Zhang's mother was truly fed up with her daughter-in-law. With a face full of impatience, she said, "What business is it of yours if someone has a job? Even if the Gu family arranged a job for them, they can still work properly. Look at your brother! Didn't you give him a job? He still got fired. If it weren't for your father's sake, he would have been in jail long ago." Talking about Liu Xiaoli's brother was more painful than talking about her. She sarcastically retorted to her mother-in-law, "That's because you're not as good as the Gu family, my father isn't as good as Gu Weiguo, and you're not as good as Han Yulan." Zhang's mother was so angry she almost fell over, but Liu Xiaoli wasn't finished: "If you weren't so useless, would they dare fire your brother? They probably wouldn't!" "We have to feed him well." Hearing this, Zhang's mother calmed down and said coldly, "Since you look down on our family, then let's get a divorce. Go to whichever family you think is better! We can't afford to support a big shot like you anymore." As she spoke, she went to Liu Xiaoli's room to pack her things. Liu Xiaoli hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation and said smugly, "Back then, your son wasn't the only one who pursued me. I wouldn't have chosen him if it weren't for his honesty." Indeed, Zhang Yuan wasn't the only one who pursued Liu Xiaoli back then. There were others with better status and position than Zhang Yuan, but Zhang Yuan was the most willing to spend money on her, so she ultimately chose Zhang Yuan. Seeing her mother-in-law enter her bedroom, she didn't panic but turned around and left.
The Gu family had exactly ten members, adults and children. Xiao Ran could only eat complementary foods at the moment, and Zhou Xiaohui was feeding him steamed egg custard specially prepared by Aunt Wu with a spoon. Xiao Yunxi lay on his crib, staring at the ceiling. At the dinner table, Gu Weiguo and Xia Dahe were chatting, and Han Yulan was also quietly talking to Zhao Danxiang about making clothes. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Aunt Wu put down her chopsticks and went to open the door. She was stunned to see Liu Xiaoli at the door. Before, Zhang Yuan's mother would come to chat with Director Han, but after her daughter-in-law entered the family, she never came again. But thinking about it, it made sense. Having such a daughter-in-law was enough to drive anyone crazy. How could she have the mood to come and chat with someone?
Aunt Wu spoke first, "Director Han, Comrade Liu, the daughter-in-law of the Zhang family next door, is here." Hearing her called, Han Yulan stopped her conversation with her mother-in-law and got up to walk towards the door. Before she even reached the door, Liu Xiaoli had already entered and looked directly at Gu Weiguo, who was still chatting with Xia Dahe, saying, "County Chief Gu, could you help my parents and younger brother find jobs?" Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent. Perhaps they hadn't expected such a shameless person. After all, the two families were merely neighbors; if they were colleagues, everyone in this compound was one. But they had never seen anyone so brazen. Seeing Gu Weiguo remain silent, Liu Xiaoli became anxious: "You can help Xia Liang's father and brother..." "And what's wrong with her arranging jobs for our family?" Before Gu Weiguo could speak, Han Yulan said angrily, "Hey! I'm telling you, Xiao Liu, what does my daughter-in-law's job have to do with you? Even if we did arrange it, why should we arrange it for you?" Her words were like a tongue twister, making Xia Liang want to laugh. But Liu Xiaoli had no bottom line: "Your family has the ability to arrange jobs, so why not arrange one for our family too? I don't believe Xia Liang's family found their own job." Xia Liang stood up and looked at Liu Xiaoli, saying, "First, the job we got has nothing to do with you. Second, even if my parents-in-law arranged it..." "That's a family matter. You want to arrange a job for me? Who do you think you are? Get out of my house right now, or I'll make you regret it." Liu Xiaoli stared at Xia Liang, speechless. Seeing Xia Liang's arrogant attitude even in her in-laws' house, she turned to look at Director Han beside her. Director Han wasn't angry at all, and immediately retorted sarcastically, "Oh, I didn't realize you were so capable, Xia Liang. What makes you so special? We're both from the countryside, so why does your in-laws arrange jobs for you and your family, while I'm better than you in every way, and why won't my brother even get a job?" Xia Liang retorted angrily, "Why? I'll tell you why today! It's because my professional skills are better than yours, and I know my own limitations." "My brother is self-reliant and wouldn't leech off his sister. My parents wouldn't ask me to give my job to him. But you, Liu Xiaoli, you're arrogant, vain, and love to compare yourself to others, yet you're brainless. Your own family doesn't treat you like a human being, and you even gave up your job for your good-for-nothing brother. Now you're making a fuss about your in-laws arranging a job for you, and now you're dragging my family into it. What right do you have to compare yourself to me?" These words stunned not only Liu Xiaoli but everyone else in the room, except for Han Yulan, who had witnessed Xia Liang's fight with the human traffickers. Han Yulan chuckled softly, turned, and went inside to make a phone call to the Zhang family. At this moment, Zhang's mother came out of her daughter-in-law's room after packing her things, but she couldn't see her daughter-in-law. She thought she was in the yard and was about to go out to look for her when the phone rang. On the phone, Han Yulan explained the whole story. Zhang's mother was so angry that her face turned red. This Liu Xiaoli, it was one thing to make a scene at home, but now she had embarrassed the Gu family. She hung up the phone and ran to the Gu family.
Liu Xiaoli, a woman of over twenty years of experience, was not easily swayed by Xia Liang's words. She simply stated matter-of-factly, "Xia Liang, your brother is your only safety net. If your future husband despises you, only your brother can stand up for you. If you don't even help your own brother, aren't you afraid that the Gu family will kick you out and no one will stand up for you?" Before Xia Liang could speak, Han Yulan interjected, "There's no such assumption. Our Yanxiao isn't that kind of person. Even if he were a heartless man who abandoned his wife and children, his father and I would never kick A-Liang out. So your assumption is invalid." Liu Xiaoli retorted sarcastically, "You're making it sound so nice now, but what will happen when Xia Liang..." "Even if she can't have a son, she'll still have to divorce and remarry." Han Yulan wanted to argue, but Xia Liang stopped her: "Mom, don't argue with her, she won't listen. In her eyes and heart, women only have reproductive value. She thinks everyone is like her. This is a deeply ingrained idea of hers, and you can't change her. Don't bother talking to her, just kick her out." As she spoke, Xia Liang stepped forward and grabbed Liu Xiaoli's collar. Before having children, Xia Liang was about 168 cm tall, but after giving birth, she felt her pants were shorter, and she looked about 170 cm. How could Liu Xiaoli, who was less than 160 cm tall, compare? Xia Liang simply grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out.
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