Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

"Serves you right!" Lin Yi said with satisfaction, then looked at Chen Wenjun, "Have you all eaten enough after making such a scene at the wedding?"

Chen Wenjun was both amused and exasperated. "Dad, the banquet hasn't even started yet! You said it yourself, with all this commotion, who has any appetite to eat?"

"Oh! That won't do! Hurry up, I'll go make you some dishes and call the kids down to eat something." Lin Yi hurriedly went to rummage through the refrigerator.

Lin Qin then realized that her stomach was growling with hunger, and figured that Lin Yi was probably just going to make them some noodles.

I was surprised to find four dishes and a soup on the table after I went upstairs to take a shower, along with a pot of freshly cooked white rice.

She was completely taken aback. "Dad, it's already this late and you've still prepared such a huge feast! Steamed sea bass, braised pork, braised prawns, cold water spinach salad, abalone soup! Tsk tsk tsk, you're really something!"

Lin Yi rolled his eyes at her. "Enough with the nonsense! Come and eat."

At the dinner table, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning the farcical wedding between the Xue and Zhang families.

Xue Lingxue had already returned home, removed her makeup, and the nanny had prepared a table full of dishes for her.

With the wedding ruined and no longer having to face the disgusting Zhang Jingxuan, Xue Lingxue was in an unprecedentedly joyful mood, her appetite surging as she ate without uttering a sound.

In contrast to her good mood, Xue's father and Wang Suling in the living room were furious, with all of Xue's close relatives present.

Xue Lingxue's third uncle roared angrily, pointing at Xue's father's nose and cursing, "Back then, you were the ones who said that the Zhang family's boy was suitable, this one is good, that one is good, good my ass! He's not even as good as the government-affiliated young Sun! At least he's down-to-earth and has a bright future. Now look what's happened, you've found this kind of trash. It's one thing for the marriage to fall through, but the main thing is how Lingxue is going to talk about marriage in this circle in the future!"

Third Aunt joined in the nagging, but glared at Wang Suling with dissatisfaction, "You too, you don't trust your own daughter but trust someone with a different surname, as if you've been cursed. I was also blinded by greed before, and when I heard you complaining, I even joined you in saying that the child was wrong. The one who was most wronged was Lingxue!"
I have no idea how you parents could be so incompetent!

Grandma Zhou Laiyi remained silent until everyone had vented their anger, then slowly said, "Third brother, third sister-in-law, it's not easy for you to come back from the provincial capital. What's done is done, and continuing to curse won't change anything."

This matter with the Zhang family can't be left so easily. We'll have Lingxue's father go and demand justice from Zhang Long later."

Auntie San, with her neck stiff and eyes red, said loudly, "We definitely have to go! Our innocent and pure daughter has been slandered like this. Do they think our Xue family is easy to bully? Just for Zhang Jingxuan's unbridled smearing of Ling Xue, I will make the Zhang family pay the price!"

Everyone nodded in unison.

They went to the restaurant again to comfort Xue Lingxue for a few more minutes before leaving.

After seeing off their relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Xue turned around and saw Zhou Laiyi staring at them with an air of authority despite not being angry.

The two immediately went over to apologize like grandchildren.

"Mom, I really didn't know Zhang Jingxuan was all show and no substance. If I had known he was this kind of person, I would never have let her marry into the Zhang family." Father Xue's attitude of admitting his mistake was extremely good.

Zhou Laiyi snorted coldly, "It's not that you didn't think of it, it's that you're too self-righteous! It's one thing that you're busy, but is your wife so busy that she's gone blind? Your third aunt is right, she doesn't even believe her own daughter, but listens to some nobody outsider, ptooey!"
"Lingxue is really grateful to that little girl from the Chen family for not being driven crazy by you. If it weren't for that little girl from the Chen family going to England and staying with Lingxue all the time, and bravely standing up for her, you might not even be able to see your daughter now!" Zhou Laiyi heard these things from Xue Lingxue on the way back. It took her only twenty minutes to learn what kind of life Xue Lingxue had been living abroad these past few years. Besides fear, she felt even more anger and heartache.

Zhou Laiyi's words made Wang Suling turn pale. Fear made tears stream down her face uncontrollably. "Mom, I know I was wrong. I'm so sorry to Lingxue. I really know I was wrong, sob sob sob."

“Mom, this matter cannot be entirely blamed on Suling. I also bear some responsibility. Your teachings will be remembered by your son,” Mr. Xue said sincerely.

Because her son and daughter-in-law apologized sincerely and genuinely didn't mean it, at most they just made a stupid mistake, Zhou Laiyi didn't want to press the matter further. She could only sigh helplessly, "If this farce hadn't happened today, with our family's status and Lingxue's looks and talent, she could have chosen any young talent in Anshi. Now that this has happened, I doubt anyone will dare to propose marriage to Lingxue for the next two or three years."

Hearing this, Mr. Xue felt terrible. Feeling guilty, he clenched his fists and lowered his eyes. "Then let's not let her have an arranged marriage. At worst, she can choose her own partner. Anyway, I can support her for the rest of her life."

After all, they only had one daughter. Even though they knew she didn't like Zhang Jingxuan, they still forced her to agree. In reality, Zhang Jingxuan had a lover and a child early on and kept suppressing his daughter, almost driving her crazy.

Fortunately, the discovery was timely, and his daughter is still fine. If this marriage had gone through in a muddled way, he would have lost more than just his reputation; he might have lost his daughter's life.

Thinking of this, Mr. Xue felt a chill run down his spine and hurried to the restaurant.

Seeing his daughter eating heartily, he felt much more at ease. He quickly went over and looked at Xue Lingxue with affection, "Good child, you've been wronged in this matter. Dad won't force you to get married anymore. Just stay home and rest. In a couple of days, we'll go to the Chen family to visit and thank them. After that, you can do whatever you want. As long as you don't do anything illegal or disorderly, Dad won't interfere."

Xue Lingxue's eyes lit up, and she quickly put down her chopsticks and went to take her father's arm. "Dad! You still love me the most! I'll prepare something these next few days, and I also need to prepare a generous gift for Xinyue."

Mr. Xue nodded repeatedly, "It's only right. We really owe a lot to that girl from the Chen family this time. You've made a good friend!"

"Absolutely!" Xue Lingxue said proudly, then lowered her eyelids with guilt. "Dad, if Xinyue hadn't released the recording today, I wouldn't have known she had shielded me from so much hardship."

Also, Qu Zhiyang and Chen Ruiyu, when I was feeling down, they called me every week to comfort me, and I want to thank them too.”

"Good, good, my daughter has a better eye for people than her father. Eat well, your mother and grandmother are going to the study to talk. After you finish eating, go back to your room to rest." Mr. Xue gave a few more instructions before leaving the dining room.

The next morning, before Xue's parents could go to the Zhang family to demand an explanation, Zhang's father arrived with several elders from the Zhang family.

Mother Xue immediately notified Xue's relatives, and the third uncle's family rushed over from the hotel.

The group started arguing again in the courtyard.

It was mainly the Xue family's side that launched the attack unilaterally, while the people from the Zhang family, including Zhang's father, showed a very good attitude in admitting their mistakes.

No matter how harsh the Xue family's insults were, they greeted them with smiles, making it impossible to hurl any abuse—it was rather pointless. (End of Chapter)