Tian Guihua knew that Hua Baoguo saved a sum of money every month, otherwise she would have asked him for it long ago.
I put down the sweater I was holding, took it, flipped it open, and saw that it cost more than 13,000 yuan.
"When my eldest son got married the year before last, I withdrew a thousand yuan. All my income over the years, except for some expenses, is here."
Tian Guihua immediately sensed something was off. "Is it just your income? What about your wife's?"
For people like them who are away from home for extended periods, they have regular meals and don't have many other expenses. Most of their money goes towards buying things for their families.
She saves half each month, but sometimes it's more than that, not to mention the cumulative amount over two or three years. The actual amount is quite different from what she expected.
Hua Baoguo: "She kept her own copy, and I didn't ask about it."
As his wife's husband, he had long suspected that his wife was subsidizing her family with most of her money.
Perhaps because of this, Xun Liangfen didn't inquire about his savings, fearing he might bring it up.
Tian Guihua asked casually, not intending to take care of her daughter-in-law's money. She unceremoniously put away the booklet, saying, "I'll take this. You know, your father and I have been supporting this family for so many years, and we don't have much savings."
Zhi'an is getting old enough to get married.
Hua Xiangyun couldn't be neglected either; she needed to find some things as well.
Hua Baoguo said, "These are all things I should do. After the New Year, I will hand over all my salary to my family. Mother, you can decide how to use it."
Tian Guihua glanced outside the door before whispering to Hua Baoguo, "You should also subtly advise your wife. It's fine to side with her family, but there's a bottom line."
Don't forget, you have three children. Do you think your father and I can protect you forever?
"I don't want to move around now, otherwise I really should have a good talk with your father-in-law. Our children haven't eaten a single grain of rice from their family, so why should Guyu have the right to tell us what to do?"
On the contrary, despite Xun Liangfen's years of helping them, it is actually Xiao Guai and her brother who have suffered the most.
Hua Baoguo said, "The children have been wronged before, but after all, they are their maternal relatives. Sometimes we still need to visit them, otherwise people will gossip."
“Look at you, you’re not very reasonable,” Tian Guihua snorted. “It seems your father and I have spoiled you too much over the years. It’s time for you to take charge.”
Hua Baoguo quickly begged for mercy, "Mother, you know I'm a straightforward person and I hate these trivial matters the most. Anyway, the eldest son's wife has already entered the family, so she can run the household from now on."
Tian Guihua, "...Didn't you ever think of letting your wife run the household?"
Hua Baoguo scratched his head, "...She's even less capable of handling family matters than I am, so let's just leave it at that!"
Xun Liangfen searched the courtyard and found the brother and sister in Hua Zhian's room.
The two were sitting head to head, eating dried fruit and chatting and laughing.
"Xiangyun, don't just sit here so early in the morning. Go and help wash those clothes." She was referring to Hua Zhian's dirty clothes.
Hua Xiangyun was taken aback. Ever since she and her siblings grew up, they had always washed their own clothes. However, she did not object and replied, "I'll go wash in a bit."
Hua Zhian said, "You don't need to wash it. I'll just scrub it a few times. It's so cold outside, don't catch a cold."
Hua Zhian wasn't shameless enough to throw his clothes to the girl to wash, especially his underwear.
She then looked up at Xun Liangfen and said, "Mom, go ahead and do what you need to do. I'll take care of myself in a bit."
"You've had a long journey, let your sister do something." Xun Liangfen's face immediately darkened. Xiangyun was already seventeen years old, but she hadn't done anything these past few days. If she continued to be spoiled like this, who would want her?
“I’m not tired,” Hua Zhian smiled at her. “After sitting on the train for several days, I should have stretched my muscles a long time ago.”
Besides, that thick cotton coat gets so heavy and bulky in the water that my little sister couldn't even scrub it properly; I had to do it myself.”
"Why can't you rub anymore?" Xun Liangfen said when she saw Hua Xiangyun sitting there without saying a word. "She's stronger than even your father. In the future, she should take care of some things at home."
Other girls her age already manage everything at home and outside very well; we can't let her slack off anymore.
Hua Xiangyun was also feeling a bit annoyed. Everything had been fine before, so why was she being so aggressive today? Was she about to get her period? Or had she already entered menopause?
“We’re all perfectly capable, why would we need our sister to do anything?” Hua Zhian said, pursing his lips. “Look at my grandfather, he does all the laundry and cooking. Do you think I, his grandson, am more fortunate than him?”
Xun Liangfen's face turned completely cold. "Why am I being so unpleasant to listen to now? You keep making excuses when I ask you to do something. What are you trying to do?"
Hua Xiangyun didn't mind doing something herself, but she didn't like hearing these words: "Mom, you spend less time at home, but you should know that we all do what we can in our family."
We've been washing our own clothes since we were old enough to do it ourselves. If you think anything is unreasonable, go talk to Grandma.
"How dare you talk to your mother like that?" Xun Liangfen snapped, raising her voice. "What? Now you're trying to use your grandma to intimidate me? Don't forget, I'm your mother. In this family, you should all listen to me."
"Oh, do you want us two old folks to take orders from you too?" Tian Guihua, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, stood behind her and said coldly.
"Mother, you spoil Xiangyun too much. Look, all I asked her to do was wash some clothes, and she's making all sorts of excuses..."
Before Xun Liangfen could finish speaking, Tian Guihua turned to Hua Baoguo and asked, "Do you also think your wife makes sense? Do you believe that women have to take care of housework after they get married?"
Hua Baoguo winked at Xun Liangfen, but to his surprise, she not only didn't understand, but also muttered, "That's how it is. If we let her have her way now, it will only hurt her."
Tian Guihua nodded and smiled, "Baoguo, I think your wife makes a lot of sense."
Being someone's daughter-in-law is different from being their daughter; certain rules need to be established.
Hua Zhian was about to retort when Hua Xiangyun grabbed him.
Tian Guihua continued, "Liangfen, it's all my fault as the mother-in-law."
"You should have been in charge of this household long ago, it's just that this old woman has been meddling!"
Xun Liangfen sensed something was off about the tone and her expression became somewhat unnatural. "Mother, I was just saying that in the heat of the moment..."
"No, this means that this is your deepest thought." Tian Guihua raised her hand to stop her from continuing. "A wife should indeed act like a wife."
Baoguo, you've been washing your own clothes and taking care of everything yourself for so many years. I should have a serious talk with your father-in-law about this.
I wonder how your mother-in-law raised you? How come you don't know how to serve your own husbands?
And look at this family, which of the wives is truly uninvolved and doesn't care about anything?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
