Chapter 464

“It’s okay, the situation this year is special. We’re going to visit your family and tell them you’ve come back to the city. I know you’re worried they might bring up the dowry again, but in every city, the price is more or less the same. We may have given less before, but now we can make it up to save face for you in the countryside. We can’t let people who’ve watched you grow up talk about you as if you married casually, not knowing how long you’ll be stuck in the countryside. If things are going well, showing them will also help you hold your head high.

Also, I know that your families used to always come to ask for things and money. Now, it’s time to let them know that you’re fully married and no longer in the countryside. You don’t have to worry about being short on food, so they should stop pressuring you for more.”
Zhu Peini spoke frankly to her two daughters-in-law, not holding anything back. When the two daughters-in-law heard this, they realized that their mother-in-law had a point and nodded in agreement.
But Zhu Peini was still concerned they might overthink things, so she continued, “When you came back, we talked about how we’d manage the money you’re earning. You’ve seen it for yourselves – both of you have jobs that pay forty-six yuan a month. We’ll all live together, and your grandparents’ pension, your father’s and my salary – it’s enough for us three. Starting next year, we’ll start saving up so we can get jobs for both of you. By then, the child will be older, and we can send him to daycare. Your grandparents can pick him up every day.”
“We understand. We definitely won’t keep supporting our family unless our parents fall seriously ill. With so many other children in the family who didn’t go to the countryside, they should be the ones taking care of our parents,” Huo Xiaojing said firmly.
Although it was a rule that every family had to send one child to the countryside, when it was their turn, resentment naturally arose. They’d seen what other families were like in the countryside, and how different their own situation was.
To be honest, if they hadn’t married Qiujie and Yuang, two brothers who had cared for them without hesitation, they wouldn’t have been able to survive the difficult life in the countryside. So, when it came to their birth family, they didn’t have much affection left.
Zhu Peini, however, was left with a complicated feeling when she saw their response. As a woman who had been through it herself, she understood the bitterness of growing up in a family that favored boys over girls. But when parents passed away, people often couldn’t help but reflect and wonder whether those grievances were really worth holding onto.
She didn’t want to see her two daughters-in-law’s relationship turn too sour. At the very least, she wanted them to maintain a good outward appearance. That way, they wouldn’t regret things in the future.
After packing up, the three families sent them off to the train station.
Standing on the platform, Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but repeatedly remind her relatives, “Cousin, Cousin-in-law, you must take good care of the child! Don’t take your eyes off him, and definitely don’t let go of his hand! I’ve been on this train a few times, and it’s really chaotic! Also, Cousin, Uncle, you both need to keep an eye on the two cousins-in-law. Don’t let them out of your sight.”
“Don’t worry, Xiaoxiao! We’ll make sure to be extra careful. Once we get off the train, we’ll call you. It’ll be around eleven in the morning tomorrow. Don’t sit at home worrying yourself,” Zhu Peini waved as she reassured them.