Chapter 33: Wang Xiuhua: What on Earth Do You Want?

I never imagined that following Li Chun’ya here today would bring such good fortune! Not only could I enjoy a sumptuous meal and fine wine, but my father-in-law was actually planning to give Li Chun’ya a share of the money. Her money, after all, was my money too! I had no idea how much he sold the job for, but later I would have to find a way to help Li Chun’ya get a bigger share. Once the money was in my hands, it would be enough for me to live in style for quite some time!

In truth, Li Chun’ya wasn’t at all concerned about Li Junsheng’s money; it was enough for her that he kept her in his thoughts as his daughter. Besides, she knew well that even if her father gave her the money, Sun Gui would snatch it away for drinking, gambling, and feasting. It would be better to give it to her other siblings. Li Chun’ya thought, even her mother would likely object to sharing the money with her. Her mother always insisted that a married daughter belonged to another family.

With that in mind, Li Chun’ya focused solely on Li Junsheng, asking him why he was selling his job. “Dad, the job at the machinery factory is a good one. Why are you selling it? Did you run into trouble, or were you deceived?”

The way she spoke made Ma Yulian feel as though Li Chun’ya was covertly criticizing her. Who could deceive Li Junsheng? Everyone knew he only listened to Ma Yulian! No one else could trick him. Ma Yulian took the words personally, her face darkening, and she immediately scolded Li Chun’ya: “Just drink your soup and stop talking so much! So annoying—no wonder you get beaten! Be grateful you’re getting a share of the money.”

“You actually came because you were called? Don’t you have any self-awareness? Who ever heard of a married daughter still coveting her family’s things?”

Li Chun’ya was stunned. She hadn’t expected that a few words would draw such a piercing rebuke from her own mother. Li Junsheng, mindful of her feelings, immediately defended Li Chun’ya.

“Enough! What kind of mother talks to her daughter like that? Chun’ya wasn’t even speaking to you, so why butt in?”

After rebuking Ma Yulian, Li Junsheng turned to comfort Li Chun’ya. “Ignore your mother. She’s lost her mind. I’m doing this to repay Chen Dazhu’s kindness for saving us.”

“Chen Dazhu wants to borrow my job—he says it’s just borrowing, but who knows if he’ll ever return it. Your mother insisted I give the job to Chen Dazhu’s son. For security, I decided to sell it outright!”

Only then did Li Chun’ya and Li Xiaoyu understand the situation: once again, it was because their mother wanted to repay some so-called life-saving debt. After all these years, surely the debt should have been settled by now!

Li Xiaoyu sighed, feeling her father lacked decisiveness, but was at least pleased he sought some security for himself. Otherwise, he would simply be taken advantage of. Li Chun’ya’s heart ached for Li Junsheng, who, thanks to Ma Yulian’s insistence on repaying the debt, had lost his means of support in old age. Selling the job at the machinery factory meant that, at his age, finding another job would not be easy.

“Dad, what will you do from now on? As for the money... why don’t you just keep it for yourself?”

Li Chun’ya was about to say she didn’t want the money from selling the job, but under the table, Sun Gui stomped hard on her foot. Turning her head, she saw Sun Gui glaring at her fiercely, signaling her not to meddle—the money must be theirs, no matter what Li Junsheng decided.

Meanwhile, Wang Xiuhua, behind Li Chun’ya’s back, secretly rolled her eyes. She thought Li Chun’ya was putting on an act to win her father-in-law’s favor and ultimately grab a bigger share for herself.

“Dad, Chun’ya’s right…”

“Dad, we’re young. We can work and earn our own living.”

Li Guohua and Li Xiaoyu quickly spoke up, showing no envy for Li Junsheng’s money and wishing he would keep it for himself. Li Junsheng was deeply gratified, but he still said, “No need. I can still earn a living. But let me give you this money. The job sold for a thousand yuan. After deducting my expenses, there are eight hundred left. Since we’re dividing up the family, I’ll have your mother give you all the savings she’s kept over the years as well.”

Li Junsheng put down his chopsticks and took out the remaining eight hundred yuan. Li Chun’ya and Li Xiaoyu found it strange—he was still in good health, so why was he dividing up all the savings, too?

They were unaware that Li Junsheng wanted to use this opportunity to separate the eldest son, who had been draining him dry, and disperse the money so it wouldn’t be coveted any longer. With the eldest son no longer watching, he could finally pursue his own desires. Otherwise, the ordeal would never end.

Li Junsheng didn’t rush to divide the money, but turned to Ma Yulian. “Bring out your savings as well. Let’s divide the family’s assets among the children so they can manage their own households.”

“Xiaoyu, from now on, keep your wages for yourself. No need to hand them over to me or your mother.”

He reminded his youngest daughter, lest she be exploited. Li Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up—she had long resented being squeezed by Ma Yulian.

For the past two years, though she handed over her wages to Ma Yulian, Li Xiaoyu secretly stashed away a little pocket money for herself. Now, seeing Ma Yulian about to hand over her savings, Ma Yulian was reluctant and hesitated, saying, “You go ahead and divide your money first. I’ll give mine later.”

The eight hundred yuan irritated Ma Yulian. After all, she couldn’t keep it; Li Junsheng was dividing it up. The money was never truly hers, so she couldn’t make the decisions.

Li Junsheng wasn’t about to simply divide up his own money first. In front of Li Guojun and his wife, he deliberately asked, “You didn’t bring the money home, did you? You lent all your savings to your family for interest, and if they haven’t returned the principal, surely there’s at least interest, right?”

Li Guojun was fixated on the money Ma Yulian held. When Li Junsheng brought it up, he immediately pressed her: “That’s right, Mom. Has Uncle refused to give you the money? That won’t do. It’s a lot, and it belongs to us!”

“Maybe we should go to Uncle’s house and demand it. Mother might be too embarrassed to ask.”

Wang Xiuhua even suggested they go collect the money, afraid Ma Yulian would side with her family and refuse to share it with her own children.

Overwhelmed by Li Guojun and his wife’s insistence, Ma Yulian had no choice but to bring out the three hundred yuan she’d collected from her brother. “I brought it back. It’s all here. No need to cause trouble at your uncle’s house.”

Seeing Ma Yulian produce the money, Sun Gui was astounded. Father-in-law and mother-in-law were truly formidable! First they made a tidy profit selling the job, then they lent out their savings for interest! If he’d known the family was so wealthy, he would have had Li Chun’ya ask for more.

But it wasn’t too late; with the money being divided, he had to find a way to get more for Li Chun’ya!

Li Chun’ya and Li Xiaoyu were even more astonished, both exclaiming in unison, “Mom’s quite shrewd! She can make money grow!”

As soon as Ma Yulian brought out the money, Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua immediately leaned in to check the amount. Seeing there were only three hundred yuan, their faces fell in dissatisfaction.

“Mom, why is there so little? Dad’s wages over the years should amount to more than three hundred, right?”

Li Guojun turned to question Ma Yulian, while Wang Xiuhua took out her account book and began tallying up the figures. “Since I married into the family, I’ve kept a record of every expense. I know exactly how much should have been saved. It can’t possibly be just this. Mom, you’re holding onto so much money and won’t give it to us—what are you planning to do?”