Only then did Li Jin'e notice that Huang Mancang's face was swollen like a pig's head, and she asked in a puzzled tone, "Dad, what happened to you?"
His eyes caught sight of Huang Xiaoguo's pig-like face, and he felt increasingly puzzled. "Big brother, did you fight with Dad?"
Huang Xiaoguo glanced quickly at Old Lady Wu, his mouth tightly shut, and he didn't say a word.
When Wang Huijun recalled how Old Lady Wu had beaten Huang Xiaoguo at her parents' home, her kicks were incredibly clean and swift. But when she returned home and saw her father-in-law's cautious and timid demeanor, she unconsciously pursed her lips.
The injuries on the faces of the father-in-law and Huang Xiaoguo were probably the work of the mother-in-law.
After asking around without getting an answer, Li Jin'e was too lazy to care anymore. Anyway, it wasn't her and Huang Xiaomin who were beaten, so why did she care if their heads were beaten into a pulp?
Li Jin'e's family home was not close to the Huang family's home, and the road was difficult to travel, so the couple spent the whole afternoon traveling before they returned.
They were starving, so Li Jin'e opened her mouth and skillfully instructed Old Lady Wu to cook them two bowls of noodles.
Huang Xiaomin stood behind her, and after hearing what she said, he stiffened. Before Wu Laotai could react, he immediately gave her a stiff smile and said, "Don't listen to her, don't bother your mother."
No sooner had she finished speaking than her ear suddenly ached. "Huang Xiaomin, have you no guts? Do you know I've been starving all afternoon?"
Li Jin'e grabbed Huang Xiaomin's ear impatiently, glancing at Old Lady Wu with her head half-lowered as she spoke, and said sarcastically, "What? What's wrong with asking Mom to cook me a bowl of noodles? Is it going to tire her out?"
"You've cooked it before, haven't you?"
Old Mrs. Wu chuckled, which startled Li Jin'e. Huang Xiaomin grabbed her hand and tried to pull her away, but he couldn't budge her no matter what; her bottom was stuck to the stool.
"It's not like we haven't cooked it before," Grandma Wu said softly, chewing on each word repeatedly. Yes, in her past life, she had cooked it not just every day, every meal.
The third daughter-in-law was even worse than Qiao Daya. She wouldn't eat anyone else's cooking, only hers. She'd say nice things, like, "Mom's cooking is so delicious, no one can compare."
Secretly, she took this matter back to her parents' home to boast, saying that she was very capable and could control her mother-in-law with ease, making her do as she pleased.
Nowadays, social morality demands that daughters-in-law be filial to their mothers-in-law. It is believed that a daughter-in-law will eventually become a mother-in-law and thus achieve success. It is said that no daughter-in-law or mother-in-law should be like Li Jin'e.
In her past life, she sacrificed herself for the sake of family harmony, taking on everything herself, hoping that her son and daughter-in-law could live in harmony and that they could take care of her a little when she became less mobile.
Everyone adopts children to provide for their old age, but even though she adopted four, she still couldn't secure them.
Since we can't stop them, why should we tolerate their bad behavior?
Grandma Wu raised her cold eyes, making Li Jin'e feel uncomfortable. "Why are you looking at me like that? I didn't say anything wrong."
"Yes, you're right. I used to take extra care of you because you were young and didn't know anything when you first got married."
"You've been married for three years now, it's time you were more mature."
As she spoke, Old Mrs. Wu got up and walked to Huang Xiaomin, gently asking him, "Son, what do you say?"
Huang Xiaomin nodded stiffly, while Li Jin'e gritted her teeth and stood between Huang Xiaomin and Old Lady Wu, saying, "It is only natural for a mother to take care of her son."
Old Mrs. Wu said "Oh," glanced at her up and down, and sneered, "You didn't include my daughter-in-law in that, did you?"
"you!"
Before Li Jin'e could finish speaking, her pupils suddenly contracted, and a crisp slap rang in her ears. Shocked, she looked at Old Lady Wu, then, realizing what had happened, roared angrily, "Mom! Are you crazy?!"
Grandma Wu calmly withdrew her hand. "Yes, I'm crazy. I'll go to the Li family in a bit and ask them how they raise their daughter."
He pushed aside Huang Xiaomin and Li Jin'e and walked towards the door.
Before he even touched the latch, a figure blocked the doorway. "You...you can't go."
Li Jin'e's chest heaved as she gasped for breath. Among her married sisters, she was the most privileged, not only having to do nothing but also having her mother-in-law take care of her daily life. She was practically living a life of luxury.
If we let Old Lady Wu go, how will she ever have the face to go back to her parents' home again?
No, no, we absolutely cannot let her go.
Under the piercing gaze of Old Lady Wu, Huang Xiaomin stood in front of Li Jin'e and pleaded for her, "Mom, she knows she was wrong. You've been working hard all day, so go back to your room and get some rest."
Li Jin'e huddled behind Huang Xiaomin, motionless. Only now that her mind had calmed down, she glanced at Huang Mancang and Huang Xiaoguo's faces, as well as her own burning face. She swallowed hard, and an absurd idea suddenly popped into her head.
Could it be that Grandma Wu slapped my father-in-law and elder brother in the face?
The belatedly realized Li Jin'e successfully won the sympathetic glances of Huang Mancang and Huang Xiaoguo. Well, now the whole family has gloriously received the loving caresses of Old Lady Wu.
Grandma Wu took a few steps back and asked, "So now I don't need to cook noodles for you?"
Before Li Jin'e could speak, Huang Xiaomin tried to answer for her, but was silenced by a cold glare from Old Lady Wu.
Li Jin'e forced herself to speak, "No, it's not necessary."
"Okay, then let me make this clear to you two. From now on, whoever's clothes are in the house should wash them themselves. Your sister-in-law and I will not interfere."
"Furthermore, starting today, there will be no lunch at home for you. You'll have to figure out how to make your own meals."
What!
Huang Xiaoguo and Huang Xiaomin, a married couple, stared wide-eyed. "Where are they going to eat?"
"Mom, where are we going to eat?" Huang Xiaoguo poked his fingers, scratched the back of his head, and asked, "Aren't we going to go hungry?"
"Then hurry up and take the exam to find a job. Once you find a job, transfer your food ration to the factory, and you'll have a place to eat, right?"
Huang Xiaoguo and Huang Xiaomin exchanged a glance, then slumped their shoulders in resignation. It seemed there was no way to avoid it now.
Standing behind Old Lady Wu, Huang Mancang glanced smugly at the two dejected brothers. Luckily, he had a job.
After thinking for a long time, Grandma Wu could only think of these things for now; she would think of the rest later.
The group stood there, stunned, watching helplessly as Old Lady Wu gracefully returned to her house, leaving them staring at each other.
Only when Wu Laotai returned to the house did Li Jin'e dare to peek out. She immediately pulled Huang Xiaomin, who was standing in front of her, back into the house.
Huang Xiaoguo looked at the mess on the table and was about to ask Wang Huijun to clean it up when he saw the chicken leg bones on the table. He hesitated for a moment and then obediently started cleaning it himself.
Huang Xiaoguo was halfway through packing when he bumped into Wang Huijun's hand and was taken aback. Before he could speak, Wang Huijun had already lowered her head and walked past him.
The three Huang family members remained silent. Huang Xiaoguo felt a little uncomfortable and picked up his bowl and chopsticks to go to the kitchen.
After Huang Mancang had Huang Xiaoqiang apply the medicine to him, he waved his hand and prepared to go back to his room.
As Huang Mancang pushed the door open, he frowned in confusion. Couldn't open it? Let's try again.
The door was firmly shut, and Huang Mancang realized that Old Lady Wu had locked it from the inside.
He cleared his throat, about to call her, when the lights in the room suddenly went out.
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