Chapter 42: An Apology at the Door

“Wuxia is also a form of literature; you gain something from reading it. Who knows, maybe on a whim, I could even start a new style of martial arts fiction.” Lao Liu struck a few poses toward her, not angry in the slightest.

Perhaps because the age gap between the two was small, their sibling affection was stronger than with others. No matter how much they bickered, they still ate and played as usual.

“You? You can’t even write a four-hundred-word essay, yet you want to write wuxia novels? You’d struggle even with a hand-drawn poster,” Lao Wu remarked unceremoniously, exposing his shortcomings.

Seeing the two of them chattering incessantly, Li Xiangqin quickly waved her hands.

“This month's coal coupons have been issued. After Lao Liu finishes eating, go borrow a cart from Auntie Wang to bring back this month's quota of coal briquettes. Go line up early.”

“You got it!” Since the tasks had long been divided, Lao Liu agreed readily.

Once breakfast was settled, Li Xiangqin went straight to catch up on sleep.

Without a large family to toil for, she used her saved time to nurture her health. In this lifetime, she resolutely refused to lie paralyzed in bed again, leaving herself at the mercy of others.

“I have to say, it’s really quiet with fewer people in the house. Mom doesn't lose her temper anymore either,” Lao Wu remarked with sincere emotion as she cleared the dishes.

This just proved that Mom didn't get along with Third Sister-in-law and the others.

Just as Li Xiangqin lay down on the bed, Liu Hehua arrived at the door with her daughter.

Looking at the two standing at the entrance, Lao Wu glanced at the few apples in Zhao Meijuan's hand and blinked.

“There’s nothing left in your room but the wall plaster. Does Third Sister-in-law still have things left behind?”

Liu Hehua glared at her daughter and looked at Lao Wu with a bright smile.

“This must be Jianli. I haven't seen you in a year, and you've grown into a fine young lady. Look at that height and those features—who knows which family's brat she'll end up with in the future?”

Hearing this, Lao Wu frowned. “Auntie Zhao, my mother just finished her night shift and has already gone to sleep. What business do you have?”

Neither of these mother and daughter were good people; frankly, she didn't like either of them.

“Just finished a night shift? Then my in-law has truly worked hard. I have a small matter to discuss with her; it won't take much time.”

Liu Hehua suppressed her inner dissatisfaction and spoke with a smile, though her tone was slightly louder than before—just enough for Li Xiangqin to hear.

“Lao Wu, my mother is a guest. What kind of logic is it to block a guest at the door?”

Zhao Meijuan was already unhappy; she hadn't wanted to come to apologize. It was her mother who had forced her, threatening to sever their relationship if she didn't come.

She had already fallen out with her mother-in-law; if she also became estranged from her biological mother, she wouldn't have anyone to turn to if she or her third brother ever needed help. That simply wouldn't do.

Lao Wu lifted her eyelids to glance at her and let out a sneer. “I remember Third Sister-in-law made it clear yesterday that you wouldn't be coming back to this house. What, did you change your mind that quickly?”

Lao Wu stared at her with a serious expression.

“How do you have the nerve to show up again? We all remember how you were pointing your finger at my mother's nose and cursing her yesterday. My mother is magnanimous enough not to hold a grudge against a junior, but as her children, we won't stand for it.”

“Fifth Sister, don't be angry yet. Every family has its own way of doing things. You should first ask Auntie Zhao if Third Sister-in-law calls her an 'old thing' at her maiden home, too. If the Zhao family is used to such terms, then it proves Third Sister-in-law had no ill intent toward our mother, and there would be nothing to be angry about, right?”

Lao Liu had somehow produced a pair of glasses and put them on. As he spoke, he made a show of pushing them up his nose, possessing a hint of Zhang Jianguo's cunning.

That look in his eyes—how should one put it?—was pure treachery behind the lenses.

Lao Wu: “...”

She had always felt that little Lao Liu was the most cunning; she clearly hadn't misjudged him.

“...How can you two speak like that? Do you have no manners? Where is my in-law? I want to ask her how she raised her children!”

Liu Hehua's eyes widened in shock, her smile freezing on her face. She then angrily pushed Lao Liu aside and stormed into the house.

“It's early in the morning, what's all this shouting? Are you going to let anyone sleep?”

As she spoke, Li Xiangqin pushed the door open. Looking at Liu Hehua and her daughter at the entrance, her eyes narrowed.

“What, wasn't it enough for your daughter to cause a scene in my house? Are you calling your in-law here to back her up to cause another one?”

Seeing Li Xiangqin, Liu Hehua brushed past the obstructing Lao Liu.

“In-law, look at the son you've raised so well! He doesn't even greet his elders and starts cursing 'old things' the moment he opens his mouth. You must give me an explanation today, otherwise, I'll call everyone here to judge this matter.”

“Fine then. Let's go to the courtyard and settle this clearly in front of everyone.”

Li Xiangqin walked toward the exit. Looking at Liu Hehua's tense face, she let out a cold laugh.

“When it comes to insults, your daughter certainly has talent. Every time she opens her mouth, it's either 'old hag' or 'old thing.' I thought that was a family tradition of the Zhao family.”

Hearing this, Liu Hehua's body stiffened. She turned to look at her indifferent daughter and suddenly felt embarrassed.

She had been so agitated that she forgot; it was her daughter who had insulted the other person first. The woman was actually mocking her.

If word got out that her daughter-in-law insulted her mother-in-law, it would be the Zhao family's reputation on the line.

“You brat, look at the trouble you've caused!”

Since her daughter was in the wrong, Liu Hehua could no longer afford to be angry. She grabbed Li Xiangqin and gave a sheepish smile.

“In-law, you've misunderstood. I specifically brought my girl here today to apologize to you. We are family, so let's not speak like strangers. They are just children; please don't take it to heart.”

Liu Hehua pulled Li Xiangqin's arm, using all her strength to press her into a chair, then snatched the mesh bag from her daughter's hand.

“My daughter knows you like apples, so she bought them specifically for you. Please be the bigger person and forgive them. Let the two of them move back in; from now on, you can beat or scold them as you please, and our Zhao family promises not to interfere.”

A married daughter is like spilled water; she absolutely could not let that brat ruin her maiden home.

Living so close had even kept her from sleeping well last night.

Li Xiangqin looked at Liu Hehua's fawning manner and frowned.

“What kind of talk is that, in-law? It was the two of them who chose to move out; I didn't kick them out. Children grow up and are no longer under their mother's control. I have raised him, he is married, and he has a job. Am I supposed to support them for the rest of their lives? Children have their own blessings; meddling too much only brings resentment. Otherwise, your daughter wouldn't be calling people 'old things' left and right.”

Liu Hehua was choked for words. She stood up and slapped her daughter's shoulder twice.

“Apologize to your mother-in-law immediately! You are a wife of the Zhang family; you must show her filial piety from now on. If you make her angry again, I won't have you as my daughter!”

“Mom, I'm sorry... I didn't want to come, but Mom forced me. I'm only doing this to save her face. Jianshe said that from now on, the two of us will live our own lives, and no one can interfere,” Zhao Meijuan said with a defiant, smug tone.

Liu Hehua: “...”

Watching Liu Hehua's shocked expression, Li Xiangqin let out a cold laugh.

“In-law, now that you have heard it with your own ears and seen it with your own eyes, do you still want to try and persuade me? If your daughter-in-law treated you like this, what would you choose to do?”