Chapter Eleven: Full of Mischief
Xinli picked out the cheapest pair of butterfly hair clips and handed them to Xu Haiyu.
"I didn't know Mingzhou had a younger sister beforehand, so I didn't prepare any gift for our meeting. This is a hair clip I bought before coming to the island. It's just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you won't mind."
Xu Haiyu stared at the pair of butterfly hair clips.
This was a style she had never seen before.
She really liked it.
But considering that it was a gift from Xin Li, she didn't really want it.
Especially since she clearly saw that there were many similar items in that jewelry box, Xu Haiyu was driven mad with jealousy.
Is this woman deliberately showing off in front of her?
Absolutely!
She doesn't want this woman's charity!
Zhang Jinhua also saw what was in the jewelry box, but she didn't think there was anything wrong with Xinli's behavior. She even secretly gave Xinli a lot more points, thinking that the girl was quite generous.
After all, Xu Haiyu's identity is somewhat sensitive, and Xin Li's impeccable manners are truly befitting of a young lady from a prominent family in Shanghai.
Indeed, she is excellent in every way, and is more than a match for Xiao He.
"Xiaoyu, since your sister-in-law gave it to you, you should take it."
"You must get along well with your sister-in-law from now on."
When Xu Haiyu heard Zhang Jinhua say that, she felt like her back teeth were about to shatter.
She really wanted to take the hair clip, smash it on the ground, and crush it to pieces, but she knew that doing so would disappoint Zhang Jinhua.
The connections she had on this island were the only thing she could use to rival Xin Li, and she absolutely could not afford to make a mistake.
Thinking of this, Xu Haiyu's mood suddenly improved.
Yes.
She grew up on an island, and these people all watched her and her brother Mingzhou grow up.
Xinli is just an outsider, and the kind of pampered young lady who can't lift a finger. How could she possibly compare to me?
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Xu Haiyu reached out and took the hair clip, giving a fake smile.
Xin Li naturally didn't miss the scheming in Xu Haiyu's eyes.
She was finding life on the island a little monotonous, so she was happy to have someone come to her door to play.
"Look at my memory! I came to invite you to dinner. Xiaoyu is here too, let's come on over and eat at your sister-in-law's house today!"
Neither Xin Li nor Xu Haiyu refused.
Zhang Jinhua is a very good cook, and she can eat a lot every time.
Seeing that Xin Li had eaten three large bowls of food without any hesitation, Xu Haiyu raised an eyebrow and asked tentatively, "Sister-in-law, have you been hungry for a long time?"
Xinli nodded: "Yes, your brother isn't here. I can't cook, so I eat dry rations every day."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jinhua immediately felt a pang of sympathy: "Didn't I tell you to come eat at your sister-in-law's? Why are you still starving at home?"
Xin Li smiled shyly: "It's not right for me to come and freeload every day."
Zhang Jinhua smiled helplessly: "We're all family, what's there to be embarrassed about? Besides, Xiao He told me before he left that he would take care of you. Do you think I would say one thing to your face and another behind your back? Xiao He came to my house for dinner before he came back. What's the big deal about having one more set of chopsticks and a bowl for you?"
"Don't feel embarrassed."
Xin Li didn't refuse. Thinking of all the good things she had in her space, she nodded and said, "Then it's settled."
"Oh, right, sister-in-law, I brought a lot of meat with me. I don't know how to cook it anyway, so why don't you use it as food expenses?"
"Let's cook it together and eat it together."
Zhang Jinhua wanted to refuse, but Xin Li said, "If you don't want it, sister-in-law, I won't dare to come to eat here again."
Zhang Jinhua then agreed.
Xu Haiyu watched quietly, her expression growing increasingly solemn.
I originally thought that Xin Li was delicate and knew nothing, but I didn't expect her to be so good at social maneuvering.
No, I have to take action right away.
Otherwise, once Xinli becomes familiar with everyone on the island, everything will truly be over.
She was clearly the one who had been with Mingzhou the longest, so why did Xinli overtake her and take her place?
She absolutely will not allow it!
...
After finishing her meal, Xin Li returned to He Mingzhou's house. Xu Haiyu said she had something to say to Zhang Jinhua and did not leave with Xin Li.
Xin Li could tell at a glance that Xu Haiyu was up to something, but she didn't care and walked away on her own.
You should rest properly after eating. Aren't you afraid of indigestion and stomach upset if you're so fussy?
"Sister-in-law Lu, is this Xinli... really my sister-in-law?"
While helping Zhang Jinhua wash the dishes, Xu Haiyu asked in a low voice.
Zhang Jinhua was taken aback by her question: "Why would you ask that?"
Xu Haiyu wrinkled her nose and said with some complicated feelings, "Actually, when I found out that Brother Mingzhou had a fiancée in Shanghai, I had someone investigate..."
"Sister-in-law, don't glare at me. I'm just worried that someone might want to harm Brother Mingzhou."
Zhang Jinhua sighed, "But Xiao He won't like what you're doing."
"Just don't tell him, okay? Okay, sister-in-law, don't change the subject. The sister-in-law I found out about back then is completely different from Xinli in front of me..."
"How are they different?"
Zhang Jinhua carefully recalled Xin Li's performance on the island and became more and more satisfied.
She was a wealthy young lady from Shanghai. Although she looked delicate and frail, she was actually very comfortable to be around.
She's down-to-earth, easygoing, and has a sweet tongue.
Not to mention He Mingzhou, she wished she could have such a well-behaved and obedient daughter or daughter-in-law in the future.
That night, she even told her husband that Xiao He's hardships had finally come to an end.
The previous marriage had gone through several twists and turns, causing the He family to suffer a lot of grievances. Now that it has finally come to fruition, and the wife is such a bright and sensible beauty, He Mingzhou has really struck gold.
"I've spent these few days with her and found that although she's a bit clueless about how to conduct herself, she's not a difficult person to get along with."
Xu Haiyu's expression changed, and her hands, hanging at her sides, clenched tightly.
She never expected that Xin Li would completely win over Zhang Jinhua in just a few days.
Xu Haiyu knows this sister-in-law very well.
He seems very kind, but he is actually the strictest.
If there's anything she doesn't like, she'll point it out immediately.
Everyone said she had a strong official presence.
Xu Haiyu actually thought so too, but she was the beneficiary. Zhang Jinhua treated her exceptionally well because of He Mingzhou, which made her the most popular person on the island. She was extremely proud of herself.
But now, seeing Zhang Jinhua praising Xin Li so highly, Xu Haiyu began to feel a sense of crisis.
"I heard he has a terrible temper."
"And she also likes to bully others. She has a half-sister who is said to be bullied terribly at home."
"It seems that my previous marriage with Brother Mingzhou was also hindered by this person."
Zhang Jinhua's expression darkened upon hearing this.
Everyone knows that He Mingzhou was engaged a long time ago, but because the woman's family wouldn't budge, he's still not married at his age.
Zhang Jinhua treated He Mingzhou like a junior, so it would be a miracle if he were happy to hear about something like this.
"Is that really true?"
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