Wu Xiuli saw Zhu Xiaoru, her face full of smiles, but her words contained thorns as she greeted Zhu Xiaoru: "Third sister-in-law, today is really a rare day! Throughout the year, only today can I see you and your daughter together."
Even without thinking, Zhu Xiaoru understood what Wu Xiuli meant. Wu Xiuli was saying that Zhu Xiaoru didn't know how to go back to the old house to visit Wen Yiran and his wife all year round, and she was unfilial!
Zhu Xiaoru's face turned pale, and she involuntarily used a little force to grab her daughter Wenjing's hand.
The relationship between Zhu Xiaoru and Wu Xiuli has never been good, but it is not bad either. After Zhu Xiaoru married Wen Yulun, she believed that she had done nothing wrong to Wu Xiuli. During the years when Feng Xueying was ill and confused, the two sisters-in-law were scolded by Feng Xueying together. Logically, Wu Xiuli and Zhu Xiaoru should have "sympathized with each other". At that time, Zhu Xiaoru moved out of the old house and Wu Xiuli followed suit. The difference is that after Feng Xueying recovered from her illness, Wu Xiuli moved back to the old house, but Zhu Xiaoru never wanted to live back in this place that made her so embarrassed.
Although Zhu Xiaoru seldom returned to the old house these years, she had always taken the due gifts throughout the year. Wu Xiuli lived with the old people, so she must have eaten a lot of those gifts. Today, Wu Xiuli suddenly acted like this, and Zhu Xiaoru didn't know what was wrong with her.
Wu Xiuli was in a bad mood today, exhausted, frustrated, and with nowhere to vent her anger. Of the Wen family's wives, Wang Qiuyan hadn't come down from upstairs, so Wu Xiuli could only flaunt her authority as the eldest sister-in-law to Zhu Xiaoru.
A few days ago, Wu Xiuli had been busy in the hospital because of He Jingjing's situation. The conditions in the hospital were definitely not comparable to those at home. Her meals were delivered by the housekeeper at home, and they certainly didn't taste as good when they arrived at the hospital as they did when they were freshly cooked at home. And that wasn't all. Every night, Wu Xiuli woke up several times on the narrow, hard bed in the hospital ward.
He Jingjing had been unconscious, and although Wu Xiuli didn't have to do much, she had been pampered in the Wen family for years, and even this little bit of nursing work was exhausting. Wen Yiran had specifically instructed Wu Xiuli to personally care for He Jingjing, otherwise she would rather hire a nurse than endure the pain herself.
Today is New Year's Eve. Last night, Wu Xiuli received a message from her mother-in-law asking the housekeeper to go home early in the morning to prepare for the reunion dinner.
The Wen family's New Year's Eve dinner was quite formal, but it was similar in every aristocratic family in Kyoto. On New Year's Eve, the hostess would arrange the afternoon dinner. This meal was a source of pride and honor for the hostess.
The Wen family's reunion dinner should have been personally organized by Feng Xueying. Unfortunately, Feng Xueying had been seriously ill for the past few years, so the responsibility of preparing the reunion dinner fell to Wu Xiuli. After all, she was the eldest son and daughter-in-law of the Wen family. It was perfectly legitimate for her to arrange the meal on Feng Xueying's behalf.
Wu Xiuli actually didn't want to take care of this meal. Not only was she exhausted, but she also didn't see any benefits. If it went well, it would be a testament to Feng Xueying's leadership as a mother-in-law. If it went badly, it would be a disgrace to Wu Xiuli. What Wu Xiuli wanted most today was to go home and get a good night's sleep. These past few days, because of He Jingjing, she had been so exhausted.
Wu Xiuli's hopes were doomed to fail. As soon as she entered the house, Feng Xueying was already waiting in the living room. She told Wu Xiuli to figure it out herself and went back to her room to rest. On New Year's Eve, her family had a tradition of staying up all night, and Feng Xueying planned to catch up on some sleep so she'd be refreshed enough to stay up with Wen Yiran that night.
Wu Xiuli was furious and reluctantly started to take care of the housework. Fortunately, with a few years of experience and the help of a housekeeper, Wu Xiuli did a relatively smooth job, but she still felt a little angry.
Wang Qiuyan and Wen Yuxiang arrived home a little later than Wu Xiuli and went upstairs to rest. After all, Wen Yuxiang and his wife had been on the train for more than ten hours, and Wu Xiuli had no reason to ask her second sister-in-law Wang Qiuyan for help, so she took out her anger on Zhu Xiaoru who had just walked in.
Zhu Xiaoru had no idea that there was such a thing going on between Wu Xiuli and Feng Xueying. She thought her sister-in-law was looking for trouble. Zhu Xiaoru was also a spoiled only child in her family. After marrying into the Wen family, Feng Xueying first inexplicably turned her back on her. Now even Wu Xiuli jumped out to step on her face. Naturally, she felt extremely angry.
"Mom, it hurts." Six-year-old Wen Jing didn't know what was wrong with her mother, and the sudden pain in her hand made her cry out softly. The little girl was fair and clean, and her appearance combined the best features of her father and mother. Even at such a young age, it was obvious that she was a beauty.
"Xiaojing, Mom didn't mean it. I'm sorry." Wenjing's cry of pain brought Zhu Xiaoru back to her senses. Seeing the obvious bruise on Wenjing's little wrist, Zhu Xiaoru felt very distressed.
Zhu Xiaoru squatted down and quickly took Wen Jing's hand and blew on it. Wen Jing's skin was white and tender, and the slightest bruise looked very glaring.
"Hmph! You're the ones who spoil your children. Unlike my Ziyun and Ziqiu, who have always been thick-skinned and thick-skinned." Wu Xiuli curled her lips. Looking at Wen Jing, who was as delicate as a flower fairy, Wu Xiuli was actually envious and jealous.
Of the three Wen brothers, Wen Yulun was the best looking. Wen Yulong looked handsome on his own, but next to Wen Yulun, he looked much more ordinary. Wu Xiuli's looks were comparable to Zhu Xiaoru's, so compared to Wen Jing, Wu Xiuli's daughter, Wen Ziqiu, wasn't even close to being beautiful.
Zhu Xiaoru ignored Wu Xiuli. It was her own child, so she could do whatever she wanted with him. Even if she spoiled him, it was none of Wu Xiuli's business.
Seeing Zhu Xiaoru's expression turn cold, Wu Xiuli felt furious. She was the eldest sister-in-law, and she couldn't even say a few words to the third sister-in-law? She was giving her the cold shoulder? Did she really think she was more valuable just because she was from the city?
Wu Xiuli's family originates from the countryside, as does Wang Qiuyan. Of the three sisters-in-law, only Zhu Xiaoru grew up in the city. In those days, the urban-rural divide was still quite significant, and Wu Xiuli's envy of Zhu Xiaoru's "city dweller" status was tinged with a hint of jealousy. Furthermore, after Zhu Xiaoru married Wen Yulun, Wen Yulun treated her very well, even visiting the old house less often for her.
Wu Xiuli understood that if she had been driven away by Feng Xueying, Wen Yulong would certainly not be able to treat her with the same attentiveness as Wen Yulun. Sisters-in-law are most afraid of comparison, and compared with Zhu Xiaoru, Wu Xiuli felt that her previously considered a good marriage was now far inferior to Zhu Xiaoru's.
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