Wu Li cursed the old hag in her heart a million times.
Didn't she know that her son had climbed up the social ladder by riding on Sheng Lan's coattails? When Sheng Lan was still alive, she never saw this old woman treat Sheng Lan well!
Although she was extremely reluctant in her heart, she could only force a smile on her face.
"Come on, I wouldn't dare! Chu Chu is a very opinionated girl. I can't make decisions for her."
Mother Li snorted coldly. "I don't care about that. You go and tell Li Jianmin that he must bring Li Chu Chu back for dinner tonight. What does it look like leaving a perfectly good daughter out there? People will laugh at us."
"I don't know what Jianmin is thinking. How could he give so much money to Chu Chu? Tell him to get the money back quickly. If it stays with Chu Chu, it'll just end up benefiting outsiders!"
Suddenly, Wu Li had an idea. This could be a good opportunity.
Why not take advantage of her mother - in - law's presence and get the money back from Li Chu Chu?
Li Chu Chu had over five thousand yuan left by her mother and another seven thousand yuan given by Li Jianmin later. That added up to over ten thousand yuan. Just thinking about it made Wu Li green with envy.
Some people were just born lucky.
They had everything from the moment they were born.
She was eager to see how Li Chu Chu would deal with her mother - in - law, who was such a tough nut to crack.
With a smile still on her face, she said, "Sure, Mom. I'll go and tell Li Jianmin."
Wu Li called Li Jianmin's work unit. She told him that his mother had come and asked him to bring Li Chu Chu back for dinner tonight.
On the other end of the phone, Li Jianmin frowned slightly. He couldn't figure out what his mother was up to, but he still nodded and replied, "Okay. I'll go and tell Li Chu Chu later."
...
Li Jianmin came to find Li Chu Chu just as the broadcast room was getting off work. "Li Chu Chu, your grandma is here today. She wants you to go back for dinner."
Even when asking her to go back for dinner, Li Jianmin's eyes were cold. It was obvious that he didn't like this daughter.
Li Chu Chu looked at him with amusement, at his expression of disliking her but having to talk to her. "Go back for dinner? I don't remember having a grandma."
Li Jianmin had long been aware of his daughter's sharp tongue, but being retorted like this still made him extremely angry. "You're so grown - up and still have no manners at all. Your grandma came all the way here just to see you, and this is how you talk?"
Li Chu Chu chuckled and kindly reminded him, "Did you forget? We've already signed the agreement to cut off the family relationship. I don't have a father anymore, let alone a grandma."
Li Jianmin glared at her.
"Whatever. If you don't go back, your grandma said she'll come to the factory herself. You figure it out."
This was not an empty threat.
Mother Li was well - known as a shrew in the village back then. No one in the surrounding areas could out - curse her. If Li Chu Chu didn't go back, she might really come here.
Although they had cut off the family relationship, filial piety was highly valued at this time. If the old woman came to the factory gate and scolded her descendants for being unfilial, it would surely attract onlookers. It would have a great impact on both Li Chu Chu and the entire Lotus Steel Factory.
Li Chu Chu didn't really care about herself, but if Mother Li really made a scene here, it would be difficult for Factory Director Chen.
He could silence Li Jianmin, but he might not be able to deal with this unreasonable rural old woman.
In just a short while, Li Chu Chu's mind had turned several times. After analyzing the pros and cons, she nodded. "Okay, I'll go back for dinner then. I'm going to see what delicious food my grandma brought for me."
Li Chu Chu packed up her things and followed Li Jianmin home.
...
"You've been out shopping for vegetables all afternoon, and you only brought back these things? Not even an egg?"
At home, Mother Li rummaged through the few vegetarian dishes in Wu Li's shopping basket. She threw them aside with a look of disgust on her face, then turned to the old man and shouted, "Old man, let's go. This daughter - in - law clearly doesn't welcome us. We're just in the way here."
The old man coughed violently twice. His hoarse voice was rough, and he spat on the ground.
Wu Li had a hard time expressing her bitterness.
She had given all her money to the family. Now she only had twenty yuan left, and it was just the beginning of the month. If they had this big meal, they would have to go hungry for the rest of the month.
"Mom, I thought it was hot, so it's easier to digest if we eat some vegetarian dishes."
Mother Li gave her a sidelong glance.
"I think you're just stupid. Do we lack vegetarian dishes in the countryside? Do we have to come to the city to eat them?"
"You don't even go to work. You're just sitting at home all day, and you don't even cook something nice for my son. Jianmin must have been blind to marry you."
Wu Li was so retorted that she couldn't say a word.
Mother Li then shouted that she would stay here for a long time. From now on, Jianmin's salary should be given to her, and she would manage the household.
This scared Wu Li so much that she didn't dare to say another word. She quickly lowered her head and started cooking.
If Mother Li really stayed here for a long time, she would have no good days.
Suddenly, Mother Li shouted that she should tell her cousin that she had come to the city. She picked up the landline at home and called her rural cousin.
"Hello, Lian. What are you doing? I'm at Jianmin's place now."
...
"Hahaha, oh, what kind of achievements can he have... Why don't you come and stay for a few days? The city is really different from the countryside. The buildings are several stories high. When I came here, I saw that big shopping mall outside. Oh my god, it's like a giant."
...
"Okay, okay, okay. You come. I'll ask Jianmin to pick you up at the train station then."
...
After hanging up the phone,
Mother Li happily said to Father Li, "Xiulian's family will come and stay for a few days in a couple of days. It's good to have more people. It'll be lively."
Hearing this, Wu Li, who was cooking in the kitchen, felt dizzy.
She just hoped that Jianmin would quickly bring Li Chu Chu back, get things done, and then quickly send these two people away.
As expected, there was a knock on the door in the living room.
Wu Li thought it was Li Jianmin coming back and was about to go and open the door.
Unexpectedly, Mother Li, with her old rheumatic legs, moved faster than her. She rushed to open the door happily, only to find that it was Li Chuan coming back from school.
Her face immediately fell. She didn't even bother to say an extra word and just turned around and left.
Li Chuan looked embarrassed and subconsciously turned to his mother for help.
Wu Li quickly came out with a spatula. "Xiaochuan, go to your room and do your homework quickly. I'll call you when dinner is ready."
Li Chuan responded and went into the room.
After a while, there was the sound of a key unlocking the door.
Li Jianmin saw his parents on the sofa. "Mom, why did you come all the way here without telling me in advance?"
Mother Li was happy to see her promising son. "I just missed you. I came to see you. Look at you, you've lost weight recently. Is it because Wu Li hasn't taken good care of you? Mom will stay here and take care of you for a few more days this time."
Hearing this, Li Jianmin felt a headache coming on.
"Mom, I'm doing fine."
When Mother Li saw Chu Chu following behind, her tone changed. "Look at you. You're really being absurd. How could you separate from Chu Chu? No matter what, she's your own daughter. Isn't she better than those outside bastards? I think you've just been blinded by greed."