RYEY – Chapter 163 The In-Laws’ Scheme

Xu Laidi carried the bundle and walked toward the educated youth camp. Jiang Guangrong looked at Li Huan with some resentment. What was the village head thinking? Why allow such a poisonous woman to go to the camp and bring harm to the educated youths?

Li Huan cast a subtle glance at Chai Jianmin hiding behind a tree. Sure enough, he saw a slightly changed expression on his face. Heh heh, play your games at your own pace. When you reach a point where you can’t go any further, I’ll come lend you a hand.

On the day of paying the state grain, Cheng Qiao also brought little Cheng Li along. Seeing so many people carrying, shouldering, and balancing grain as they walked out of the village, the little boy’s curious eyes spun around.

The villagers, upon seeing little Cheng Li, were surprised at how well this child had grown. Xu Laidi’s son was still in the hospital, and they had heard his life was barely hanging on.

Xu Laidi saw Cheng Qiao holding little Cheng Li, mother and son bathed in sunlight, their skin glowing white. Her mood suddenly sank. It was too unfair—this world was too unfair.

Fortunately, she was about to meet Wang Ping. After all, prison visits weren’t just given on a whim; you had to submit an application, state your reason, and, of course, someone would be stationed nearby to supervise.

Cheng Qiao hadn’t originally understood why Li Huan was being so kind—letting Xu Laidi stay in Wang Ping’s house and allowing her to meet her—but when Li Huan said the two words “Xia Fen,” Cheng Qiao understood.

They had been searching for Xia Fen, but communication was very inconvenient at this time, so there had been no news of this woman. Cheng Qiao had always felt a tightness in her chest; now, finally, there was new hope.

After paying the state grain, Cheng Qiao carried little Cheng Li and went to the supply and marketing cooperative with Cuihua. It turned out that Cuihua had gone to the county town the day after giving three hundred yuan to her daughter.

“The in-laws are here.”

Chen Daniu’s mother-in-law, upon seeing Cuihua, no longer had her usual enthusiasm. Ever since Chen Chunhua had been “eaten like peanuts,” her impression of Daniu had dropped sharply.

Daniu was cousins with Chen Chunhua. With a cousin so notorious—a murderer, no less—what good could Daniu, the elder cousin, be?

Yet, because Chen Weidang was the village head, she still showed some respect. Never underestimate the power of a village head; there are many twisted forms of authority. Unexpectedly, Chen Weidang was later removed from his position.

Daniu’s life became somewhat difficult. Fortunately, her husband was reliable—he wasn’t as shallow as his mother. Although Daniu and Chunhua were like two gourds on the same vine, there were always highs and lows.

Soon, Chen Weidang became the village accountant. Daniu remained respectful to her mother-in-law, and the older woman finally softened, thinking perhaps her son was right: even fruits on the same tree have good and bad ones, let alone children born of different parents.

“In-laws, Daniu, some good news. Huanzi—our new village head of Xiangyang Village—has a good buddy called Shouhou. His wife is pregnant and planning to sell her job. I’ve reserved it for Daniu.”

“What… really?”

“Mom… really?”

Daniu and her mother-in-law stood up simultaneously. A job meant a stable income for the family. If it was a formal position, it could even support future generations.

“In-laws, what kind of job? Temporary or permanent?”

“It’s permanent. The person Daniu knows—Qiu Min, working at the supply and marketing cooperative—is pregnant and wants to sell her position.”

“How much?”

Her mother-in-law’s eyes sparkled, but inside, she worried: Don’t ask for too much. A thousand or nine hundred yuan? They couldn’t really afford that.

“Six hundred. I’ve already paid three hundred and written an IOU for the other three hundred. After the autumn harvest, the village will distribute grain for money; I can add another two hundred. But Daniu, here’s the thing…”

Cuihua felt a little embarrassed. She had planned to pay half, leaving the other half for Daniu herself, since Chen Chunhua had become a weak link in their family.

“In-laws, Daniu is my daughter-in-law. This money should come from our family too. But since we don’t have that much either, why don’t you help cover it for now? Once Daniu starts working, she can give you half of her monthly salary.” Cuihua’s heart sank. Half of the salary? That meant Daniu would work a whole month and keep nothing for herself.

Daniu looked at her shrewd mother-in-law and again felt the urge to divide the family property. Initially, without a job and with a small child, splitting the family would have been disadvantageous. Now, with a job and the child growing up, the division would have to come.

“Mom, my mother-in-law is right. Even though my husband gives all his salary to her, she manages the food, clothing, and living expenses for all eight of us. She probably doesn’t have much money left.”

Eight people in a household—Cuihua glanced at Daniu’s mother-in-law. The older woman’s face flushed. Indeed, she wasn’t one of her own children; her words were sharp, often hinting at complaints about her two daughters who frequently came back to freeload.

Both daughters had no jobs; their husbands earned little, and the household was large, always struggling to have enough to eat. Unlike her own family, where the husband earned well, the son’s salary wasn’t low, and the children were young and didn’t eat much.

The daughter-in-law’s family also sent food and mountain goods every year, contributing to the household. Hence, they could eat well and stay warm.

Cuihua immediately understood Daniu’s point: if her mother-in-law didn’t contribute money, it was actually a good thing. Otherwise, if she lost her mind one day and wanted to give the job to her own daughter, Daniu wouldn’t be able to compete.

“Remember, on the day of paying the state grain, you go to the cooperative and wait. We’ve agreed that on that day, we’ll hand over the money and the job simultaneously. Go early and see how Qiu Min works.”

Daniu readily agreed, her heart filled with joy. Her mother-in-law felt a pang of envy; she wanted the job but had two daughters, and it cost six hundred yuan—she couldn’t bear it.

Well then, let the daughter-in-law work first. At least half the monthly salary would come back. Otherwise, no way would she help with the children.

Qiu Min, with her big belly, was talking to someone. Cheng Qiao immediately knew who it was—so Chen Daniu had arrived early.

“Qiu Min, how’s your health? Any problems?”

“Cheng Qiao, you’re here! Oh, little Cheng Li too! Aunt Qiu can’t hold you now, but once the baby in my belly is born, he can play with you.”

While Qiu Min held little Cheng Li, Cheng Qiao subtly pressed her fingers on her wrist. Sure enough, the pulse was calm and steady. A master is a master—her skills were indeed extraordinary.