CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: MRS. LI ZHOU WAILS AND CRIES

EDITOR: ATLAS STUDIOS

"Alright, I get it! No need to test!"

Long Yue couldn’t bear the man’s coyness and turned towards the Li family door.

"Sister-in-law, you’re back! Oh, what delicious things did you bring?"

Mrs. Wang was arranging the clothes she had been drying at the door and, seeing the heavy basket in Long Yue’s hands, her eyes lit up.

"Some food!"

Long Yue replied with a cheerful smile and beckoned Li Qingmu to quickly bring the things inside.

Mrs. Wang saw Li Qingmu carrying two bags of rice and flour single-handedly, with several pounds of meat in the other, and was overjoyed: "Oh my, is this for our family to eat?"

"Yes, otherwise what? Leave it aside?"

Long Yue responded with a smile, and Mrs. Wang was absolutely thrilled, "That’s great, my son, come over and help your third aunt with the things!"

You can’t be cocky; once you are, you lose clarity in speech.

Bai Chuan emerged promptly, basically knowing his future was now entirely in her hands, so he was especially obedient and courteously greeted Long Yue: "Third Aunt, let me help you!"

The basket contained bits and pieces of spices and wasn’t heavy, but since someone offered to help carry it, she was happy to take it easy and instructed: "Take it to the kitchen, I’ll be cooking in a bit."

In her previous life, Long Yue lived a hard life and knew how to do chores like washing and stir-frying, but Li Qingmu, hearing this, frowned and went forward to hold her soft little hand: "Wife, these are the rough chores, you..."

His expression was somewhat distressed and somewhat guilty; seeing his silly look made Long Yue want to laugh, she gently pushed him on his chest, teasingly saying: "A woman beautifies herself for the one she loves, what harm is there in cooking for you?"

Having said that, she withdrew her little hand and floated away.

Li Qingmu raised his hand, stroking the spot on his chest where she had rubbed, feeling a sweet sensation that pierced his heart, his heart racing faster and faster...

"Today Third Aunt is cooking, there will be delicious food again!"

Bai Chuan sat down at the big round table early with his younger sister Li Xiangxiang next to him; the girl cheerfully said: "Third Aunt’s sticky rice lotus root last time was so delicious, I want more!"

"Today it’s braised pork!"

"Meat? Is the sun rising in the west today, why on earth are we having meat?"

Mrs. Zhang, who had been nursing her head injury for the past few days, hurried out upon hearing the commotion in the main house.

Mrs. Li Zhou was still mending winter clothes; she had no choice, the Li family was too poor, many clothes were worn for over a decade without a change, patches layered one upon another.

Upon hearing there was braised pork, her needle-threading hand trembled, then she hastily put down her work and rushed out.

In the kitchen, Long Yue was already cooking, and gradually a rich aroma of meat began to permeate, soon enveloping the Li family home.

"Is this... braised pork being made?"

Mrs. Li Zhou sniffed, the aroma making her mouth water; she first rushed to the main house to take a look, then ran to the kitchen, just in time to see Long Yue putting a large pot of meat into the pan, feeling distressed immediately: "Third family’s, why are you putting so much meat?"

Long Yue was startled by her loud voice, almost throwing the spatula, and replied displeased: "Mom, I’m busy here, what’s all the fuss about?"

"Hey, you child, don’t you know how to save? This much meat could last for several meals, yet you put it all in at once; later, what will we eat? Also, why put in so many spices? Just a bit of salt would do, do you know how expensive they are?"

Long Yue faced coldly; these days, has her attitude been too good, making them think she is easy to bully, and even dare to challenge her?

She said coldly: "Mom, I bought all these myself!"

Not hearing this wouldn’t be too bad, upon hearing it, Mrs. Li Zhou’s face twitched even more violently: "Hey, you... wasteful indeed!"

What use is there in buying so many spices? Wouldn’t saving that money be better?

"Mom! Third sister-in-law bought meat for us to eat, and she’s even cooking, you didn’t even say thank you, but already started complaining? Does having money mean we don’t spend it, saving it all just like mom does to eventually give it to others?"

She referred to Li Qingxue’s dowry, as Mrs. Wang, seeing Mrs. Li Zhou start complaining about Long Yue, rushed over to support her.

"Shut up! How dare you talk to your mom like that?"

Mrs. Li Zhou feared Long Yue but did not fear Mrs. Wang; she was used to shouting at this daughter-in-law who rarely spoke.

Today, however, Mrs. Wang erupted, stomping her foot in anger: "Mom, what I said is factual, ever since I married into the Li family, counting the times we ate meat wouldn’t take a full hand! We can’t speak about the way you treat us, why your heart has twisted, but now the sister-in-law wants to make some food for us, yet you’re stopping it, this would surely bring you a reputation of being a mean mother-in-law!"

"You!"

Mrs. Li Zhou had never been reprimanded by her eldest daughter-in-law like this before, and was so furious that she almost choked, then coincidentally Li Qingyuan returned from outside, and Mrs. Li Zhou exclaimed: "Ah Yuan, look at your wife, how dare she speak to her mother like this, is there no discipline anymore? Sort her out once and kick her out of the house if she causes trouble again!"

Li Qingyuan was oblivious to what happened, staring bewilderedly at his wife and mother who were arguing fiercely.

Zhang Meihua quickly jumped in, hands on her hips, saying: "Older brother, third sister-in-law bought some meat back and mom doesn’t allow eating, so sister-in-law argued with her a bit, why don’t you stop them?"

Li Qingyuan immediately understood, indignantly saying: "Mom, that’s unkind!"

"Hey, you brat, who are you calling unkind? I’ll... I’ll beat you dead today!"

She picked up the feather duster and swung it at Li Qingyuan, the crowd joined in either helping separate them or cheering them on, turning the courtyard into chaos.

"That’s enough! Enough of this nonsense!"

Li Qingmu emerged, face darkened, this family often fought over food until they’re banged up, once because they were poor and had nothing to eat, now even when they had something to eat, it remained unchanged!

Like mud that can’t be molded into anything!

He stepped forward, grabbed Long Yue’s little hand, and said, heart aching: "You’re not allowed to do such things anymore!"

Long Yue whimpered: "Understood, Prime Minister, this is the last time, definitely won’t do it again in the future!"

Mrs. Li Zhou realized it wasn’t right, the silver wouldn’t come to her if they stopped, and eating would at least be more valuable.

Oh, she had been blinded by greed just a moment ago!

She hurriedly said: "Well, third family’s, mom was just speaking casually, why are you still acting up?"

"Mom, aren’t you forcing her? Completely dedicated to this family, yet all her heartfelt effort is fed to the ungrateful; if it were me, I wouldn’t continue either!"

"Wang Cuihua! Who are you calling ungrateful? Try saying that again?"

"Did I say anything wrong? Mom, you are the ungrateful one! We’ve never had good days when you were in charge of the house; it’d be better to let the third sister-in-law take over, at least we’d have meat to eat..."

"Slap!"

Mrs. Li Zhou could no longer bear it, a slap came crashing down.

Then, she sat down on the ground and burst into tears: "Dear husband’s spirit, life’s unendurable!"