In the second room, Xiao Zhang Shi was busy attending to the elder and the younger after their foot washing. She quickly freshened up herself before taking off her clothes and getting onto the kang.
Lin Rui Xia shifted inward, making space for Xiao Zhang Shi.
"You should speak less at home from now on," Lin Rui Xia said in a muffled voice.
Xiao Zhang Shi was already unhappy, and she had intended to have a word with Lin Rui Xia. However, before she could even speak, her husband started complaining.
"One by one, you all look at me unfavorably, is that it? Then what am I still doing here? Lin Rui Xia, you ungrateful wretch, when I married you, what were our family's conditions? Did I say anything? I do all the household chores with my elder sister-in-law, and I help tidy the seafood, never slacking off! And in the end, I can't even speak my mind?" Xiao Zhang Shi, with a tearful voice, got up from the kang, haphazardly put on her clothes, pulled out a bundle cloth from the cabinet at the head of the kang, and stuffed her clothes into it.
Lin Rui Xia was stunned. He had only said one sentence, and she reacted so strongly?
"What are you doing? It's late at night, do you want everyone to watch the show?" Lin Rui Xia snatched the bundle from Xiao Zhang Shi's hand. "Let's talk things through properly. Don't resort to going back to your mother's house."
"I'm making a fuss? Am I making a fuss? You're clearly bullying me. I was wronged today, and instead of comforting me, you're scolding me. Mother dislikes me, and my elder sister-in-law has already lectured me. I thought since we are husband and wife, you would at least be on my side! But even you are blaming me." Xiao Zhang Shi wiped away her tears, her face full of disappointment.
"Keep your voice down!" Lin Rui Xia lowered his voice. "When have I not been on your side? But you were wrong about this matter today! Zhen Zhen rarely visits. You tell me yourself, if we don't entertain her properly, are we worthy of the help the Qi family provides us? Besides, we didn't buy anything extravagant, just some rice, flour, meat, and pastries. And you're still feeling stingy and saying sarcastic things. How can Mother not criticize you?"
Xiao Zhang Shi flung Lin Rui Xia's hand away. "We don't even dare to eat these things normally, why should we!"
Lin Rui Xia tried to explain earnestly, but Xiao Zhang Shi just wouldn't listen, and her voice grew louder.
"Alright, alright, I won't argue with you. If you want to go back to your mother's house, pack up, and I'll drive you back with the mule cart. It's late at night, and it's not safe for you to travel alone," Lin Rui Xia said as he put on his clothes. "Go back and think it over carefully."
Xiao Zhang Shi's action of packing paused. She just wanted to vent her frustration this way. Going back to her mother's house late at night? Was she foolish?
But Lin Rui Xia had already nimbly dressed and gotten off the kang.
"Are you ready? Don't dawdle. If you keep dawdling, I'll go and come back, and will I still get any sleep tonight?" Lin Rui Xia urged.
If she didn't leave, she would lose face.
Xiao Zhang Shi wasn't afraid that the Lin family would be arrogant after she returned to her mother's house. Not to mention she had given birth to A Lin, and now she was pregnant again. It was early in her pregnancy, and she hadn't told them. If the Lin family made a fuss about this matter, she would have a protective charm.
Having thought it through, Xiao Zhang Shi tied her bundle, picked it up, and walked out.
Lin Rui Xia hitched up the mule cart, opened the door, and gathered a bundle of torches. He lit one and held it up. Traveling at night was impossible without this.
After the Lin family's main gate was closed, the door of the main house opened. Lin Wai Po, dressed in her clothes, stood there. She glanced at the closed main gate, then looked at the second room's house. She nudged Lin Wai Gong. "Go and carry A Lin over, so he doesn't wet the kang when he needs to get up at night."
Lin Wai Gong responded with an "aye," put on his clothes, and went to carry Lin Lin to the main house.
Lin Wai Po muttered, "She goes back to her mother's house at the slightest thing, as if she's being abused at home. She's really becoming more and more useless. She was such a good daughter-in-law when she first married in. Alas! This time, you must tell the second child to give her a good lesson."
In the main house, A Mu's eyes fluttered open and closed, and he finally fell into a deep sleep.
"Didn't you talk to your sister-in-law? Why is there another commotion so late at night? Second child is really something, letting her make a scene and even sending her back to her mother's house. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at? Zhen Zhen and the young lady from the Song family are still here, and she just left like this. Really!" Lin Rui Chun frowned, his tone impatient.
Da Zhang Shi sighed as she folded clothes. "Haven't I talked to her? I've said what needs to be said, and she seemed to have taken it to heart. Who knew she would make trouble again at this time? As an elder sister-in-law, it's not good to say too much. I'm at a loss. My sister-in-law has become increasingly strange over the past six months."
"The second child is also like that. It's right to dote on his wife, but he can't be without his own opinions and can't stand up for himself. It's truly worrying," Lin Rui Chun said.
Da Zhang Shi gave him a reproachful look. "You're capable, you have opinions, you can stand up for yourself."
Lin Rui Chun quickly smiled. "I'm different. My wife is sensible and generous. Who doesn't praise her when they see her?"
Da Zhang Shi then snorted, "You know what's good for you."
"But your second sister-in-law, you still need to put more effort into her. After all, it's a whole family. If she's always causing trouble, the parents will be the ones getting upset and worrying. Moreover, harmony in the family leads to prosperity," Lin Rui Chun said.
Da Zhang Shi nodded. "Alright, I'll do it. Even if people don't like me, so be it. I'll talk to her more in the future."
The next day, Qi Zhen Zhen and Song Ming Yue got up early.
Da Zhang Shi was already busy in the kitchen. She looked up and smiled, "There's hot water in the urn. Dilute it with some water yourselves to wash up. Breakfast will be ready soon."
During breakfast, one person was missing from the table. Although the commotion last night wasn't very loud, living in the same courtyard, how could they not hear it?
As if by agreement, no one asked about Xiao Zhang Shi.
Da Zhang Shi had made seafood porridge that morning, steamed white flour rolls, sliced pickled vegetables, and also steamed egg custard. In the countryside, such a breakfast was considered sumptuous. Qi Zhen Zhen and Song Ming Yue ate with great comfort, and the Lin family members also had smiles on their faces, creating a harmonious atmosphere. Of course, Lin Rui Xia was an exception.
After sending Xiao Zhang Shi to the Zhang family last night, his father-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law kept him there and caused a scene for quite a while. They said the Lin family was bullying her, and if they didn't want Xiao Zhang Shi as their daughter-in-law, their Zhang family wouldn't lack a meal for her. They also said that the Lin family had become wealthy and their horizons had broadened, and they looked down on their Zhang family.
In short, he endured a lot of difficulties at the Zhang family's house, and his stomach was filled with anger. Yet, he couldn't tell his family, so he had to suppress it. He was truly unhappy.
After breakfast, Lin Rui Chun took Qi Zhen Zhen and Song Ming Yue to the seaside. Lin Rui Xia was also invited, but he used an excuse to refuse and buried himself in his room.
Lin Wai Po cursed in a low voice, then turned to instruct Lin Rui Chun to take good care of Qi Zhen Zhen and Song Ming Yue. As for Lin Mu and Lin Lin, they had grown up by the sea since they were young, and going to the seaside was like being in their own home, so there was nothing to instruct them about.