Seeing that her son didn't say a word for a long time, Mother Li became even more complacent and pushy.
"I told you back then not to marry a divorced woman. How could there be any true feelings in a remarried couple? But you just had to jump in head - first."
Such words were okay to be said behind people's backs, but now she actually said them right in front of everyone at the table. It was obvious that she didn't put Wu Li in her eyes at all.
Wu Li was so angry that she almost burst into tears. With her watery eyes, she looked at Li Jianmin. Li Jianmin also thought his mother had gone too far. Since the neighbors were all listening, he opened his mouth to persuade her, "Mom, stop talking."
Seeing Wu Li's coquettish look, Mother Li spat in disgust and said firmly, "Fine, I won't say anything. From now on, you have to hand over half of your salary to the family. I'll save it for you, so that this fox spirit won't squander it all. She dresses up so flashily every day. She has more clothes in that wardrobe than an emperor. People who don't know might think the money in our family comes from the wind."
Mother Li's mouth was like a machine gun, leaving Wu Li speechless. Wu Li didn't dare to retort and looked extremely aggrieved.
Wu Li never expected that her mother - in - law would rummage through her wardrobe while she was cooking. But that wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing was that her mother - in - law wanted to take half of the family's money. How tight their lives would be from now on!
Wu Li originally took a fancy to Li Jianmin because he had a high salary, was generous to her, and even agreed to let her help out her natal family. But now that half of his salary was cut, there wouldn't be much left in their savings. Not to mention whether she could still help her natal family, she herself would barely be able to make ends meet. Marrying him was really the worst decision in her life!
Li Jianmin clearly also realized this problem. He said to his mother in a soft voice, "Mom, we're really a bit short on money recently. Fifty yuan isn't enough for our living expenses."
Mother Li got angry and even retorted to her own son, "Fifty yuan isn't enough for you to eat two green vegetables every day? Do you want to eat abalone or ginseng?"
Wu Li knew there was no room for negotiation with her mother - in - law, so she could only look at Li Jianmin, hoping that he would say something.
After being scolded by his mother, Li Jianmin didn't say a word for a long time. Wu Li's hope gradually faded away.
Li Jianmin's idea of blindly obeying his mother and his male chauvinism came from the same root. At this moment, he was completely unreliable!
On the other hand, Father Li kept his head down and ate, never saying a word. He never took charge of family matters. His son and daughter - in - law's affairs were none of his business.
Li Chuchu, on the side, was munching on the tender beef and carrots, enjoying the show.
If she had known that Grandma Li was so aggressive, she would have invited her earlier.
After dinner, they would probably have a big fight over the room allocation. Li Chuchu really regretted not living next door, so she couldn't hear how they would quarrel like crazy at night.
Before Li Chuchu left, Mother Li held her hand tightly and said, "Chuchu, come and play whenever you're free. In a few days, your aunt and cousin will come for dinner. You come too and liven things up."
"Grandma, I'll come and see you when I'm free! You mustn't find me annoying then!"
Grandma Li was, of course, very happy. She stroked Li Chuchu's hand and sized her up carefully.
Li Chuchu grinned. Her little face was fair and clean, and she spoke generously. Anyone would like her. She was truly of the Li family blood. Unlike that Li Chuan, who looked so unpresentable and annoying.
The more Grandma Li looked at her, the more satisfied she was. She thought the idea she had been mulling over was getting more and more feasible, and the wrinkles on her face were all crinkled up with a big smile.
"Okay, okay. Hurry back. It's dark and the road is not easy to walk at night."
"Sure thing."
Li Chuchu replied, said goodbye, and then turned around to go downstairs.
...
After Li Chuchu went downstairs, one of the street lights in front of the unit was out.
She took out her flashlight and walked slowly with the light on.
Grandma Li seemed to be overly enthusiastic towards her. But no matter how many smiles she had, she couldn't hide the shrewdness in her eyes.
This feeling was unfamiliar to her.
This old woman must have some bad intentions.
As she was thinking,
suddenly she felt a faint breath coming from the left side of her body in the darkness. The person should be an adult male.
Li Chuchu originally thought it was just a passer - by.
"Crunch"
He stepped on a branch in the alley.
But his footsteps were deliberately lightened, as if he was approaching her.
In an instant, Li Chuchu's hair stood on end.
This person was coming for her.
Did he have a knife?
The system had been silent since last night, as if it was dead. The security in the community didn't seem to be very good recently. Should she just shout for help?
Just as Li Chuchu was about to scream,
the person suddenly put his hand on her shoulder and said, "Li Chuchu?"
The person's voice was steady and cold. Apart from Shen Yanshan, there couldn't be a second person with such an authoritative voice.
When they walked into the light, Li Chuchu could finally see his cold and tough side profile.
Shen Yanshan was usually quite cold. Standing there, he was like a big refrigerator. She wondered who had offended him this time. He was exuding a continuous stream of cold air all over his body.
The heart that had just almost jumped into Li Chuchu's throat finally settled down. She stroked her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. "You really scared me. Why didn't you say a word? Why did you come here? How long have you been waiting here?"
There was a hint of complex emotion in Shen Yanshan's eyes when he looked at Li Chuchu. This emotion was well hidden by him and finally returned to a strange calm.
"I originally planned to pick you up from work. They said your father called you back for dinner. After I finished my work, I came by on the way to find you."
Shen Yanshan couldn't say any sweet words.
Actually, he had been waiting since Li Chuchu got off work until now, and his mood had been on tenterhooks. He was afraid that the out - of - control kiss had scared Li Chuchu, so she was deliberately avoiding him today.
Did she actually not want to be with him anymore?
Were those words just to deceive him?
Shen Yanshan never took his eyes off Li Chuchu from the corner of his eye. He stared closely at her facial expression, not missing any of her micro - expressions.
Li Chuchu had watched a great show today. Coupled with her forgetful personality, she had already forgotten about what happened yesterday. She explained calmly, "Grandma Li came today, so Li Jianmin called me back for dinner. I'll tell you in advance next time I go out for dinner."
When she was at home before, she always had to report to her mother before going out for dinner. So she had naturally developed this habit.
But in Shen Yanshan's ears, it meant something different.
Li Chuchu said that she would tell him everything she did from now on, which meant she didn't dislike him. Not disliking meant not hating, not hating meant liking, liking meant they could be together, and being together meant they could spend a lifetime together.
Shen Yanshan's mind was full of twists and turns. He used up all his wits on this matter and finally came to the conclusion that "Li Chuchu really wanted to be with him".
The corners of Shen Yanshan's mouth couldn't help but turn up.
He walked with a spring in his step.
Li Chuchu felt that the cold air that the big refrigerator beside her had been exuding suddenly disappeared.
She was really puzzled.
What had gotten into him?