Chen Hui recounted the whole story from the beginning.
The police officer frowned as he listened, then asked Tang Guixiang:
"Is this true?"
Tang Guixiang couldn’t refute it, so she resorted to throwing a tantrum:
"Officer, I’m the bride’s mother. Everyone says you hold your head high when marrying off a daughter and bow low when bringing in a wife. Isn’t it fair for me to have a few demands?
"Nowadays, girls are scarce and precious. When my son gets married later, the bride’s family will demand a house from me too.
"I’ll have to provide one anyway, so where am I wrong?"
The police were speechless, but they still had to reason with her:
"This is a matter of mutual consent. You can’t force it.
"Ma’am, to be fair, I think the boy’s family has been very reasonable.
"The bride price was generous, the gifts were high-quality, and you..."
"What about me?"
With no one on her side, Tang Guixiang flew into a rage:
"So what if I don’t agree? She’s my daughter—I gave birth to her, I raised her. If I say she marries, she marries. If I say she doesn’t, she doesn’t.
"Can you force me?"
Of course, they couldn’t force her, but the officer added:
"You can’t lock your daughter up either. And if you refuse the proposal, the gifts must be returned.
"Ma’am, open the door."
Tang Guixiang didn’t want to. So many nice things—worth twenty or thirty thousand!
She’d never even seen such items before.
Besides, Chen Daqiang had been set up on a blind date, and the other party was interested—they just needed money and a house.
She had to save these things for when they proposed to his future bride.
She shouldn’t have to buy them herself; what was the point of raising a daughter otherwise?
Which family didn’t use a daughter’s marriage to bolster the son’s standing?
Why should it be any different for her?
On what grounds?
So she refused to return them:
"These were gifts to me. Why should I give them back?
"Who’s ever heard of taking back something once it’s given?
"If that’s the case, Li Suhua and Lin Jiajun, you never had any real intention of proposing.
"I definitely won’t agree to marry Chen Hui off to your family now."
Before Li Suhua could speak, Chen Hui cut in:
"I told you, I’m not getting married—ever! What more do you want?
"Hurry up and give the stuff back, or I swear I’ll grab a megaphone and shout it all over the neighborhood. See if you can keep your face then."
Tang Guixiang was so furious her head spun, but there was nothing she could do with Chen Hui.
Ever since this daughter got together with Lin Jiajun, she hadn’t listened to a word she said.
Everything was crossed and contrary.
She hated Lin Jiajun—hated him to death.
She finally opened the door.
Helplessly, she watched Lin Jiajun load everything back into the car.
Her heart ached. So many good things!
Li Suhua hadn’t had the heart to take back the two boxes of expensive fruit.
She thought she’d leave them for Tang Guixiang, to save face on both sides.
She truly liked Chen Hui.
And Tang Guixiang was Chen Hui’s biological mother.
They’d definitely have to stay in touch later; there was no need to burn bridges completely.
But even though Li Suhua didn’t take them, Chen Hui grabbed everything without hesitation.
She didn’t leave a single thing for Tang Guixiang.
As the car sped away, Tang Guixiang stood on the balcony, stomping and cursing:
"Damn you, Chen Hui! Don’t you ever come back if you have the nerve!
"Don’t ever call me your mother again!"
In the car, Chen Hui felt more and more aggrieved. Li Suhua comforted her:
"Huizi, your mother went too far, but she’s still your mom.
"In a couple of days, when she cools down, we’ll go back.
"We’ll talk it through properly."
Chen Hui wiped away her tears:
"Auntie, it’s no use. Unless you give them a house for Chen Daqiang to get married, she’ll never agree."
Li Suhua was at a loss. She was willing to give Chen Hui a house herself, but giving one to Chen Daqiang? That she wouldn’t do.
Who in their right mind would?
But Chen Hui said, "Auntie, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll marry Jiajun myself, no matter what they think.
"As long as I agree, that’s enough. They don’t even need to come to the wedding."
"Ah?"
Li Suhua was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Chen Hui to be so decisive.
When Li Suhua stayed silent, Chen Hui asked tentatively:
"Auntie, do you think this makes me seem cheap?"
"Not at all,"
Li Suhua quickly took her hand:
"Auntie just feels for you, that’s all."
When they got home, Lin Wanyi had just picked up Wang Keke.
She put down her backpack and handed Keke some milk:
"Keke, do your homework first, okay? Mom’s going to cook dinner."
Keke sat obediently at the desk: "Okay."
Lin Wanyi had just put on her apron when she saw Lin Jiajun’s car pull in.
Back so early—must mean they hadn’t eaten.
Something went wrong, she guessed.
Sure enough, she saw Lin Jiajun pop the trunk and haul out the gifts, all exactly as they were sent.
She asked Li Suhua: "Didn’t go well?"
Li Suhua sighed and whispered:
"Don’t ask. Don’t embarrass Huizi.
"Here, let me cook."
She took the apron off Lin Wanyi:
"You go help Keke with her homework."
Lin Wanyi watched Li Suhua’s back in the kitchen, her heart aching.
It was true—only a mother always cares for her daughter, always cherishes her.
Before she got married, she’d never even held a knife or cut meat.
But after marrying Wang Hao, all the meals for his family were left to Lin Wanyi.
Liu Chunlan never lifted a finger again.
Her line was always: "You’re the daughter-in-law; it’s your duty to serve your in-laws. Cooking is the basics."
Wang Meijuan would say too:
"If you can’t cook, what good is Wang Hao marrying you for?
"Lin Wanyi, every woman cooks after she gets married. That’s how it is."
But at her own home, Li Suhua never let her step into the kitchen.
Lin Wanyi still went to help.
Li Suhua wouldn’t let her do a thing:
"Just watch. Haven’t you cooked enough over the last eight years?"
Lin Wanyi stood beside Li Suhua.
While chopping vegetables, Li Suhua said:
"Huizi’s mom is way too patriarchal. She treats Huizi like merchandise to trade for her son’s future.
"Wanyi, Huizi said today that she won’t even notify her family for the wedding.
"I’m worried people will gossip. I want to make the wedding grand for her.
"Buy her more gold jewelry to show off on the big day.
"You don’t object, do you?"
Lin Wanyi was stunned: "Mom, why would I object?"
Li Suhua smiled: "Good, I’m glad you feel that way. I was just worried about families where siblings don’t get along.
"I thought you might think I’m giving too much to Huizi. Honestly, I don’t have much money—just a few thousand from your dad’s medical reimbursements.
"But I figure it’ll all be yours and Jiajun’s someday anyway.
"This time, I want to be generous with Huizi, to make her wedding truly happy.
"Later, I’ll pick up some odd jobs to save up a little for you."
Lin Wanyi leaned her head on Li Suhua’s shoulder:
"Mom, you don’t have to worry about me. I love Huizi too.
"After I got divorced and came back, she never said a word. She even let me stay in the new house.
"A sister-in-law like that is a rare find. Jiajun really struck gold.
"Don’t worry—I’ll take care of Huizi just like you always have."
They kept chatting in the kitchen, while outside the door, Chen Hui held a cup and stood with teary eyes.
She was unlucky, born into such a family.
But she was also lucky, because she’d found such a loving family to marry into.
