Lin Wanyi nodded, acknowledging Li Borui.
He was just a child; she was not going to make things difficult for him.
However, she did not stand up, nor had she prepared a red envelope.
Although she used to give two thousand every year, she had never seen a single cent in return from Wang Meijuan.
Now, holding a box of milk, Wang Meijuan looked displeased:
Lin Wanyi, my son just wished you a happy New Year. As his aunt, how can you just sit there doing nothing?
Where is his red envelope? You really have no manners.
Lin Wanyi called out to Wang Keke, Keke, come wish your aunt and uncle a happy New Year.
Wang Keke obediently said, Happy New Year, Aunt and Uncle! Wishing you prosperity!
Li Jun smiled and said good girl, but Wang Meijuan did not even bother to respond.
Lin Wanyi stared intently at her. My daughter just wished you a happy New Year. As her aunt, how can you just stand there doing nothing? Aren't you going to show some appreciation?
Shouldn't you give her a red envelope?
Wang Meijuan threw the box of milk onto the ground:
I am the aunt who married out of the family, and you are the aunt who married in. Are our statuses the same?
Lin Wanyi, do not go too far. It is the New Year, do not cause trouble.
I did not give one in previous years either, and I did not see you go crazy then. Why are you picking a fight today?
Hurry up and give my son his red envelope, the child has been looking forward to it for a long time.
But Lin Wanyi wanted to cause trouble; she was deliberately picking a fight.
She had already made up her mind: no one was going to have a happy New Year this year.
She was going to demand payback for all the grievances she had suffered over the past eight years.
So, she continued to block the doorway:
Sister, let me tell you the truth. Your mother said that a married daughter is like spilled water.
She said it is completely improper for a married daughter to keep running back to her maiden home at the drop of a hat.
I am telling you on her behalf right now: go back. You are no longer welcome here.
Bullshit!
Wang Meijuan shouted loudly:
Returning to a maiden home on the second day of the New Year is a tradition all over the country! What right do you have to stop me from coming home?
Lin Wanyi, get out of my way!
Lin Wanyi did not step aside. Instead, she propped her foot up against the wall:
Yes, going back to your maiden home on the second day of the New Year is perfectly justified, but that is exactly what your mother said.
If you don't believe me, call her out here to confront me.
Cranking her neck, Wang Meijuan yelled into the house:
Mom! Mom! This bitch Lin Wanyi will not let me come home! Hurry up and come out here!
Liu Chunlan hurried out of the kitchen, pointing her finger right at Lin Wanyi's nose and cursing:
I was wondering why you were acting crazy and sitting at the front door all day. Turns out you were waiting for me here.
Get out of the way and do not block my daughter's path!
How could Lin Wanyi yield?
She was doing this on purpose. She said loudly:
Old woman, you said it. You said it yourself!
Have you forgotten? You said that a woman must follow the man she marries, no matter what he is, and that once married, she should dutifully prioritize her husband's family.
Brother-in-law!
She suddenly looked at Li Jun: Brother-in-law, aren't your sisters coming back home today too? If Wang Meijuan is here, who is going to cook?
Oh my god, you aren't going to make your mother cook such a big table of food all by herself, are you?
That will not do, that is too much hard work. You should quickly take my sister-in-law back home to help your mother. You cannot let the old lady exhaust herself.
She is a member of your Li family now; taking care of the young and old, and entertaining the returning sisters-in-law is her responsibility. It is what she ought to do.
Li Jun immediately agreed: Okay, my sister-in-law is right and reasonable. It is true, I have two sisters.
They are both bringing their families back, and my mom will be exhausted today.
Wang Meijuan, hurry up and come back with me.
Wang Meijuan was so angry she wanted to slap Lin Wanyi right across the face.
She yelled: Are you going to move or not? Today is my day to visit my parents, stop acting crazy here.
Hurry up and help my mom cook; after lunch, we still have to go to my uncle's house this afternoon.
Lin Wanyi remained indifferent, not moving an inch.
Passersby were whispering among themselves:
What is Wang Hao's wife trying to do? Why is she blocking guests outside the door?
Yeah, Wang Meijuan, is your sister-in-law upset because you brought too few gifts?
Look at what my daughter brought, several big bags she could barely carry. And you? Hahaha, just a box of milk. You really do not take your maiden family seriously at all.
Isn't that the truth? Being so stingy when visiting her parents for the New Year. If it were me, I wouldn't let her in either.
Wang Meijuan was losing her composure and argued defensively:
Can't I just give money? Who cares about your cheap goods? My mom is sick of eating them.
Besides, even if I brought those things back, they would just end up in a certain someone's mouth.
Would my mom even get a bite? Heh, I don't believe it. I am just giving money, I am not buying things, and I am not giving certain people a free ride.
Lin Wanyi laughed:
Giving money, are you? Brother-in-law, how much money did you bring? Give it now, let me broaden my horizons.
Li Jun's face darkened. He tugged at Wang Meijuan:
Stop talking nonsense! What money? Where do we have the money for you to act like a big shot?
Have you forgotten that I am still up to my neck in debt from marrying you?
Wang Meijuan blushed, but Lin Wanyi kept going:
Give the money, sister! Take out your money in front of all of us. You aren't lying, are you?
You aren't just all talk, are you? Just like your mother back then, nothing but empty words.
This time, it was Liu Chunlan who flared up:
Why are you dragging me into this? What does her not giving money have to do with me?
Lin Wanyi sneered. Seeing that the crowd of onlookers outside was growing larger, she raised her voice:
Neighbors, haven't you all heard Liu Chunlan say that Wang Hao spent 480,000 in bride price to marry me?
Isn't that what she told you?
Wang Xiu'e was the first to answer:
Yeah, she always said you demanded 480,000, and that it was a one-time buyout. She said you were now just a dog of the Wang family, one they couldn't drive away even if they tried.
That is why she said you could never go back to your maiden home, not ever.
Judging from your tone, is that not the case?
Hmph!
Lin Wanyi yanked Wang Hao to the doorway:
Wang Hao, you speak. Not a single word out of your mother's mouth is true. You tell them, did I ask for a single cent of bride price when I married you?
Wang Hao's eyes darted around evasively, and he stammered when he tried to speak.
It was Wang Xiu'e who spoke again:
Liu Chunlan, you kept saying that you bought Lin Wanyi for 480,000. I even kept praising you for being so capable and having so much money.
Turns out that wasn't true at all. Turns out she didn't ask for a single cent!
You are taking things too far. She didn't ask for any bride price, yet you are so mean to a girl who married far away from her home. Even I cannot stand watching this anymore.
The younger women in the crowd also began to speak up against the injustice: What era is this? What is wrong with marrying far away? It is not a crime to marry far from home. What right do you have to look down on people?
At the end of the day, it is just that your Wang family is incompetent. People with good financial conditions can come back whenever they want, even if they marry abroad.
Today is the second day of the New Year, and you will not even let her go back to her maiden home. That is way too much.
Lin Wanyi, since she played dirty first, you have every right to strike back! I support you in keeping Wang Meijuan out!
