Chapter 069 It Depends on How You Say It

Chapter 069 It Depends on How You Say It

"... You did the work and I didn't? You washed clothes in the dead of winter and I didn't? You cooked and I didn't help with the vegetables? Have you ever worked the fields like I have?"

"You heartless, rotten slut, shameless dog. Don't you rely on your man liking your face? In a few years, when you're old and haggard, even if you strip naked and lie there, no man might even glance at you..."

She cursed more viciously, and Old Li, with a cold face, reminded Mrs. Li, "Make her shut up! If outsiders hear this, what will it look like? Haven't we embarrassed ourselves enough!"

Mrs. Li pouted; she didn't think anything was wrong with what the eldest daughter-in-law said.

But since Old Li had spoken, she couldn't ignore him.

She stood at the entrance of the main room and called to Big Sister Li, "Shut up, or I'll sew your mouth shut with a needle!"

"Mom, you're still taking her side? Do you know what the villagers are saying about you?"

Big Sister Li looked at Mrs. Li as if she were watching a joke, "The villagers say that raising your son has been for nothing. Not only did he dismantle the roof of his own house, but he also got the whole village to gang up on you. You’re about to become the laughingstock of the surrounding villages, yet you still take her side..."

Her face clearly read, 'Are you stupid?'

Mrs. Li put her hands on her hips and spat, "Who's spewing nonsense? My son brings home nearly two thousand yuan a year. Who earns more than my son?"

"Two thousand?"

Big Sister Li glanced at the second household and spat on the ground, "Let’s see if he sends any money home this year..."

"Shen Dahua, come inside."

Boss Li had opened the door to the main house at some point and stood there with a stern face.

Big Sister Li felt a surge of anger but wanted to incite Mrs. Li further.

However, seeing her husband's displeased expression, she glared fiercely at the second household and returned to the main house.

As the door closed, Boss Li spoke coldly, "Why do you always stick your neck out? Don’t you know that the first bird to stick its head out gets shot?"

"I can't stand it. You don't know how nasty those sluts talk!" Big Sister Li said angrily.

Boss Li frowned and glared at her, "Are the village rumors only about our main household? Others can close their doors and pretend not to know. Why can't you?"

"How can I compare to the third daughter-in-law? She spends all day embroidering in her room. What about me?"

At this, Big Sister Li grew even angrier, "I have to go to the river to wash the family's clothes, cook for the whole family, and work in the fields. How can I pretend not to know by closing the door..."

As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears.

"All you do is blame me. Why don't you learn from your brothers and care for your wife?"

Tears fell from Big Sister Li's eyes, her voice choking with emotion, "Your brothers got the whole village to help their wives. Now our family is a laughingstock, and I get pointed at every day. And you still blame me..."

Having shared a bed for twenty years, Boss Li still had some feelings for Big Sister Li. Seeing her so aggrieved, his scolding slowly turned into helpless anger.

If she wasn't doing well, neither was he.

Yesterday, when he went to the village office to calculate the amount of public grain to be paid, Uncle Village Chief waited until everyone left and hinted, "You are educated and understand big principles. Try to persuade your wife to be reasonable. If she keeps causing trouble, I'm worried others won't respect you as the accountant."

"What does my wife have to do with me?" He was puzzled and resentful.

Uncle Village Chief patted him, smiling meaningfully, "You and your wife are one. When one thrives, both thrive; when one suffers, both suffer. If you can't manage your small family, the town leaders might think you can't manage the accounts either and replace you. Don't blame me for not warning you then."

He felt like he had been doused with ice water on a hot summer day, shivering all over.

"Dad, if we don't handle this, the second daughter-in-law will step all over us."

Boss Li glanced at her, "For Sangchen's job and the thousand-yuan debt, avoid provoking the second daughter-in-law. Maybe next time the second son comes back, he'll forget about the thousand yuan..."

"Really?"

Big Sister Li's eyes lit up, then she frowned angrily, "So we just swallow this humiliation?"

Boss Li looked towards the main room, "Don't we still have Mom and Dad? I'll talk to Dad."

Big Sister Li pouted, "Dad doesn't care about anything. Will he care about this?"

"It depends on how you say it. I’m going."

Boss Li opened the door and went to the main room.

Mrs. Li picked up the teapot and poured him a bowl of cold tea, "Has your wife finished her tantrum?"

"Mom, this isn't entirely my wife's fault. The villagers really talk without consideration."

Boss Li smiled bitterly, looking frustrated and pained, "The village chief talked to me yesterday, saying the villagers have a lot of complaints about our family. If we can't resolve this, I might lose my position as the accountant."

"Why would they replace you?" Mrs. Li stared wide-eyed.

Old Li also stopped rocking in his chair and looked at him.

Boss Li's gaze swept across their faces and landed on the second household, "The villagers think we mistreat the second daughter-in-law and that they benefit from the second son..."

He hesitated, holding his head in frustration.

"I'm useless. Among my brothers, I'm the least capable. I finally became the village accountant, but now it looks like I’ll lose it. I, I..."

His voice choked with emotion, barely able to speak through his distress.

Mrs. Li slammed the table in anger, "I'll go find that little slut and ask her what she wants!"

"Enough, you're just stirring up trouble!"

Old Li stopped Mrs. Li, glanced at the second room, and said to Boss Li, "Boss Li, you go back first. I'll talk to your Aunt Song and see if we can get her to speak to the second daughter-in-law..."

"Speak to her about what?"

Mrs. Li spat, "I'm that little wretch's mother-in-law. If she dares not listen to me, I'll beat her to death."

"Always cursing and threatening violence. Haven't you had enough of straining our relationship with the second son?! Go into the inner room and don't come out until I call you!"

Old Li’s face darkened as he glared at Mrs. Li.

Mrs. Li was afraid of Old Li when he acted like this. Hearing his words, she dared not say anything more and glared at Aunt Song, who happened to be coming out of the second room.

"Boss Li."

Old Li gestured to Boss Li, who responded with an "Ah" and got up to return to the main house.

Walking into the courtyard, he called out to Aunt Song, who was about to leave, "My father needs to talk to you about something."

Aunt Song glanced sideways at Old Li, who was reclining in a chair, and frowned.

There was nothing left for them to discuss.

She had already said everything that needed to be said.

"Aunt Song..."

Boss Li called again, his attitude very humble.

Not wanting to make things difficult for a younger family member, Aunt Song sighed and walked over with her basket.

Seeing her enter, Old Li sat up straight and nodded toward the teapot. "I made some cold tea myself. It still has the taste from our childhood. Have a taste..."

Aunt Song took a clean bowl, poured some tea, and sipped it.

The refreshing sensation cooled her down and made her feel comfortable after half a bowl.

Aunt Song slowly exhaled, put down the bowl, and looked at him. "Well, what did you call me here for?"