Everything was fine before, but Manli changed after their family came.
He looked at the state of his home and then at Manli's deranged expression, his fists clenching tightly, his heart filled with hatred that he had nowhere to vent.
"Manli, that family is not simple. We can't offend them." No matter how much hatred he felt, Du Wenshan dared not do anything.
He knew his own abilities, but he was afraid that his wife might do something rash and cause trouble for others.
"Don't worry, I'm not that stupid. Just listen to me and I'll let it go this time, but I won't be so easy to talk to next time."
Zhang Manli dusted off her hands, went out the door with ease, and once outside, she transformed back into that gentle and delicate person.
"Mom and Dad, give me the child. We need to tidy up the house properly, otherwise we won't have anywhere to stay tonight."
As Zhang Manli spoke, she looked at the room with a face full of regret.
"It's good that Wenshan's family is alright. These are all material possessions." Several families living in the courtyard offered their comfort upon seeing their state.
They all lived in the same compound. The Du family was small, so there was little to do. Du Laowu was a cook at a state-run restaurant. It was said that he had fled from another place during the famine years ago.
He was the only one left in his family, all of his children had died. He and his wife had a hard life; they had four children, but only Wenshan survived.
Fortunately, this son is also quite promising. He learned shoe repair from someone before, and his skills are excellent.
Later, he got the opportunity to be selected by the Beijing Leather Shoe Factory, and now he is a technician at the factory. Both of them are full-time employees.
That's why he was able to have two separate rooms. Later, he married a woman who became pregnant not long after they got married.
It wasn't good when she got pregnant, and she had to stay in bed to recover, but thankfully she gave birth to a big, healthy boy.
They've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and everyone around them envies them.
Seeing their house burned down like this, some malicious people think they deserve it and let them gloat.
But many more people are relieved that it was only their own house that burned down; what if it had affected others?
“Aunt Wu, you’re right. As long as they’re alive, that’s enough. We can always buy these things later. It’s just that my parents are upset and can’t let it go.”
Zhang Manli noticed that Du Laowu and Du Laotaipo had been keeping their heads down ever since she came out, afraid that someone would notice something was wrong, so she quickly made up an excuse.
“Yes, yes, as long as we’re alive, Wenshan and I will both have jobs and won’t starve.” Du Laowu understood Zhang Manli’s meaning and quickly looked up to express his opinion.
The Wu family members pursed their lips, wondering what this meant. Were they showing off their two full-time employees?
Even if everything is burned, can't they still afford to buy new furniture? Hearing this, the families felt unhappy and closed the door to go inside.
"Who are you all trying to impress with your dejected expressions? What you burned were just worthless things, but you all look like you've lost your ancestors."
"Take this money and try to get some new furniture tomorrow. Those old things are getting worn out, and I'm planning to replace them with new ones."
"This house needs a good cleaning, just like that other house, whitewash the walls and lay wooden floors."
“If we had made a big fuss about it before, people would have said something, but isn’t this perfect? I want to be just like them.”
Zhang Manli casually handed Du Wenshan ten ten-yuan bills. She wasn't stupid; she knew that burning things was only superficial.
She had already hidden away all the valuables; the money was safely stored in her savings account.
"You're throwing such a big tantrum just to burn the house down so you can replace it with a new one? Are you crazy?" Du Wenshan looked at Zhang Manli with disbelief.
"Hmph, you provoked me first, I was just going along with it. Let me tell you, since you ruined me, you'll owe me for the rest of your lives."
"If I'm doing well, your family will be doing well too. If you mess with me, your whole family will die. I don't care if I go crazy or become stupid."
"If you don't want anyone to know what you've done, you'll be lying low for the rest of your lives." Zhang Manli looked at the group with sarcasm and went straight into the house.
"Wenshan, how long are we going to endure this? I really can't take it anymore."
“This time she burned down the house because of a dissatisfaction. What about next time? Will she burn us all down if she gets upset?”
Grandma Du looked at her son, and she couldn't hold back her tears.
"Mom, she wouldn't dare. She still wants us to make money for her. She's just angry. Don't say those things in front of her anymore."
Du Wenshan sat there dejectedly, staring intently at the money clutched in his hand.
"Your mother is only doing this for your own good. Things have come to this, what more could she ask for?"
"It wasn't our idea in the first place; it was her parents who suggested it. We can't keep living like this forever, can we?"
“I just want her to live a good life with you. How can you two continue like this? Da Bao needs a younger brother or sister too.”
"It doesn't matter if your father and I suffer a little grievance, and it doesn't matter if she runs this household. As long as she can give birth to children for our Du family, everything is negotiable."
“Your father and I only have you as our child. We can’t call Da Bao our only child, can we? I only said that one sentence, and I was even talking to her nicely.”
"Who knew she could be so crazy? She would burn down the house at the drop of a hat and wouldn't let us interfere. We almost caused a huge disaster."
Even though Old Lady Du was feeling terrible, she spoke very softly, afraid that the person inside would hear her and go crazy.
"Mom, let's just live with Da Bao from now on. I don't expect to have any more children. No matter whose idea it was, this is what our family owes her."
"She just wants to live a good life. She doesn't dare to cause trouble. This time, she just wanted to stay in a nice place and was afraid that people would say she was extravagant, so she did this."
"Don't worry, didn't she take out the money?" Du Wenshan knew what Zhang Manli was thinking; she just wanted to be provoked by the family next to her.
She's so extreme that she burned down the house; she must have been thinking about replacing the furniture. Her mother's actions just happened to be what she was looking for.
He'd figured her out after all this time; she was someone who loved to enjoy life and wanted everyone to be inferior to her.
Before that family came, she was the best off in the neighborhood, except for the factory manager's family in front.
Now, being compared to others, and living so close by, seeing them every day, has twisted my mind.
"Son, are we just going to put up with this? What did we do wrong? Why should we suffer like this? If it really comes down to it, let's talk to our in-laws and send them back."
"At worst, I'll marry another woman, and I'll take care of Da Bao. It'll be better than this."
Old Mrs. Du really couldn't take it anymore. What kind of mother-in-law would act like this?
"It's easy to invite a god but hard to send him away. Mother, she won't leave. Let's keep her calm for now, there will be other opportunities later."
Du Wenshan glanced into the room, his thoughts unknown.
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