Furthermore, Chen Fu.
When Ji Qing and Ji Xiang followed their parents to the South Tower, he and Lin Duo’er carried Ji Nian and Ji Yang back to their own small Western-style building.
Ji Nian and Ji Yang were already asleep. After they were placed in the large warm bed, he stopped Lin Hua’er, who was about to go wash up, and asked her what her opinion was on the Li family’s betrothal gifts.
Lin Hua’er paused, “What opinion can we have on the Li family’s betrothal gifts? It’s not something we as juniors can comment on.”
“Is that so?” Chen Fu looked at Lin Hua’er coldly. “Does that mean my mother is lying?”
Lin Hua’er’s eyes darted away. “I, I only said one thing.”
“You’re amazing!” Chen Fu gave his wife a thumbs-up. “You only said one thing, just one sentence, and my mother was able to stop my eldest aunt and third aunt several times.”
“If you had said a few more words, my mother would have turned the house upside down.”
“Lin Hua’er, what are you trying to do?”
Lin Hua’er took a step back and lowered her head. “I’m not thinking of anything.”
“Hmph!” Chen Fu snorted coldly. “Your cultivation is not yet complete. Don’t talk about the elders; even I can hear your guilt. I want the truth.”
Lin Hua’er, who had been lowering her head, hesitated for a long time before looking up at her husband.
“When we got married, because of my family background, and because I imagined married life and the future too beautifully, we didn’t discuss the betrothal gifts.”
“Even if I were an ordinary farmer from Kushan, the betrothal gifts wouldn’t be too high. I was very satisfied to be able to build a home with you. I was also very touched when my parents gave us the shop in Hot Spring Valley.”
“However, people cannot be compared. Once you compare, your heart becomes unbalanced.”
“When Zi Yu entered the family, everyone gave a ten thousand yuan gift for changing their address. Even we gave ten thousand yuan. Even if everyone elevated her so highly because of Zi Yu’s status, I still felt wronged.”
“I know that the Li family is the Li family, and the Chen family is the Chen family. Betrothal gifts and greeting gifts cannot be compared, but why are the address-changing gifts different?”
“Even Han Lu Shi’s address-changing gift was ten thousand yuan. I feel very stifled.”
“Now, Hao Hao Ge and Yan Yan Ge’s girlfriends are in-laws with the Yu family, and their status is much higher than mine. Everything they receive will surely be no less than what Zi Yu received. The address-changing gift will definitely be another ten thousand yuan. I…”
Under her husband’s increasingly disappointed gaze, Lin Hua’er could not continue her words.
Chen Fu’s eyes changed from disappointment to sadness. “Hua’er, I can understand your mindset. Just like when I decided to drop out of school, I was also jealous of Hao Hao Ge and the others’ intelligence, and I was even jealous of An An.”
“After all, An An and I have the same parents. Why couldn’t I learn knowledge like him? Why couldn’t I go to university and get out? If that were the case, my horizons would be broadened, and I wouldn’t be marrying you.”
Amidst Lin Hua’er’s panic and fear, Chen Fu continued,
“If my parents, eldest aunt, and third aunt were also jealous, would they still be able to get along peacefully with my uncle and third aunt? Would our harmonious extended family still exist?”
“Although I haven’t been to my third aunt’s company, from what I’ve heard from my parents, I know that my third aunt is very, very wealthy.”
“To her, a betrothal gift of over a hundred thousand yuan is nothing, and betrothal gifts of hundreds of thousands are also nothing. As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.”
“Now, because of your jealousy, she has to consider your feelings even when spending her own money. Why?”
“Lin Hua’er, since this family makes your heart unbalanced, I will free you. If you leave this home, you won’t be jealous anymore, right?”
“No! No!” Lin Hua’er quickly rushed towards her husband and grabbed his arm.
“You promised to give me a home and grow old with me.”
Chen Fu coldly looked down at the woman beside him. “What was your nature when I said those words?”
“You also promised to help me support my parents, but it’s only been a short while? You’ve already treated my mother as a gun in your hand and asked her to stand up for you.”
“What are you unhappy about? The Yu family gave the betrothal gifts to Yu Zi Yu, and also gave her a house, a car, and a hundred thousand yuan as a dowry.”
“Can you afford to receive a valuable betrothal gift? Without a valuable betrothal gift and dowry, can you afford to receive a ten thousand yuan address-changing gift?”
“When other women entering their husband’s family receive a hundred yuan address-changing gift, you still compare even though you received a thousand yuan. If you were given a ten thousand yuan address-changing gift, you would still compare it with others.”
“Don’t you know the gap between yourself and others? What right do you have to quibble over address-changing gifts?”
“The shop in Hot Spring Valley is more valuable and easier to earn money than the shop in Xincun. At that time, Mother was not satisfied with you, but she still gave it to us, didn’t she?”
“Tell me, in the Chen family, what else do you want? The scenic spot dividends belong to my parents. Even if they are distributed, it will be divided into three parts. The third that I get is mine, and it will be my son’s in the future.”
“You are just my woman, just my appendage. If it were another woman, she would also enjoy this appendage.”
“This is all the Chen family has. If you want more, leave the Chen family and go fight for it with wealthier and more noble families!”
“Lin Duo’er, don’t blame me for not giving you a chance. I already have two wounds. There are no three chances. If there is another time, I will set you free and let you pursue someone richer and more powerful than me and the Chen family.”
Saying this, Chen Fu shook off the hand on his arm and walked out of the bedroom.
That night, he did not return to the bedroom, leaving Lin Duo’er alone to take care of the two children.
…
The next day, Chen Fu returned to the bedroom. After washing and dressing the two children, he carried them away, one in each arm. He didn’t even spare a glance at Lin Hua’er, who had been talking to him and apologizing, as if she didn’t exist.
Apologize?
How long ago was it that Lin Duo’er threw a tantrum at her grandmother because of something involving Lin Duo’er? Didn’t she apologize then? Was it useful?
When Li Min brought Ji Qing and Ji Xiang over, she only saw Lin Hua’er crying. She snorted,
“Hmph! Everyone in your Lin family is scheming. Perhaps it was your scheming that made Xiao Fu fall for you back then.”
“Do you think you are like me? I occasionally get confused, but I have my mother. She can enlighten me. Even when I’m confused, I won’t instigate disharmony within the family.”
“Li family members hate schemers the most. This is why, even though I often get confused, my eldest and third sisters-in-law don’t argue with me.”
“A woman who schemes against her family, husband, and children is the most detested by her family and husband. Think about it yourself.”
After speaking, Li Min took Ji Qing and Ji Xiang and left with her husband.
In the Chen family, only Lin Hua’er was left, surrounded by silence, fear, and loneliness, just as she had felt since childhood.
…
In the courtyard, Li Mu and her two daughters-in-law were making breakfast. Seeing her eldest grandson entering alone with the two children, she quickly washed her hands and ran out of the kitchen.
“Why are you carrying Ji Nian and Ji Yang alone? Give me one quickly.”
Saying this, she reached out to take him.
Chen Fu handed Ji Nian to his grandmother on his left arm. “I’m giving Hua’er the cold shoulder. If I don’t show her some attitude, she’ll get too carried away. After giving birth to twins, she’s become too proud.”
Li Mu sighed and said nothing, carrying Ji Nian towards the main house.
Before, she had protected Lin Hua’er because she felt Lin Duo’er was alone and helpless, and she didn’t want Lin Hua’er to feel that her own family was excluding her.
Who knew that Lin Hua’er would actually cause trouble? It seemed she was too light-boned and couldn’t handle too much good fortune.