Ch 102: If It Doesn’t Work, We’ll Move Out
Zhou Xiaofei excels at this, wielding insignificant power as if it were a significant mandate, always using the guise of acting in others’ best interests to educate them, thus allowing her to stand on the moral high ground.
But Shen Mingyue didn’t fall for it.
She coldly glanced at Zhou Xiaofei and casually replied, “Did you buy the plate?”
Zhou Xiaofei froze, staring at Shen Mingyue.
“The plate wasn’t bought by you, it was bought by Parents. They weren’t worried, why are you so worried?”
Shen Mingyue’s implication was that if the emperor isn’t worried, why should the eunuch be? It was just a broken plate; if it broke accidentally, so what? Is it necessary to make such a fuss about it?
Shen Mingxia isn’t a three-year-old child who needs her to boss her around?
Shen Mingxia hadn’t expected her older sister to be so firm; she stood aside, not daring to breathe.
Zhou Xiaofei reacted and immediately launched a counterattack.
“Second Sister-in-law, you can’t say that. Although I didn’t buy the plate, wasting things is never good. Why couldn’t you have been more careful when it was avoidable?”
By now, the two people’s argument had been heard by those outside the living room. Tian Shufang came over, about to speak, when she heard Shen Mingyue calmly reply, “Besides, this kitchen isn’t big. My sister came to wash the dishes, what are you getting excited about? Those who don’t know might think you deliberately bumped into her, causing the plate to fall. After all, Mingxia has always been very careful with her work and has never made such a mistake back home.”
These words were practically a direct accusation in Zhou Xiaofei’s face.
Shen Mingxia silently nodded aside. She was wronged; if Zhou Xiaofei hadn’t bumped her, the plate wouldn’t have slipped from her hands.
Zhou Xiaofei felt exposed, her face unattractive. She was about to argue back when she heard Tian Shufang speak.
“We are all family. It’s just a plate. It’s broken, so it’s broken. It’s not a big deal. There are so many plates at home, enough to use. There’s no need to argue. Xiaofei, go wash some fruit for everyone.”
Tian Shufang’s words were a bit biased. Since they agreed to let Shen Mingxia stay, no matter what they thought in their hearts, they should treat her as family on the surface.
Zhou Xiaofei felt wronged. It seemed like everything Shen Mingyue did was right, just because of the child in her belly?
She bit her lip, unusually putting on a wronged act in front of Tian Shufang and the others.
“Mom, I didn’t mean anything else; I was only being kind.”
After saying this, she went out with reddened eyes.
Tian Shufang frowned, feeling somewhat uncomfortable in her heart.
She thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly, after sitting in the living room, Shen Mingyue mentioned it again in front of Gu Jianjun and the others.
“Dad, Mom, I’ve thought about it. It’s really not suitable for my mother and sister to live here. Tomorrow I’ll rent a house for them, preferably nearby.”
Again and again, Shen Mingyue was also annoyed; it’s not like she lacked money.
Upon hearing this, Gu Jianjun immediately frowned.
“No need. You are our Gu family’s daughter-in-law, not an outsider. Your mother and sister do housework and laundry. Since your mother came, the housework has decreased, everyone’s work is easier, and we’re not short of rooms. There’s no need for all this fuss.”
Gu Jianjun was telling the truth. Although Shen Mingyue brought two people, they were both diligent and helped them a lot.
Shen Mingyue took a deep breath, her tone slightly stern.
“Dad, Mom, past events shouldn’t be brought up again, but with the current situation, I have to say something. Last time my mother came to the house, outsiders bullied her behind my back. I don’t want my sister to be treated the same way as my mother. If breaking a plate results in being scolded, then I really will consider renting a house outside and taking them to live there, so that my sister won’t be bullied when I’m not home.”
Shen Mingyue now spoke with confidence. The clothing store had accumulated some money, and with the bride price and her current wages, renting a large house outside wasn’t a problem; she could completely afford it.
She brought her mother and sister to enjoy life, not to suffer.
Zhou Xiaofei had just finished washing the grapes and came out to hear Shen Mingyue’s pointed remarks. No one in the family was bullying Shen Mingxia except for her saying a few words.
These words were clearly aimed at her.
Shen Mingyue was too overbearing. A country bumpkin who emerged from nowhere, luckily marrying the second brother, not knowing how to keep a low profile, wishing she could be the mistress of the Gu family, where did she get such courage?
Yet Gu Jianjun and Tian Shufang still gave her face.
Gu Jianjun straightened his spine, coughed, also feeling that Shen Mingyue’s words were a bit too blunt.
But after careful consideration, what she said wasn’t wrong.
Since they were family, they should be treated equally. Breaking a dish while washing dishes at home wasn’t a big deal; people would usually go in to check if they’d cut their hands.
Why was Shen Mingxia scolded instead?
At his age, he was naturally shrewd. He knew Zhou Xiaofei didn’t welcome Shen Mingxia, so she went to find fault.
He also saw that Shen Mingyue, seemingly gentle and soft, actually had a strong temper and couldn’t swallow this anger.
Last time she dealt with Tian Shumei, who hadn’t come to mooch off them for a long time.
She didn’t openly target Zhou Xiaofei, it was out of respect for them.
“Mingyue, don’t worry. Since Mingxia is your sister, she’s family. I’ll see who dares to bully her! Why move out? We’re not short of rooms; it would be a joke. Feel free to live here, no one dares say anything.”
After saying this, Gu Jianjun narrowed his eyes and looked at everyone.
Especially Gu Sisi and Zhou Xiaofei; they were the unstable factors in the family.
“Did you hear that?”
Zhou Xiaofei’s expression was numb, her fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. She felt she was losing her status in this family, and if this continued, she wouldn’t be able to stay.
Though unhappy in her heart, she couldn’t go against Gu Jianjun at this moment, so she could only nod to show her stance.
Gu Jianjun was satisfied and turned to Shen Mingyue.
“Mingyue, don’t worry. The Gu family is your home. No one looks down on you, nor on your family. Just live here peacefully. If you need anything, don’t be polite. Tell your mother to arrange it.”
Tian Shufang also nodded repeatedly, “Your dad is right. If you need anything, tell me.”
With both Parents-in-Law expressing their stance, Shen Mingyue couldn’t say anything more. She immediately changed her expression, looking moved as she said, “Dad, Mom, it’s good to have you backing me up. I was also scared. Thinking about what happened a while ago makes me feel stuffy. Something happening to me is a minor matter, but if something happens to the baby in my belly, that would be a big problem. I was worried about them.”
As Shen Mingyue spoke, she touched her belly.
When the Parents-in-Law saw this, wow, this precious grandson can’t have anything happen to him. They say pregnant women need to maintain a good mood, otherwise, they might miscarry.
Immediately, they said a few more words, repeatedly assuring Shen Mingyue, and only then did the matter end.
Shen Mingxia watched this scene from the side, feeling incredibly embarrassed. Actually, it didn’t matter to her; after all, she was a guest in their home, and it was fine if others said a few words.
Back in the Shen family, she would have slapped them.
She didn’t want her older sister to offend others because of her, but she also knew that she couldn’t go against her older sister when she spoke.
So after the matter was settled, when Shen Mingyue helped Shen Mingxia arrange her room, she softly spoke.
“Older Sister, it’s really okay. Don’t have conflicts with the family because of me.”