Chapter 5: We’re the Worst, So What Are We Afraid Of?

Chapter 5: We’re the Worst, So What Are We Afraid Of?

Qin Qiaolian said, "Wasn’t the chore of doing the laundry assigned to the Fourth Sister-in-law? Why is the Third Sister-in-law carrying the basin out?"

"Yes, we can all testify that our mom assigned the task to the Fourth Sister-in-law. Fourth Sister-in-law, are you slacking off again, dumping the work on the Third Sister-in-law, causing her to fall? How can you be so mocking and sarcastic instead of showing concern? Fourth Sister-in-law, you are truly cold-hearted," Zhao Xiuxiang said, agreeing with the eldest sister-in-law and feeling that Li Chunxing was being excessive.

Lin Jianguo, the eldest brother, and Lin Jianmin, the second brother, knew the character of the fourth brother and his wife and agreed with Zhao Xiuxiang's words. However, as men, they couldn’t intervene in the women’s squabble.

Lin Jianshe, the third brother, opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. Intervening in the women’s squabble would make him seem small-minded. He thought it was a minor issue and not worth arguing about.

Lin Jianshe was the most taciturn among the brothers, honest and hardworking. His reputation was the polar opposite of Lin Laosi's. Among the brothers, he was also the strongest, earning full work points during the off-season, let alone during the busy farming season.

Everyone who mentioned Lin Jianshe couldn’t help but give him a thumbs up. He was diligent, willing to put in the effort, and an old hand at farming. The only downside was that he was a man of few words, earning him the nickname "the hardworking ox of the Lin family."

"Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, why don’t you ask the Third Sister-in-law? Did I push the work onto her? She offered to help me with the laundry. My Nan and Xixi were there and can testify, as well as Dongzhi from the Third Sister-in-law’s family," Li Chunxing said, feeling the heat directed at her. She couldn’t help but recall her little girl’s words, feeling more and more that she hadn’t spoiled her for nothing. Her daughter was thoughtful and insightful. She was truly proud of her!

Lin Nan immediately chimed in.

His father had taught him to know who to stick close to. Outside, they were all part of the Lin clan and shouldn’t let outsiders bully them. But at home, naturally, they should side with their parents, siblings, and themselves.

Lin Xixi watched as her mother, even when in the wrong, managed to argue her way out of it, firmly cementing her reputation as the worst.

She had the attitude that no matter whose fault it was, it was always someone else’s. They were the worst, so what did they have to fear?

Lin Xixi was now Li Chunxing’s daughter, dependent on her for food, clothing, and love.

People’s hearts are biased. Even though she knew her mother was the worst, she couldn’t publicly undermine her. Otherwise, her mother would lose face in front of everyone.

"Isn’t it because Fourth Sister-in-law was making a fuss that my mother offered to help you?" Lin Dongzhi said with a pout.

Sun Sipan didn’t dare to offend Li Chunxing. Everyone knew that Lin Laosi never took a loss. If she gained the upper hand here, he might retaliate against her family later.

"Dongzhi, don’t talk nonsense. Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, I offered to help the Fourth Sister-in-law with the laundry. It was just a small thing. Today’s incident was entirely my carelessness."

"Did you all hear that? Stop blaming me all the time. I’m more wronged than Dou E, the wronged woman. As long as everyone knows I was wronged, that’s enough. I’m big-hearted and won’t hold it against you," Li Chunxing said, her confidence soaring now that the main party had spoken up for her.

She continued, "Alright, Third Sister-in-law, since you’ve hurt your foot, go back and rest. I’ll do the laundry myself.

But Third Sister-in-law, remember to come back and help once your foot is better. If you hadn’t offered to help, I would have gone earlier and finished by now. Look, it’s already pitch dark, all because of you."

Sun Sipan quickly agreed, "Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I’ll definitely come back and help. I’m really sorry, Fourth Sister-in-law."

"Good thing I’m big-hearted," Li Chunxing said resignedly, picking up the basin and carrying it on her hip.

Feng Qiao and Zhao Xiuxiang were speechless. Look at this attitude! Is this how you ask for help? She can turn black into white with her words.

And the Third Sister-in-law, like mud that won’t stick to the wall. Even when she’s in the right, she ends up apologizing and making amends.

Lin Nan and Lin Xixi hurried after their mom.

Lin Xixi recalled from the book that the first and second branches had shown kindness to the third branch, which the female lead greatly appreciated. After the female lead was reborn, both branches received a lot of support from her, and their children also did well.

Only the fourth branch had it the worst, as they were the worst who bullied the female lead’s family!

Lin Xixi clenched her little fists. It's okay, at least we've made a good start.

I wonder how Third Aunt happened to fall today, could her mouth have been cursed?

Today, I successfully stopped Lin Dongzhi from following Third Aunt to the river to wash clothes, so naturally, Lin Dongzhi wouldn't accidentally fall into the river. But would she still find another opportunity to be reborn?

Li Chunxing sighed and pounded the clothes with a washing bat. Originally, this chore was assigned to someone else, but who would have thought she'd end up doing it herself.

If only she had said a few nice words to placate the old lady when she spoke.

Usually, the chores assigned to her were done by Sun Sipan, like sweeping, washing clothes, cooking, weeding, and catching bugs in the private plot. She hadn't realized it before, but upon careful calculation, Third Sister-in-law had helped her a lot.

Maybe she could make a pair of insoles for Third Sister-in-law in the future?

Now, only a few scattered people were left by the river, which was most lively in the early morning and evening when groups of women came to wash clothes.

Wang Huahua, who wasn't far away, wanted to chat with Li Chunxing, but seeing that Li Chunxing didn't look her way, she didn't call out. Her children were still young, so she quickly finished washing the clothes and headed home.

Li Chunxing's foul mood lasted until Lin Laosi returned.

Lin Laosi and Lin Dong returned together.

Li Chunxing got up, lit a candle, and eyed the two suspiciously, sniffing hard, "What have you two been up to? What's that smell?"

Lin Laosi chuckled, no wonder she was his wife, her nose was as sharp as his. Without beating around the bush, he directly took out an oil-paper package from his chest and said proudly:

"Roasted rabbit, Dongzi and I found it in someone else's snare on the mountain. Thinking it would be a hassle to bring it back raw, we roasted it and brought it home, just sprinkled with a layer of salt. It's so fragrant, wife, look how perfectly intact this roasted rabbit is. Dongzi and I didn't take a single bite." He couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

Li Chunxing was also drooling, her eyes almost glowing as she stared at the roasted rabbit.

Lin Laosi and Lin Dong felt the same; after all, this was fragrant meat!

"Mom and Dad, wake up Nan Nan and Xixi so we can all eat together," Lin Dong reminded them, it was getting late, better to eat it early and feel at ease.

Li Chunxing, "Husband, Nan Nan and Xixi are sleeping so soundly, maybe we should let them sleep?"

Lin Laosi agreed with his wife, "Yes, Dongzi, your mom is right." The roasted rabbit wasn't very big anyway.

"Are you sure if Lin Nan wakes up and finds out we ate without him, you can calm him down?" Lin Dong didn't agree or disagree, but instead asked.

Lin Laosi and Li Chunxing thought about that scenario and decided against it. Their youngest son was usually easygoing, except when it came to food. As long as he got his share, he didn't mind whether it was more or less. If he found out they had eaten without him, no one could calm him down.

Lin Dong said that because there had been such instances before.

Lin Laosi and Li Chunxing had done this many times before. Their eldest son had been well-behaved since childhood, never crying or causing a scene.

Moreover, when they had their eldest son, they were still young and often forgot they had a child, only remembering after eating that they hadn't brought their son along.

With the second child, it didn't work anymore. They treated the second child the same way they treated the eldest, but the method didn't work.

This kid could make a huge fuss, crying as if the sky was falling.

So much so that the villagers thought Lin Laosi was not only unreliable but also beat his children to death.

Hearing the child cry so painfully, many people would advise Lin Laosi not to beat the child when they met him.

Children are naughty, just scare them a bit. All children are naughty, after all, they're your own children. Don't be so harsh, you might accidentally kill them.