Chapter 34: Wanting to Steal Her Job? Not a Chance

Facing her mother-in-law's gaze, Zhao Meijuan cleared her throat.

"Ahem, you're about to retire soon, and your fifth and sixth siblings are still in school. The family is at a stage where money is needed most. I am the perfect person to take over your position. Once I start earning money, I'll also contribute living expenses to you, Mom, so the family can breathe a little easier."

Hearing his wife's reminder, the third son's eyes lit up. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed,

"That's right! How could I have forgotten something so important? In my opinion, Mom, you might as well just retire early and let Juanzi take over immediately. That way, she can help me lighten the family's burden."

Listening to the couple's matter-of-fact tone, Li Xiangqin watched them quietly.

She was itching to snap at them.

Just what kind of concepts had she instilled in these ungrateful wolves in the past to make them feel that demanding things from their parents was so natural and easy to say?

Before she could retort, the fifth daughter beside her curled her lip and snorted.

"All you know is how to say sweet words to trick Mom. If Sister-in-law takes Mom's job, she'll have to be an apprentice for at least six months. Mom currently has the benefits of an outstanding employee; how can they be the same?"

Hearing this, the third son immediately became displeased and glared at her.

"Fifth, shut up! You're always sticking your nose in everything. Just focus on your studies. You're just a girl, stop trying to meddle in everything."

"Exactly, Fifth. You might even have to rely on me to pay your tuition later," Zhao Meijuan reminded her gently, picking at her fingernails.

How could one describe that look? It was full of shrewdness and calculation, hiding a faint trace of malice.

Unfortunately, the fifth daughter wasn't intimidated at all. She took them both on directly.

"If I had to rely on you two for tuition, I'd be close to dropping out myself."

It was truly laughable. How could people who spent every day taking advantage of the family, grabbing the best food and clothes without ever losing out, ever be willing to pay her tuition?

Unless the sun rose from the west!

After feeling a sense of admiration for the fifth daughter's clarity, Li Xiangqin couldn't help but lament that this girl was actually quite smart when her "romance nerves" weren't triggered.

"You two, shut your mouths. Your calculating sounds are practically hitting me in the face. I am doing just fine in my job; why should I retire early?

Ever since I started working, I have always been an outstanding employee and an honorary model worker. With your sickly appearance, you'd only bring shame to me if you went in there."

She would keep her job properly; she wouldn't let Zhao Meijuan ruin it.

"Mom, how can you say that? Meijuan is my wife and a member of the Zhang family. You're retiring soon; if you don't give your job to her, who else will you give it to?"

"That's right, Mom. Out of the whole family, I am the most suitable to take over," Zhao Meijuan added, nodding in agreement with an air of inevitability.

Li Xiangqin rolled her eyes.

"I am a loom operator in the weaving workshop. It's noisy, busy, and not easy at all. With your wife's sickly, fragile state, she won't be able to last.

I don't want my job to fall into her hands only for her to hand it over to someone else after a few days, giving a free ride to an outsider."

In her past life, after Zhao Meijuan took over the job, she had handed it over to the third sister-in-law in just six months.

She had used her job to curry favor with others. Forget about feeling guilty; in the end, she even flaunted it to Li Xiangqin, showing off how much the third son obeyed her.

People like Zhao Meijuan were typically "sweet-faced but cold-hearted," only interested in being lazy and taking advantage of others.

Unfortunately, the third son had been played for a fool his entire life, working like an ox and a horse without complaint.

Regardless, she didn't plan to save anyone in this life; as long as he was happy, it was fine.

Just like right now, the third son wouldn't listen to her explanation at all.

"Mom, you're just biased against Juanzi. She just wants a job so she can share my burden. What's wrong with that? Besides, even if she takes your position, it doesn't mean she has to be a loom operator.

There are so many types of jobs in the textile factory; it wouldn't be hard to find something slightly easier. At worst, the salary might be a few yuan lower."

Since they got married, Mom had always been lukewarm toward his wife; to put it bluntly, she didn't like the two of them.

"Shut your foul mouth. It's not your place to dictate what I do with my job."

The couple was trying to snatch her livelihood right to her face, and they expected her to have a good attitude? What kind of pipe dream were they dreaming?

"You two should give up on this idea immediately. I will keep working until I officially retire with the honor of an outstanding employee. I have no intention of letting anyone take over."

Hearing this, Zhao Meijuan stared at her mother-in-law with wide, disbelieving eyes, her chest heaving with anger.

The third son practically jumped up, his voice rising an octave.

"Mom, what do you mean? You know how much Juanzi craves a job. You'd rather let it go to waste than let her take over? Do you really hate seeing your son live well that much?"

"Cut the crap and stop trying to kidnap my conscience. The reason Zhao Meijuan doesn't have a job is because her parents never valued her or took her seriously.

You knew the situation the day you married her. If you want to support her, then keep supporting her. I don't owe her anything."

"Mom, are you trying to drive me to death?"

"You damn brat, is it you driving me, or am I driving you? It's you two dogs demanding my job. The Zhao family raises daughters just to send them to other families to suck them dry.

What? Is having you as a bloodsucker not enough? Do you have to drag me, an unlucky soul, into it to replenish your supply? Get lost! Do whatever you want, but nobody is going to scheme against me."

Third Son: "..."

This old woman was crazy; she was being completely unreasonable.

What kind of elder was like her? Instead of thinking about handing over their jobs to their children before retirement, she only thought about her own honorable retirement. How did he end up with such a heartless mother?

"What are you staring at? Stare any harder and I'll gouge your eyes out."

After scolding the third son, Li Xiangqin turned directly to Zhao Meijuan.

"Since the third son married you, I'll consider it his fate. You can mess with him however you like, as long as you don't cause trouble in front of me. You can go to the ends of the earth and I won't stop you.

But if you try to use even a tiny bit of your schemes against me, don't blame me for turning my back on you and sending you back to the Zhao family. It's not like it's hard to marry him another wife.

At worst, I'll tighten my belt, save up a few hundred yuan for a bride price, and find the third son someone with a job. In short, no matter how bad she is, she'll be better than a sickly thing like you."

Third Son: "..."

Crazy, Mom has truly gone crazy!

"Waaa... you're all bullying me! Zhang Jianshe, did you want to divorce me all along just so your mother could replace me with someone new?"

Zhao Meijuan's face turned pale, her brow trembling uncontrollably, and tears streamed down her face.

This time, she wasn't faking; she was genuinely terrified by Li Xiangqin.

Ever since she married the third son, although his mother didn't like her and spoke harshly, she had never expressed any intention of having them divorce.

But this time, she seemed truly enraged, even suggesting divorce without any hesitation.

Although she was dissatisfied with the Zhang family, she knew deep down that marrying into it was a step up for her.

Even her own mother had said that it was lucky the third son was so simple-minded and easily swayed. If it had been anyone else, the whole wedding would have been called off just because of that incident where blood was spilled during the ceremony.

(End of Chapter)