When Li Xiulan got home, she had just finished cooking and was about to ask Gu Xingye to go towards town to meet someone.
"Why are you back so late?" Seeing her return, Li Xiulan got up to clear the table and casually asked.
"Something came up in town and delayed me," Chen Lishu said as she took off her hat and scarf to wash her hands.
At the dinner table, the family discussed the upcoming wedding banquet.
"We'll slaughter the pig first thing tomorrow morning. See what else we need and hurry to town to buy it. Have you found people to prepare the feast? Fourth son, you brothers double-check the stools and tables later, don't be caught off guard," Gu Shoufu said.
"Okay," Gu Xingye and his brothers nodded.
After dinner, Chen Lishu and Zhang Qin were washing dishes when Liu Yuemin suddenly approached.
"Eldest sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, how much gift money are you preparing for fourth brother's wedding?"
After all, they had separated, and they still needed to prepare for social obligations.
Chen Lishu paused her dish-washing and looked up at Zhang Qin, "Eldest sister-in-law, how much are you preparing?"
Zhang Qin thought for a moment and said, "Although we've separated, the family only has fourth brother and Xingping as the younger ones. Xingping is studying and doesn't need to be considered for now. I was thinking it would be better to give a bit more, say twenty?"
Money was valuable now, and gift money wasn't much; three or five yuan was common, and some people in the village even gave eggs or fabric as gifts.
When Liu Yuemin heard that Zhang Qin was giving twenty yuan, her face fell slightly, "Twenty is too much."
As far as she was concerned, she had originally intended to give ten yuan.
Zhang Qin said, "We have more money now, and it's also to help Mom and Dad."
Normally, Li Xiulan wouldn't accept money, so giving a bit more this time wouldn't hurt.
Liu Yuemin pouted, "Eldest sister-in-law, I really don't know if you're truly foolish or pretending to be. We've been cheated, and you're still thinking of helping them give more money."
Thinking of what she had overheard yesterday, Liu Yuemin said to the two of them, "You don't know, but the large wardrobe that fourth brother bought was paid for by Mom and Dad. And the grandfather clock in his room, that's from Yantai, it must be worth fifty yuan! The two combined are over two hundred. You tell me, him marrying a wife is almost equivalent to marrying the three of us."
"We can't compare our time to now. Besides, the family is doing better now. Mom and Dad live with fourth brother, so it's only right to give more," Zhang Qin said gently.
Chen Lishu wasn't too concerned about this matter; she could still earn money, so she didn't fuss.
Seeing that they weren't saying anything, Liu Yuemin became anxious, "Eldest sister-in-law, you don't care about this and you don't care about that. They will definitely treat us as fools in the future. The saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. The new daughter-in-law hasn't even entered the door, and they're already spending a lot of money. Once she's actually in the door, what will be left for us three?"
She knew she couldn't rely on Zhang Qin, who was as quiet as a stump. Liu Yuemin still placed her hope on Chen Lishu, "Third sister-in-law, especially you. Even though Mom and Dad treat you well normally, once fourth brother's wife enters the door, you'll have to take a backseat too."
Chen Lishu smiled, "Mom and Dad aren't that kind of people, second sister-in-law. You're thinking too much." This wasn't like a three-year-old child competing for favor.
Seeing that she was unyielding, Liu Yuemin felt a surge of闷气, "Whether I'm thinking too much or you're thinking too little is yet to be determined. Anyway, I'll only give ten yuan. If you want to be a sucker, no one can stop you."
"Why are you being so passive-aggressive again? You're lazy even when picking up a table, what else can you do?"
Li Xiulan came in with a plate of food. Seeing Liu Yuemin standing there, she couldn't help but say something.
Liu Yuemin knew that if she brought up the matter of the wardrobe, she would get a scolding from Li Xiulan. Her eyes darted around, and she said, "Mom, Eldest sister-in-law and third sister-in-law said you paid for fourth brother's wardrobe. Why didn't you buy one for them?"
After so many years as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, to put it bluntly, Liu Yuemin knew exactly what she was up to. This was clearly her stirring up trouble again. Li Xiulan immediately put on a stern face and said, "Your father and I intended to pay for that for fourth son, but he refused it."
Fourth son was sensible. Not only did he refuse this money, but he didn't let the old couple spend a single cent on his wedding either.
"Mom, just because you say he didn't take it doesn't mean we're three-year-old children," Liu Yuemin grumbled displeasedly.
"Then what do you want? Should I swear an oath to you?"
Li Xiulan was furious. "You've all separated and started your own households. If we help fourth son more while living together, what's wrong with that? Let alone buying a wardrobe, even if I gave him all the money I have, you have no right to complain."
"Are you saying I'm biased? Fine, starting tomorrow, you two will start paying your share of the food expenses. If you're unwilling to stay, then move out."
When Liu Yuemin heard Li Xiulan's words, she immediately dared not say another word.
Although they had separated, they were still living with and eating from Li Xiulan and her husband. If they were forced to move out, the loss would be significant.
Time flew by, and it was Gu Xingye's wedding day. Early in the morning, Gu Xingye dressed up and went to pick up the bride. Chen Lishu, Zhang Qin, and the other sisters-in-law helped entertain relatives and friends.
It wasn't until the banquet ended that the Gu family could finally catch their breath.
"Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, I'll help you clean up too." Zhang Xiaoju came in from outside, rolled up her sleeves, and prepared to help wash dishes.
"Such a precious person, we wouldn't dare to trouble you for help," Liu Yuemin still remembered the matter of the wardrobe, so her attitude towards Zhang Xiaoju was naturally not very friendly.
Zhang Xiaoju, a newlywed who had just entered the family, had never encountered such an attitude. She immediately bit her lower lip, her face looking somewhat awkward.
"I have a small stool here, Xiaoju. Sit here," Chen Lishu smiled and pointed to a seat beside her.
"Okay." Zhang Xiaoju, relieved, immediately smiled at Chen Lishu.
"We've been washing for a long time and don't feel the cold. If you think the water is cold, just add some hot water," Zhang Qin reminded her from the side.
Zhang Xiaoju smiled, "Eldest sister-in-law, I think it's fine. My hands don't feel very cold."
Liu Yuemin saw the three of them chatting and laughing, and felt annoyed. She immediately threw down the dishcloth in her hand, "You all wash! Then she got up and went back into the house.
Gu Xingmin was lying in the room, looking after the child. Seeing her come in, he asked in surprise, "Why are you back so soon?"
"Why else would I come back? Wait to serve them chamber pots and warm their quilts?"
Gu Xingmin heard the wrong tone in her voice and sat up, "Who made you angry again?"
"Who else could it be? Everyone looks at me unfavorably. Mom and Dad are biased and bought a wardrobe for fourth brother..."
When Gu Xingmin heard this, he rolled over and fumbled in his clothes pocket, pulling out twenty yuan.
Liu Yuemin stopped complaining when she saw the money and snatched it, asking curiously, "Where did you get so much money?"
"Shh," Gu Xingmin hissed at her, "Be quiet. This is what I secretly saved when I sold grain."
Liu Yuemin's eyes immediately lit up when she heard this.