even 20 years old. Who wouldn't be angry?
However, before she could come up with a way to deal with Li Xiaoqin, an unexpected person from the Shen family returned.
When Wang Huilian was cleaning up the dirt in the stove pit in the outer room, a timid voice suddenly came out from the doorway: "Mom."
Wang Huilian looked up and was stunned. It turned out to be Hongmei who married to Zhaojiawan.
"Hong... Hongmei? Why are you back?"
It has been less than two months since Shen Hongmei got married. Wang Huilian doesn't know why she came back at this time?
Shen Hongmei stepped into the house and stood in front of Wang Huilian, somewhat afraid to look at her mother: "Mom, I...I missed you guys, so I came back to see you."
"Zhao... Changgui also said that there is not much work to do right now, so it's okay for me to come back and stay for a few days."
Wang Huilian was stunned again. It had only been such a short time since they got married, why did they want to come back and live together?
How can a married girl from the countryside just come back casually unless it is an important festival or there is something important happening in her parents' home?
Wang Huilian was stunned for a long time before she reached out and pulled Shen Hongmei over, and asked her in a low voice: "Hongmei, tell me the truth, is there something wrong?"
When Shen Hongmei returned home on the third day, her mother and daughter were very unhappy. She even thought that Hongmei might be angry and not come back to see them during the New Year!
I really didn't expect that he would suddenly come back during such a rare festival.
Before Shen Hongmei could speak, Li Xiaoqin in the room heard the noise and shouted, "Sister-in-law, who's home? Why don't you come in and sit down?"
When Wang Huilian heard Li Xiaoqin's voice, she couldn't help but curl her lips.
He temporarily put aside his plan to question Shen Hongmei and whispered to her, "The one who just spoke was your newly married wife. When you come into the house, you should say that you are living well over there. We can't let that slut in the house laugh at us, do you hear me?"
Seeing that Shen Hongmei didn't respond, Wang Huilian couldn't wait any longer and slapped her. After Shen Hongmei nodded, she turned around and said to the room, "It's the Hongmei family who are here."
Wang Huilian pulled Shen Hongmei into the house and said to Old Man Shen who was leaning on the kang with a smile: "Dad, Hongmei's family is here to see you."
After saying that, he pushed Shen Hongmei forward and signaled her to say hello with his eyes.
Shen Hongmei lowered her head and forced a smile on her face: "Master, are you doing well recently?"
Old man Shen frowned and looked at her: "It's not a festival, what are you doing back here?"
Shen Hongmei felt a little guilty when questioned by Old Man Shen in a stern tone, and her voice trembled: "I...I will come back to see you."
Seeing her daughter getting flustered by the question, Wang Huilian quickly spoke up to smooth things over: "Hongmei said that Changgui asked her to come back to visit. I guess she was afraid that we would miss her. Now that Hongmei is back, she is much better. As a mother, I am finally relieved."
"We say that Changgui is really filial. Hongmei has found a good son-in-law with good conditions. If he hadn't given a large betrothal gift, Xiaoqin might not have gotten married so soon!"
Li Xiaoqin looked unhappy after hearing this.
Isn't Wang Huilian's implication that Chen Qiushu is incompetent?
He still relied on Shen Hongmei’s betrothal money to marry a wife.
Although it is indeed true, it is too disrespectful to say it so carelessly.
After Wang Huilian finished speaking, she quickly asked Shen Hongmei to sit on the kang: "When a married girl comes back, she is a distinguished guest. Hongmei, come and sit down."
Then he pointed at Li Xiaoqin and said, "This is your Third Aunt. Have you ever met her? Call her Third Aunt."
Shen Hongmei smiled at Li Xiaoqin and called out, "Third Aunt."
Li Xiaoqin nodded and looked at Shen Hongmei curiously.
She had never seen the girl from this old family. When she got married, Shen Hongmei had already been married.
Later, when they were chatting, Chen Qiushu told her that when they got married, they sent a letter to Zhaojiawan, but no one from the Zhao family came, and Chen Hongmei didn't come back either.
Li Xiaoqin was very curious about Shen Hongmei's life in the Zhao family.
The son-in-law is so old, but he can afford so much dowry. Either of these two things would be curious enough.
Moreover, seeing that she came back empty-handed and had just gotten married, I couldn't suppress my curiosity.
"Why didn't Changgui come back with you?" Li Xiaoqin asked, staring into Chen Hongmei's eyes.
When Shen Hongmei heard Zhao Changgui's name, she couldn't help but shiver and stammered, "He...he's busy, helping others, he can't...come."
Li Xiaoqin then asked her, "You didn't bring the children back? You should bring them back to meet us. After all, this is their grandmother's home, haha, right?"
As soon as these words came out, Wang Huilian's face slumped.
Just tell me, is Li Xiaoqin annoying?
You know that Hongmei will be a stepmother after she gets married, but you still bring up all sorts of issues!
Chen Hongmei was just hesitant and didn't know how to answer. Wang Huilian couldn't help but speak up: "Although they are not my biological children, they are all grown up and don't need anyone to worry about them. They can also help with a lot of work."
"Hongmei, if you marry him, you will be able to enjoy the good life right away. It's no different from having someone to serve you. Don't you think so, Hongmei?"
Wang Huilian deliberately emphasized the last few words and looked at Shen Hongmei meaningfully, hoping that she would cooperate with her and continue speaking.
Shen Hongmei looked up at her mother and hummed.
Wang Huilian was about to change the topic, but Li Xiaoqin obviously didn't want to let Shen Hongmei go.
"Hongmei, do they call you mother?"
"Old Third Wife, what do you mean by this? Are you asking me questions endlessly?"
Wang Huilian couldn't help it, her eyebrows almost stood up, and she questioned Li Xiaoqin loudly.
"Oh, sister-in-law, what's wrong? I'm just worried about Hongmei's life in her husband's house, so I want to ask and show some concern. What's wrong? Is there something I can't ask?"
Li Xiaoqin looked frightened, patting her chest with one hand, with a lingering fear, a look that was typical of an elder who was concerned about a younger generation who was misunderstood.
“You…” Wang Huilian was so angry at her pretentiousness that she couldn’t say a word.
She just couldn't stand Li Xiaoqin's pretentious and artificial look. Every time she saw it, she felt uncomfortable all over her body.
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