Chapter 17 Bringing Up Old Debts
When Song Lubai returned from her third day of work, Lin Jinyao and Liu Xingchun were both there, as was Lin Shuhong, who was also there today.
Song Lubai casually asked, "What did the doctor say? How is your sister-in-law's recovery going? When can she be discharged?"
Lin Dahai also looked over and said in a commanding tone, "If there's nothing seriously wrong with your health, go home and rest. Staying in the hospital is too much trouble."
Lin Shuhong lowered her head and retorted, her tone flat but extremely infuriating: "It's not like she spent your family's money. The doctor said she's damaged her vital energy and needs to rest properly."
Lin Shuhong knew that if Aunt Li didn't leave the hospital, Liu Mei definitely wouldn't want to leave either, so he had to support her.
Lin Dahai was offended by his own son and wanted to regain his dignity as a father, otherwise no one would take him seriously.
"You're going to take care of him at home anyway, why insist on keeping him in the hospital? Isn't staying in the hospital troublesome? It just drags on and on. If you want him to be cared for, go back to the county hospital. Aren't you tired of running back and forth every day?"
Song Lubai knew what was wrong with Lin Dahai.
He couldn't stand Liu Xingchun eating for free at home and wanted to kick her out.
Liu Xingchun has only been eating at her house for free for less than three days; it must be her mother talking behind her back.
Although life has been much better these past few years than during the famine years, every household still has a share of food. It would be strange if her mother were happy to have outsiders come and eat for free.
Her stepfather seemed quiet and unassuming on the surface, but he was actually quite calculating.
Lin Shuhong was a little annoyed at the time, feeling that having a stepmother really meant having a stepfather.
If his biological mother were alive, and his wife were staying in the hospital, his biological mother would not only not kick her out, but would also go to the hospital to take care of her.
Unlike now, he feels uncomfortable every time he visits his biological father, and his wife is even kicked out of the hospital if she stays there for a few more days.
Lin Shuhong said angrily, "How can the county hospital compare to the city hospital? She was brought back from the brink of death this time. I'm willing to stay in the hospital for a few more days to recover. It's troublesome to have to go back and forth to the county hospital."
Seeing that Lin Dahai had shut up, Zhang Cui, who hadn't said a word, knew that she would have to play the villain today.
Zhang Cui spoke directly: "It's right for Liu Mei to recuperate in the hospital, but our family's food rations are fixed, and with so many people, we might not have enough to eat until the end of the month."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xingchun lowered her head and dared not utter a sound.
She was penniless; she brought nothing but a withered rabbit with her.
Her family didn't give her any money, nor did her aunt Liu Mei. For the few days she was there, she had been eating food from Lin Dahai's family.
I have to say, the food here is much better than what she eats at home.
Besides Liu Xingchun, there is also Lin Jinyao.
Although Lin Jinyao is small, she still needs to consume food every day.
Lin Shuhong's face suddenly turned red.
Before outputting again, Zhang Cui said to the younger children, "Go, all of you go out and play, come back in a while."
Lin Jianshe and Lin Heping couldn't wait to go out. Liu Xingchun silently held Lin Jinyao's hand and glanced at Song Lubai as they left.
Song Lubai went inside to get her notebook, preparing to go to Ma Xiaohe's house to finish her work.
Before Song Lubai even left the house, she heard Lin Shuhong say excitedly, "Dad, it's only been a few days, how much could they possibly eat? If my mother were still alive, she wouldn't care about these things at all. You two are so petty. If we're talking about freeloading, Song Lubai has been freeloading for so many years, and you're still willing to support her. Dad, you're not my dad anymore."
Song Lubai had already reached the door when she heard these words and couldn't help but speak.
She knew Lin Shuhong was saying this to her, trying to disgust her.
She turned around and said, "I ate my mom's portion. My mom's job is more than enough to support me. Don't make it sound like I got some kind of great deal."
Zhang Cui turned around and glared at him, shooing him away: "What's it to you? Get out of here."
Song Lubai pursed her lips, went out the door and closed it, standing at the door to eavesdrop, also to prevent anyone from passing by and hearing it, and then spreading it everywhere.
Zhang Cui: "I had a job before I married your father. Didn't you use my money to buy furniture for your wedding? Didn't I help you find a job? I even found the ticket for that bicycle for you."
Lin Shuhong, you need to have a conscience. What have I done to wrong you? Why are you bringing up Lu Bai? That's my daughter. If we didn't support her, would we kick her out of the house and make her beg on the streets? You'll be condemned to death for your shame!
I didn't eat or drink anything from you, nor did I benefit from your generosity, yet you still have such a big opinion.
What, do I have to be a slave to you and Liu Mei? Whose food comes from the wind?
She even tried to get my job last time. How come Liu Mei gets all the good things?
You always say that your dad became your stepfather after marrying me, but I think you've forgotten your own father after getting married, and you're trying to squeeze every advantage of your wife into your family.
At this point, Lin Dahai nodded vigorously in his heart, completely agreeing.
"It doesn't matter if your daughter eats or drinks a little, but what does Liu Mei's niece have to do with my family? Why should I support her?"
“You’re only thinking about Liu Mei. Have you thought about your brother? I’m not your biological mother, but I can honestly say I’ve never mistreated you. As a stepmother, I dare say I’ve spent more money on you than on my own daughter. And yet, you treat me like an enemy all the time, and now you treat your father like an enemy too.”
Zhang Cui's popularity today didn't come out of nowhere.
She inquired about Li Guangming's situation and was very satisfied with the other party's conditions. Today, she made a special trip to the hospital. Asking about Liu Mei's situation was secondary; her main purpose was to talk to that Sister Li.
As it turned out, she overheard some gossip not long after she arrived, and she happened to see Liu Xingchun getting close to Li Dajie's nephew, Li Guangming. Liu Xingchun even chased him all the way to the hospital entrance.
How could someone with experience like her not understand the shy way Liu Xingchun spoke to Li Guangming?
It was her daughter who brought up Li Guangming's matter; Liu Mei had only mentioned it to her briefly.
She said Liu Mei was so careless; it turned out she had this in mind.
They've started plotting against her again. There's no way they'd let Liu Xingchun stay any longer!
So she said it directly in front of everyone just now, hoping to embarrass Liu Xingchun and make her hurry back to the village.
Hearing her mother start bringing up old grievances, Song Lubai, who was standing at the door, left reassured.
She remembered that when Lin Dahai first became her stepfather, Lin Shuhong and his sister Lin Qiu were not yet married, and there were quite a few conflicts in those years.
After Lin Shuhong got married, her job was transferred to the county, and the atmosphere at home became a little more relaxed.
But when it comes to money, there are always some frictions in the family.
Lin Shuhong, Lin Qiu, and Lin Dahai were arguing, and Lin Dahai was arguing with his mother.
Lin Shuhong and Lin Qiu accused Lin Dahai of being a stepfather.
Lin Dahai accused his mother of being petty and not genuinely wanting to live a good life with him.
Then her mother cried and gave in.
My aunt always says that her mother is incompetent and can only cry when people bully her.
Song Lubai felt that her mother had made progress in recent years, after all, she had started to settle old scores.
Her aunt said that after Lin Shuhong married Liu Meidan, Lin Jianshe and Lin Heping grew up, and Lin Dahai's heart turned back to her. Song Lubai felt that this was also true.
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