Old Mrs. Liâs expression was already so unsightly.
Li Dongmei sensed something and served Zhang Wenbin a chopstick-full of stir-fried celery, "Wenbin, try this stir-fried celery with meat. Itâs really fragrant, and celery is expensive now."
Zhang Wenbin glanced at the chopstick-full of stir-fried celery in his bowl, and disdain flashed in his eyes.
Especially with Li Dongmeiâs remark about it being expensive.
How expensive could it get?
Reminding him that celery is expensive, as if heâs that superficial, caring about the price of a dish?
Such a country bumpkin, without any sophistication.
Li Guangyuan added tea to his cup, "Wenbin, drink some water, itâs getting cold."
Zhang Wenbin looked at the rim of the cup but didnât touch it.
Lin Jiayi sneered internally, these two clueless ones, he disdains your familyâs dirty cups.
Sure enough, after the meal and having a bowl of meat, Zhang Wenbin, probably overwhelmed by the meat and desperately thirsty, called Li Dongmei over.
Right in front of everyone, he made Li Dongmei scrub the cup clean before he finally drank a cup of water.
After drinking that cup of water, Zhang Wenbin didnât stay at the Li Familyâs place for much longer, he rushed off to wait for the public bus that passed by the village to head to the county, and left by himself.
It was as if he feared that staying at the Li Family for even a moment longer would make him catch lice or something.
Li Dongmei naturally ran to personally see Zhang Wenbin off onto the bus.
Lin Jiayi cleared away the dishes and, seeing Old Mrs. Liâs gloomy face, could hardly keep from laughing out loud.
This is the city dweller youâve been yearning for.
Not long after, Li Dongmei returned, humming a tune as she walked, clearly in a good mood.
Lin Jiayi wanted to relish the drama, so she quickly threw aside the dishrag and pretended to go inside to soothe the children.
In the room, Li Dongmei was eagerly asking Old Mrs. Li, "Mom, what do you think of Wenbin? Heâs alright, isnât he? Donât mind that he didnât talk much today, he was just being reserved. He was even worried about making a bad impression on his way here. Oh, right, hereâs some money he gave to buy you some snacks, you keep it. You know, Wenbin hurt his arm a while back and it hasnât fully recovered, so he gave me the money to buy something for him, and itâs my fault for forgetting."
Old Mrs. Liâs face was stern, looking at Li Dongmeiâs joyous expression, she sighed inwardly.
After all, it was her own dear daughter, and she knew her daughterâs desire to marry a city dweller.
Of course, she also hoped her daughter could marry a city man and enjoy a better life, and even when her daughter mentioned the man was divorced, she didnât see it as a problem.
But today, upon meeting him, Old Mrs. Li still hesitated.
"Dongmei, didnât you say that man was only a few years older than you? Looking at him, he must be in his thirties, right? Thatâs not just a little older, plus heâs divorced. It wonât do; letâs look for someone else."
Old Mrs. Li couldnât directly say that the man looked down on their Li Family, uncertain of how he would treat her daughter in the future.
Afraid that speaking the truth would hurt her daughterâs self-esteem.
Being born into such a family wasnât her daughterâs fault.
"Iâve heard that these divorced folks could have some issues. If he was that good, why would his first wife divorce him? Iâve thought it over, youâre still young. Letâs wait a few more years, maybe youâll find someone even better."
Upon hearing her motherâs disapproval, Li Dongmei became obstinate.
"Mom, what are you saying? Whatâs wrong with being divorced? Wenbinâs divorce was because that woman was no good. Iâve asked around; his ex-wife didnât work, was lazy and gluttonous, and to top it off, wasnât filial to her in-laws. Thatâs not all, she was also a spendthrift who had no clue how to manage a household. The worst part is she was unfaithful. Even their child might not be his, so when they divorced, Wenbin didnât even take the child. Divorcing such a woman was letting her off easy."
Whether Old Mrs. Li believed this or not, Lin Jiayi certainly didnât.
Watching Li Dongmeiâs righteous indignation, my heart sneered coldly.
She heard? Iâm afraid she heard it from Zhang Wenbinâs mother.
Although I donât like the Qin Family, I also know that Qin Juan is nothing like what Li Dongmei describes.
She is a woman with such a good temper that itâs almost pathetic.
Dare to put a green hat on Zhang Wenbin? Iâm afraid that green hat is the one Zhang Wenbin put on Qin Juan.
I remember, in my past life, Qin Juan seldom returned to the Qin Family, and I only saw her a few times, a mere bag of bones, a complete pushover.
But what does that have to do with me? Iâm just here for the spectacle.
Today, Li Guangyuan was also displeased with this man, but he dared not speak out in front of his mother and sister, just stood aside, puff puff, smoking.
Old Mrs. Li, seeing that she canât persuade her daughter, suddenly became furious.
First, she turned to Li Guangyuan and roared, "Iâve told you long ago, we have distinguished guests at home today, and asked you to tidy the house properly. This is the time to support your sister, but you did the opposite, not even preparing a few decent dishes, thinking a bowl of braised pork would be enough to send them off."
Lin Jiayiâs eyes widened in disbelief, what does she mean by âa bowl of braised pork would be enough to send them offâ?
I would also like my family to send me off with a bowl of braised pork.
But she also knows that Old Mrs. Li isnât really complaining about the lack of dishes she prepared; most likely, sheâs still upset for not getting a taste of that meat.
Worried that the fire might turn on her, she took her son and left the room.
Old Mrs. Li, after scolding her son, intended to scold her daughter-in-law, but seeing the daughter-in-law had left, turned to scold Li Guangyuan again.
After driving everyone away with her scolding, she looked at her youngest daughter and could only sigh in despair.
In the evening, Lin Jiayi finally saw Li Dongmei, who had been locked in her room all afternoon, in the kitchen.
Now looking at the little sister-in-law, her eyes were red as if she had been crying.
I donât know what Old Mrs. Li said to her that afternoon.
Turning her eyes swiftly, seemingly casual, she spoke, "Today itâs our fault for not being thorough in preparation; we should have stewed a chicken. I see our new brother-in-law Wenbin is elegant and not like the men from our village; he deserves a good welcome."
Li Dongmei looked up at Lin Jiayi, "You only realize now? No wonder they say people from your village lack foresight. The Zhang Family usually enjoys fish and meat, but coming to our house, they just got a bowl of braised pork."
Lin Jiayi rolled her eyes internally.
I couldnât tell they were used to fish and meat at the Zhang Family; Zhang Wenbin looked more like he hadnât eaten meat in ages.
On the surface, though, she agreed with her, "Right, right, but no worries, we have a long future ahead. Next time brother-in-law visits, sister-in-law can prepare something more lavish."
At these words, Li Dongmeiâs mouth twitched in grievance, "Sister-in-law, what do you think of Wenbin? Mother thinks heâs too old and itâs already his second marriage, and suggests I wait a few more years."
Lin Jiayi immediately knew what Old Mrs. Li had been saying to Li Dongmei all afternoon, and judging by the little sister-in-lawâs reaction, she seemed almost swayed.
She nodded without hesitation, "He seems quite good indeed, elegant and gentlemanly. Although there are some... But thatâs just the pride of city folks, isnât that why people from the city arenât accustomed to our rural places?"
Arenât you always complaining about the countryside? Thinking that city folk are all the rage? Iâll just play along.
Li Dongmei suddenly looked up, "Sister-in-law, you think so too?"
Lin Jiayi chuckled awkwardly, as if unsettled by her enthusiasm, "How could I be involved? Itâs you whoâs getting married, you have to make your own decision; no one else can replace you. After all, youâre the one whoâs going to live with it, so itâs up to you what kind of life you want."
Ask me to say it? Lin Jiayi isnât so foolish.
If I really said something and later something goes wrong, the blame would fall on my head.