Chapter 10: Stop Performing in Front of Me

Zhang Jianshe had never questioned himself before, but after being scolded by his mother-in-law, he started to think for himself. That old hag really was his nemesis.

Mom was right; his mother-in-law was no good, and he had to be on his guard.

"Third Brother knows about my family's situation. I've been in poor health since I was a child, and my parents, in order to raise me..."

Before she could finish, Zhang Jianshe interrupted her.

"I know all about your family's situation. I don't blame you. From now on, we'll just live our own lives well."

After saying this, Zhang Jianshe didn't look at her again and turned to go wash his face and brush his teeth.

Watching the Third Brother's back, Zhao Meijuan clenched her fists tightly, staring at her mother-in-law in the kitchen. The resentment in her heart reached its peak. Why wasn't she the one who died?

Breakfast was ready, and Li Xiangqin habitually called everyone to eat. As soon as she shouted, the fifth and sixth sons scurried out of their rooms.

"Mom, I'll help serve the porridge."

Watching the fifth son nimbly run to the kitchen and the sixth son set the chairs, Li Xiangqin raised an eyebrow. People really were prone to being cheap; usually, when she called them to eat, they would either dawdle or complain that she was too noisy.

As soon as she raised her voice, everyone's problems vanished.

Proof: You can't spoil people too much.

"Mom is so good, you even boiled eggs for us." The fifth son picked up an egg, tapped it, and complimented her with a smile.

Li Xiangqin lifted her eyelids. "One each. Don't be greedy."

Hearing there were eggs to eat, the frustration the third son had felt that morning vanished instantly. He picked one up, peeled it in a few quick motions, and shoved it into his mouth. It wasn't until he was stared at by a pair of resentful eyes that he gave a sheepish smile.

He reached out to grab the last egg in the basket, but before he could touch it, his hand was rapped by a pair of chopsticks.

"You thick-skinned thing, I just said one each. Are you deaf, or is your ear stuffed with chicken feathers? You dare to make a move right in front of me? Is your skin itching for a beating again?"

The third son clutched his hand and stretched his neck to swallow the whole egg, nearly rolling his eyes. He hurriedly picked up his white porridge to wash it down.

"...Mom, I wasn't eating it myself. I was peeling it for Meijuan."

"Cut the crap. Is she crippled or does she lack hands? Does she need you to peel it for her?"

After Li Xiangqin finished her sharp retort, she glanced at the blushing Zhao Meijuan and suddenly realized.

She had almost forgotten; ever since this drama queen married into the house, she had always acted as if she didn't fight or compete for anything. She would only eat and drink once the third son placed it right in front of her, which she would then taste slowly, calling it "having class."

The more she acted like this, the more the third son—that blind fool—felt his wife was too virtuous and always getting the short end of the stick.

Later, during holidays, whenever there was good food, the third son would be responsible for picking food for his wife. Zhao Meijuan's bowl was always piled high.

Until she was full, the third son would then sweep up her leftovers to clear the plate, ensuring nothing was wasted.

So much so that later, when they argued, she would often harp on about how she had been working tirelessly and never competing for anything since she married into this family...

Li Xiangqin watched Zhao Meijuan drinking her porridge with a slightly flushed face, looking quiet and well-behaved, and really wanted to spit in her face.

This sickly daughter-in-law was a massive "green tea" bitch.

"So much fuss over a meal. If you want to eat, take it; if you don't take it, it's considered an automatic waiver. If you don't even have the strength to move your hands, just lie in bed and let the third son serve you like a maid, cleaning up your piss and shit."

Playing a performance while eating, trying to get attention in front of her? Just don't eat then. Let's see how many days you can keep that up.

"Mom~, we're eating. You're talking about piss and shit; how disgusting is that?"

The sixth son wasn't happy and put down his chopsticks to complain.

"What are you pretending for? As if you don't shit," the fifth son pouted and glared at her. Watching the third sister-in-law get shut down one after another was just too satisfying.

Hmph, serves you right. Stop pretending. Usually, you rely on the third brother to take care of you, and you never miss out on anything you want to eat or take.

Being bluntly retorted by her mother-in-law, Zhao Meijuan's face tightened. She lowered her head to drink two mouthfuls of soup, and without paying attention, she choked.

"Cough, cough..."

Well, now the performance had become real. She coughed until her face was bright red, tears were streaming down, and two grains of rice even shot out of her nostrils...

Watching her cough until her face was red, the third son hurriedly helped pat her back.

"Mom, can't you even let us eat a meal in peace? What is this for?"

"If you want to eat, eat. If you don't like it, get out. It's disgusting for me to watch your performance."

Li Xiangqin looked at Zhao Meijuan with mockery.

"When eating in your own home, just be natural. If you want to eat, reach out and take it. I'm not complaining that you're a bottomless pit. Why the coy act? It's annoying for us to watch."

After saying that, she finished her bowl of porridge and, before leaving, gave an order.

"I made breakfast with the fourth son. The third son's wife is responsible for washing the dishes. Of course, if the third son wants to take her place, that's fine too. It's your couple's work anyway."

Zhang Jianshe had just finished soothing his wife's back when he heard his mother assigning them chores, and he was immediately unhappy.

"Mom, Meijuan isn't in good health..."

When he met Li Xiangqin's cold, piercing gaze, he immediately fell silent.

Li Xiangqin looked at Zhao Meijuan, who was acting like a quail on the side, and sneered, "I'll have to go to the cement factory's family quarters later and ask if you Zhao family girls were raised to be waited on hand and foot."

Living like a weed at her maiden home, but once she came to their house, she became a delicate flower. If she were actually worth that price, it would be one thing, but she was just a drama queen.

Zhao Meijuan was stung by the mockery in Li Xiangqin's eyes, and tears flowed down.

"Wuwu... It's all my fault for having such a weak body. It's only right that Mom finds me an eyesore. If I had known it would be this hard after marrying in, I shouldn't have been so stubborn about being with you.

I wouldn't have ended up being despised like this. If I had known, I would have been better off staying at home as an old maid."

The third son watched his wife crying in agony, the veins on his forehead popping out, his shoulders tensed tight. The look he gave Li Xiangqin was filled with resentment.

"Mom, Meijuan is my wife. I promised her that she wouldn't have to do anything in this house. You can use your methods for disciplining a daughter-in-law on me instead. From now on, I'll do all the housework for her."

Li Xiangqin stared at him blankly for a moment. She had to admit, Zhao Meijuan really knew how to train a man. With just a few simple words, she had stirred up the third son's hot-bloodedness.

Actually, she was curious: did guys like the third son—simple-minded and physically strong—all like women who acted like shrinking violets, the more dramatic the better?

Unfortunately, the guy in front of her was her son, and the one he was questioning was his own mother. That wasn't a pretty sight.

"Since that's what you're asking for, I naturally won't stop you from being a good husband. But in this house, if you eat and sleep here, there must be a clear division of labor. My family doesn't raise young ladies.

You chose your wife yourself. If she wants to be a freeloader, that's fine, but you must take on all the work that belongs to her. Don't always think about taking advantage of others while you enjoy yourself."

The third son, that idiot—he hadn't even stepped into the kitchen at home, yet he dared to take on everything with his mouth?