USWHC -Chapter 48 The Ungrateful Wretch Who Can’t Be Raised (Part 8)

When everyone saw that Old Madam Ji kept staring at Zhu Jie while saying this, they immediately caught on. Ji Mei chimed in, “Exactly. If I had something good, I’d definitely think of the family first.” After stating her position, she deliberately asked Zhu Jie, “Second Sister-in-law, don’t you agree?”

“Yes! Of course I do!” Zhu Jie replied without the slightest hesitation. But then she added, “Mother treats you so well—you should repay her.”

No one expected that with just one sentence she would completely shut Ji Mei up, leaving her choking on her words and unable to respond.

At that moment Elder Brother Ji quickly picked up the conversation. “No one should ever forget Mother’s nurturing grace. Whether Mother treats us well or not, we still have to repay her. A person can’t forget their mother’s kindness!”

“Yes, Big Brother is absolutely right,” Zhu Jie nodded immediately in agreement. “These past few days I’ve noticed that Sister-in-law is especially filial. She’s been busy taking care of everything inside and outside the house.”

As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at Elder Brother Ji, her words faintly implying criticism of his laziness and love of leisure.

Elder Brother Ji’s face immediately turned red. Like a cat whose fur had been rubbed the wrong way, he puffed up his neck and shouted, “Isn’t it winter now? In spring we men all have to work in the fields! And besides, the kitchen should naturally be managed by women, shouldn’t it?”

“That’s not right, Brother,” Zhu Jie continued with righteous conviction. “There are so many people in this household—how can everything depend only on Sister-in-law?”

Sister-in-law You instantly widened her eyes in displeasure. Seeing his wife like that, Elder Brother Ji felt somewhat uneasy and muttered, “She’s not the only woman in this family. Why would it require a big grown man like me?”

Hearing that, Zhu Jie immediately countered, “But didn’t Brother just say Mother must be honored and served?”

Then, as if she had suddenly realized something, she covered her mouth in surprise and quietly shifted her gaze toward Ji Mei.

She looked at Ji Mei in astonishment and stammered nervously, “Brother, h-how can you say that? She…” But she abruptly stopped, seemingly embarrassed, as if she had accidentally said something she shouldn’t have, leaving her words hanging.

“Brother, I’m new here and don’t understand much. In the future I’ll help Sister-in-law more,” Zhu Jie said, glancing shyly at Ji Mei again.

Ji Mei was momentarily stunned by her look, but she quickly figured it out. So that’s how it is, Elder Brother Ji—you’re scolding someone indirectly! Zhu Jie was right—she had just arrived, so no matter what was said it couldn’t be directed at her. In the end, it meant Elder Brother Ji was dissatisfied with her, secretly accusing her of being lazy.

The moment Ji Mei realized this, her face darkened and she glared resentfully at Elder Brother Ji.

Meanwhile, Sister-in-law You seemed to have found a kindred spirit and sighed emotionally, “Exactly! I’m the one busy with everything in this household, yet no one even cares. Only Sister Zhu understands how to be considerate.”

As she spoke, she cast a particularly aggrieved glance at Ji Mei, as if she had long held resentment about her doing nothing.

Ji Mei immediately shouted in displeasure, “What kind of talk is that, Sister-in-law? How am I not considerate? The reason I don’t work is so I can keep my health in good condition and marry into a good family later—so I can help this household!”

Then she arrogantly glared at Elder Brother Ji and added, “If my brother had a bit more ability and could earn more money outside, I wouldn’t have to suffer like this. With matching family status, I might have married into a good household long ago!”

“What do you mean by that?” Elder Brother Ji exploded the moment she said he had no ability. “So you think loving wealth and despising poverty is justified? How am I incapable? Tell me—who works the family fields every year? Have you ever hoed the land? Have you ever sown seeds?”

Sister-in-law You immediately joined in loudly, “Exactly! The sweet potatoes you eat are all grown by us!”

“These lousy sweet potatoes? I don’t even like them!” Ji Mei instantly threw one onto the ground, smashing it to pieces.

The atmosphere suddenly turned explosive.

Sister-in-law You shrieked, “If you won’t eat them, then get out!”

Ji Mei had already been puffing her cheeks in anger. That shout nearly scared the soul out of her.

If she didn’t leave now, where would her dignity be? But if she really did leave, where could she possibly go? It was the dead of winter—just wandering outside could freeze your jaw off, let alone running away from home.

Fortunately, at that moment Old Madam Ji finally asserted her authority. She slammed the table and jumped to her feet, roaring at everyone, “Have you all had enough? Who runs this household? If you don’t want to live here properly, then all of you get out!”

Her shout finally shocked everyone into silence.

Ji Mei immediately burst into tears and complained, “Mother, Sister-in-law scolded me!”

Old Madam Ji was completely dumbfounded. How had things escalated like this after just a few sentences? Wasn’t Zhu Jie supposed to be the main topic today? How was it that she sat there like nothing had happened, watching everyone, while Sister-in-law You and Ji Mei started fighting instead?

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Was that girl Zhu Jie really foolish, or was she pretending to be? How could just a few sentences stir everyone up until they exploded like this? Could she be deliberately sowing discord?

But looking at Zhu Jie’s blank expression—glancing at this person and that one, appearing frightened and hesitant to speak—Old Madam Ji instead became genuinely confused.