When the sister-in-law of the Cheng family heard that, her expression immediately soured. Her voice, thick with disdain, pierced the air.
“Tch, your house is really something—so cramped you have to kick your daughter out the moment she’s married.”
She scoffed again, her voice laced with contempt. “Unlike our Yinglan. Her husband’s family may be facing hard times, but even then, they still have an extra house ready after the wedding.”
As she spoke, she curled her lips into a smirk, silently mocking the modest conditions of her second sibling’s family. In her eyes, their situation was laughable—just barely suitable for marriage.
Yet, Mother Zhao didn’t so much as flinch at the ridicule. She acted as if she hadn’t even heard the scorn, continuing to chat leisurely with Mother Cheng, her expression calm and undisturbed.
But Cheng Yinghe was not the type to stay silent. Her temper was quick, and her tongue was sharper still. The moment she heard that remark, she retorted without hesitation:
“My eldest cousin and I are worlds apart. That couple stepped on their own best friend just to get where they are now.” Her eyes gleamed with disdain, each word laced with bitterness.
“Tell me, what kind of people can be so heartless? They claim to be in love, but the moment they find someone naive enough, they dump the old one without blinking. And if they must replace them, fine! But they go and pick someone who only got there by standing on the shoulders of the one they used to like—how can they live with themselves?”
Her voice rose with indignation. Each word was a slap in the face.
Sister-in-law Cheng was so infuriated, she could barely speak. Her face turned red, and in a fit of rage, she raised her hand—ready to strike.
But before she could even get close, Zhao’s mother had already taken two swift steps forward and blocked her path.
She grabbed the woman’s wrist firmly and stood in front of Yinghe, her voice sharp and unyielding.
“What’s this? You think you can raise your hand in my house?” Her eyes narrowed, steely and fierce. “Let me be clear—no one bullies a Zhao in our own home.”
Sister-in-law Cheng tried to pull her wrist free, then turned toward Mother Cheng for support.
“Second sister-in-law, your Yinghe has no respect for elders! As her aunt, I must teach her some manners. If you won’t raise your daughter properly, then what’s wrong with me doing it?”
Mother Cheng looked torn, caught between her soft heart and her overbearing in-law. Her lips quivered with hesitation. She couldn’t bear to see her daughter mistreated, but neither could she afford to offend her sister-in-law.
But Cheng Yinghe had no such concerns. She met her aunt’s glare head-on and sneered, “Auntie, if you have so much time to discipline others, maybe start with your own daughter. Don’t worry about me.”
With that, she turned without a backward glance, holding Zhao’s mother’s arm as the two walked back into the house, leaving Sister-in-law Cheng trembling with rage.
Mother Cheng, though hesitant, eventually followed them inside. Sister-in-law Cheng had no choice but to bite back her fury and trudge in behind.
“Auntie,” Yinghe said sweetly, “I’ll help big sister in the kitchen. You all stay and talk.” Without waiting for a response, she slipped into the kitchen.
She hesitated slightly when she saw Sister-in-law Xu. Her heart was heavy with guilt. If she hadn’t married Shubo, she would never have taken over her sister’s old room.
Gathering herself, she stepped forward, her voice soft but genuine.
“Sister, let me help you.”
Sister-in-law Xu was warm and easygoing. It wasn’t long before the two were chatting like old friends, laughter echoing from the kitchen.
Earlier, Cheng Yinghe had worried this sister-in-law might be difficult. But now, all her worries melted away. On the other side, Sister-in-law Xu had also been cautious, wondering what kind of person this new bride might be. But after exchanging a few words and seeing Yinghe’s nature, she too felt reassured.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from outside.
“Mom, Aunt Cheng!” Zhao Shubo had returned, pushing his bicycle through the gate, and behind him, his younger brother Zhao Shufeng followed closely.
“Hello, Aunt Cheng,” Zhao Shufeng greeted politely.
Mother Cheng nodded in acknowledgment, her gaze softening.
Today, the two families were coming together for a meal, and more importantly, the matter of the betrothal had been settled.
The bride price was agreed at eighty-eight yuan—considered generous. In addition, the Zhao family had already prepared a bicycle and a sewing machine.
Mother Cheng had decided that both items would be part of her daughter’s dowry. In other words, the Zhao family only needed to pay the eighty-eight yuan.
Father Zhao and his two sons worked at the local meat processing factory, earning steady and respectable wages. Father Zhao, a veteran worker, could now make fifty to sixty yuan a month. The elder son was in his thirties, the younger in his twenties—both with stable incomes.
Mother Zhao herself worked in a non-staple food factory and also brought home a good monthly salary.
Still, to save up enough for a bike, a sewing machine, and the bride price, the couple had been putting aside money from the eldest son’s earnings for over a year.
This was an era when one couldn’t even dream of buying a house after marriage. Housing was assigned by work units. Without state allocation, even a decade of hard labor wouldn’t buy a roof over one’s head.
They were lucky. All members of the Zhao family were formal employees. If even one of them had lost their job, life would have been much harder.
“Big brother, little brother—we’re home! Time to eat!” someone called.
The table was laden. It was a proper feast.
With three men in the family working in a meat factory, they often had the opportunity to bring home odd bits from pigs—meat others overlooked but still fresh and savory.
Today, they had pig trotters and more. Sister-in-law Xu had started cooking as early as nine in the morning, and it was now well past noon.
There were stir-fried pork dishes, shredded pork with green pepper, braised sausages, cabbage with pork slices, stewed tofu, stir-fried pork liver and kidney, even cold pork head.
Every dish was heavy with meat—hearty, fragrant, and rich.
The aroma wafted through the yard, making neighbors come out with bowls in hand, sniffing the air. When they saw Sister-in-law Xu, their curiosity peaked.
“Why is Lingzi back at this time?” they whispered. Everyone knew—every time she returned, she had been bullied at her in-laws’ house.
This time, she came bearing gifts. Something had changed. People were already gathering to watch.
Mother Zhao stood tall and declared, “Lingzi’s in-laws are making money now. All the good things our family did before? They’ve finally seen it. So they sent her back with gifts.”
She threw her arms wide in a dramatic gesture. “Pork! Red things! Big bags, small bags—so many of them!”
Even the men of the Zhao family, who had just come back from work—Father Zhao and both sons—looked at each other in astonishment.
Was the sun rising in the west? Since when did Lingzi’s in-laws become so generous?
Meanwhile, Mother Xu was sitting next door, basking in the limelight, chatting away.
“My daughter is capable, isn’t she? Do you think being a chef in a state-run unit is easy?” she boasted, practically glowing. “There’s only one such post, and they gave it to my yingying . Who else could do it but her?”
Zhang Lancao, the neighbor, nodded along, heart full of envy. She prayed that her own son would find such a job one day.
“You’re lucky,” she said. “Your man treats you well, and your kids are all so successful. You’ve done well. Every child better than the last.”
Mother Xu waved it off, smiling.
“No, no, it’s not me. The kids just tried hard. They found their own jobs. Even if I wanted to help, there was nothing I could do. They did it all themselves.”
After showing off enough, she got up and went home, leisurely munching on sunflower seeds.
Back at the Zhao’s house, everyone was swallowing their saliva at the delicious spread.
The sister-in-law of the Cheng family had dropped all pretense. She tore into the meat like someone who hadn’t seen food in eight lifetimes.
While chewing, she joked loudly, “Yinghe really struck gold. With both her husband and father-in-law working in a meat factory, eating meat will be no problem in the future. Just don’t forget about your aunt! Save me some nice cuts, alright?”
Yinghe didn’t bother arguing. She simply nodded. Fine—leave some meat, but only if she paid for it.
After lunch, Sister-in-law Xu chatted with her mother for a bit, but then Shitou and Huzi began pestering to go home.
They claimed their Auntie would miss them.
Left with no choice, Sister-in-law Xu got up to prepare for the return journey.
Mother Zhao, however, was unwilling to let her go empty-handed. Her heart ached at the thought of her daughter going back to that household.
Fighting back tears, she handed over a pound of candy and a bottle of malted milk. “You didn’t come empty-handed—you won’t leave empty-handed either. Bring these with you. Let your mother-in-law see them. She can’t say anything then.
Give the malted milk to your sister-in-law. Doesn’t your mother-in-law love her best? Once you give this, she’ll remember your kindness.”