Chapter 194 Her in-laws aren't very good.
Li Banxia remained silent for a moment.
He said, "It's easy to like someone, but it's hard to keep liking them. Your feelings for Erniu are real right now, but what about in the long run? Over the next few decades, you'll encounter many ups and downs. One day when you're arguing, will you think about what Erniu's sister-in-law said? Will you realize that Erniu really is that kind of person, and lose the initial feelings for her?"
"How is this possible?!"
Upon hearing this, Su Laosan instantly flew into a rage. "I've always known what kind of person Erniu is. She's lazy and greedy, just like me. No, I'm much lazier than her. I haven't lifted a finger since I dropped out of school, while she still does chores at home from time to time. Why should I look down on her?!"
He had an expression that said, 'Am I really that unreasonable?'
Li Banxia, ...
He also knows he's lazy!
Li Banxia glared at him, annoyed. "Remember what you said today. You chose your wife yourself. You love her and are willing to protect her for the rest of your life. Don't deny her over some trivial matter!"
"Yes, yes, Mom, I promise I won't. I'm much more troublesome than Erniu." Su Laosan nodded with a grin.
Watching him struggle to knead the noodles, Li Banxia shook her head, went to the stove to light a fire and boil water, cooked the noodles in a large pot, and stir-fried the vegetables in a small pot.
The food was ready quickly.
After dinner, the family sat in rocking chairs and talked.
When the eldest son's wife asked about Su Laosan's wedding date with Fang Erniu, Su Laosan said, "Erniu wants to marry into the family before you give birth, so she can keep you company. Her mother is reluctant to let her go and wants Erniu to stay home for the New Year, so she can wear a beautiful wedding dress next spring. She says that once her daughter is married, she can't spend the New Year at her parents' home anymore..."
The eldest son's wife paused for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“There is such a rule. My older brother and sister-in-law love me so much, but my mother won’t let me go back to my parents’ home for the New Year. She says it will affect the fortune of my brothers. You can persuade Erniu to listen to her mother. After she gets married, she really won’t have the chance to spend the New Year at her parents’ home.”
"this……"
Su Laosan was somewhat surprised, "There's such a saying? I didn't know that."
He turned to look at Li Banxia.
Li Banxia frowned. "Speak."
Su Laosan grinned and leaned closer, "Mom, didn't Su Hongying say she'd be going back to her parents' home for the New Year this year, her first year of marriage? You didn't mention that..."
“We don’t have that rule in our family.” Li Banxia glanced at him and continued fanning herself with a palm leaf fan.
Su Laosan said "Oh," and when Su Hongying was mentioned, he licked his lips, glanced at Su Laoda, and then secretly looked at Li Banxia's expression. After hesitating for a while, he finally asked.
"Mom, the old lady said Hongying is pregnant, and her in-laws are making her do chores even though she's heavily pregnant..."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Banxia looked at him with cold eyes and asked, "What do you want to say?"
"nothing."
Su Laosan quickly shook his head, "I just think her in-laws are no good. They bullied a pregnant woman. They're shameless!"
Li Banxia remained noncommittal, looked away, and gazed at the sky, lost in thought.
Su Laosan's face fell, and he turned to look at Su Laoda.
Boss Su shook his head.
That evening, the two brothers met in Su Laosan's room.
Su Laosan asked Su Laoda, "Big brother, are you really not going to do anything? What if Mom remembers? Won't she scold us for not caring about our siblings?"
"How do you want to manage this?"
Su Laosan's initiative to show concern for others was something Su Laoda hadn't expected.
Su Laosan scratched his head and said, "Shall we two brothers go to her in-laws' house and let them know that she has her own brothers backing her up?"
“Well, if they say that once you marry into the Zhang family, you become a member of the Zhang family, and if you feel mistreated, you can get a divorce and go back to your parents’ home, what will you do?” Old Master Su said.
Su Laosan frowned, "...To say something like that is utterly shameless."
Old Su sighed.
“They’ve done even more shameless things. What’s a few words? Besides, can you hold out for a while? Hongying’s in-laws want our mother to keep giving them benefits—cloth, food, bicycles, money. They want everything our mother has. Their desires are insurmountable.”
"What?"
Su Laosan was unaware of all this. "Do they want Mom to support their whole family? Don't her in-laws both have jobs? Her husband seems to have a permanent job too. Are they really that short-sighted?"
Boss Su looked at him in silence.
Su Laosan cursed, "I knew it! That brat Hongying always brings loads of stuff to her husband's house every time she goes back to her parents' home, including a bicycle!"
He suddenly remembered that Hongying had run home to ask for her bicycle, but her mother hadn't given it to her. He didn't know how Hongying had managed to ride away with Lin Jiefang's bicycle, so he had to run to Hongying's mother-in-law's workplace to get it back for her.
Hongying even yelled at her mother, demanding that she bow her head and apologize to her mother-in-law, return the bicycle, and return the money...
Su Laosan wiped his face.
"Brother, we can't help you with this. No one can help Hongying unless she stands up for herself."
The two brothers looked at each other and sighed in unison.
The next day, Su Laosan called Fang Erniu out and told her about his sister-in-law's suggestion. Fang Erniu went back and changed her mind, saying that she would get married after the New Year and let her mother choose the date.
Erniu's mother kept saying "good," her eyes welling up with tears.
She said, "Mom has discussed it with the family. We'll use the thousand yuan your boyfriend gave you to prepare for your dowry, and the nine hundred and ninety-nine yuan will be kept as a dowry. Don't touch that money unless absolutely necessary, understand?"
Fang Erniu hugged her mother's arm with a grin and nodded.
October passed, and November arrived; the eldest son's wife's belly grew even bigger.
By mid-month, the school leaders no longer dared to let her stand on the podium, and approved her leave in advance so that she could go home to prepare for childbirth.
Li Banxia was also busy, teaching in a cramming style, preparing baby supplies, asking people to buy diapers in Shanghai, and exchanging foreign exchange certificates to buy them at high prices at the Friendship Store.
They also hired someone to paint the room where Su Laosan was staying and decorated it according to the young couple's preferences.
After finally finding someone through Li's mother's connections, she immediately called Li Banxia. "Her ancestors served in the palace. The skill has been passed down from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, generation after generation. Her job is undoubtedly excellent. Many people are lining up to hire her. Your father has some connections with her husband, so he cut in line..."
"how?"
Li's mother sighed, "The price is very high, two hundred a month. She only takes care of the mother and child, and doesn't care about anything else. You also have to take care of her food, clothing and accommodation."
“Yes, these are not problems, Mom. Please invite her to our home. I’ll talk to her when I get back later,” Li Banxia said.
Li's mother said, "Okay, as long as you have no problem, I'll have your dad go and ask someone."
Li Banxia took an afternoon off to go back to her parents' home.
The woman's surname was Shao, she was in her early fifties, and she looked like a clean and efficient person.
Li Banxia chatted with her for a while and felt that she was fine. She also tried a few nutritious meals for postpartum women and thought they were good. She wanted to place an order on the spot.
The woman suddenly made a request: "I can ask for less money, but I want to bring my daughter and daughter-in-law with me. You will also be responsible for their food, drink, and lodging."
"this……"
Li Banxia hesitated for a moment, but to her surprise, the woman stood up and left.
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