"Are you taking all of these?"
Early in the morning, three cloth bags were placed in the main hall of the He family villa. Peng Zhi came out and glanced at them, concluding that Yu Lian was going to take the He family's belongings to subsidize her own family. Li Xuexiang noticed this disrespect towards Yu Lian. She didn't like Yu Lian, but she knew that if you're paid to do something, you have to put on a show, even if you disdain it. Besides, the He family valued the child in Yu Lian's womb highly; if anything went wrong, they wouldn't be able to escape responsibility.
"No need, the baggage is light. It's still early, you should continue to rest."
Before dawn, her bag was filled with clothes Yu Lian had made in her spare time. She kept a clear record of the He family's money and her own, and even while living in the He family, she never took anything from them unless she had to. She was skilled at sewing; she used to be busy with school, but now that she wasn't attending classes, she took on sewing jobs on her own to supplement her income.
Yu Lian left alone carrying three large bundles. Neither of them stopped her, but Li Xuexiang at least gave her a warning like "Be careful." Only Peng Zhi openly complained from inside the house after she left: "Tsk tsk tsk—look at her, I've never seen anyone so shameless. There are plenty of people who can't get enough to eat these days, and she's the only one who's managed to climb the social ladder. I'm so envious~"
Li Xuexiang glared at the person behind her: "If you're not going to work, then go to sleep. We've agreed that we can only say these things outside." She also looked down on Yu Lian, but she had one more thing than Peng Zhi—professionalism.
"Sleep for what? We're already full of anger. Before she came, we lived so comfortably in the old house. Now it's like we've been exiled to the frontier. We never get any of the benefits there."
This was the truth, and Li Xuexiang did not refute it. She went back to her room to get ready for early morning work.
Yu Lian went straight to the sewing cooperative and handed the items to the person in charge who opened the shop early in the morning.
"Oh, Xiao Yu is here again."
Most people who know Yu Lian are unaware of her relationship with the He family, simply assuming she married an ordinary man and is now pregnant. The cooperative director believes Yu Lian must have married into a poor family, otherwise she wouldn't be working so hard while heavily pregnant.
"Thank you for your hard work. I'll settle the payment with you after I've tallied everything up."
"It's no trouble at all, it's all what I should do. You're too kind."
After checking the clothes, Yu Lian received her wages for the time being. Leaving the cooperative, she went to the nearest market and, before it got too crowded, bought some fresh vegetables and two small crucian carp. Her younger sister had only recently undergone surgery and would need close attention for a long time to come, as well as proper nourishment. Aside from expenses the family couldn't afford, she was doing her best to cover all other expenses, big and small.
Fortunately, after the incident at home, Wang Meixia's attitude changed, and she hasn't contacted her family for a long time. Yu Lian didn't harbor resentment towards her mother; she was genuinely disappointed in her—after all, she was the only person in the family besides her mother who remembered how close they were. She even suspected that her mother hadn't left with her father because she was always around, and her mother couldn't bear to abandon the child. As it turned out, her guess was correct, but the mother and daughter kept it to themselves and never mentioned it.
Now that the biggest problem in her family was resolved, Yu Lian breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to the gossip behind her back, she cared more about her family. As the eldest daughter and the only pillar of the family, she felt she had to be strong, and most importantly, strong-willed. She didn't use the He family as a stepping stone; she had already decided that as her pregnancy progressed, she would miss the baby more and more. But reality was staring her in the face, and she had no choice—it was all destined from the very beginning when she tried to use underhanded methods to threaten He Lin; she just hadn't expected it would involve her.
Knowing that the He family had only brought her into the family because of the child, Yu Lian was initially very resistant and unwilling to believe she was pregnant. At first, she only wanted to extort money from He Lin to pay for her sister's surgery, intending to repay it later. She didn't know how she ended up pregnant and became the daughter-in-law the He family didn't want to talk about. Because of this, she had planned everything after giving birth. She had lost her teaching job and had to find another way to make a living; she couldn't work for others for a pittance forever, otherwise she would never be able to repay the He family's debts.
Her current personality is inextricably linked to her deceased father. Yu Lian has always adhered to the ideas and values instilled in her by her father, except for the matter of raising money for her sister's critical surgery. In the eyes of others, giving birth to a child for the He family, who were struggling to have offspring, was completely incomparable to raising money for her sister's surgery, but Yu Lian never compared the two matters; she felt that they were separate things.
"Xiao Yu is here again. Is your sister's health improving?"
"Auntie, she's much better. Thank you for thinking of her."
"Oh, of course. Go back and get busy, I won't keep you any longer."
Carrying the groceries, Yu Lian passed by the grocery store. After walking a short distance, she turned back and came out carrying an oil-paper package. Her initial intention was to get medical treatment for her younger sister, Yu Xin, but her sister, Yu Xin, was so sensible at such a young age, so sensible that it was heartbreaking—she never complained and even wanted to help the family. Every time she took her medicine, she said it wasn't bitter at all, but the little expression on her face betrayed her.
Fifteen minutes later, Yu Xin excitedly opened the door: "Mom! My sister is back!" Seeing her sister is the happiest time of her day.
"Don't get excited. I don't only come back once a year. Why are you so agitated?" As she spoke, Yu Lian took out an oil paper packet from her cloth bag. "Here, take one if the medicine tastes bitter."
"Thank you, sis. What are we having for dinner today?"
Speaking of this, Yu Lian felt a little disappointed—it was agreed last month that she would go to the He family for dinner this month, but of course, she wasn't invited. She only went because of the child.
"Oh, my sister has something to do today. I've already bought the groceries, so I'll have Mom make you some crucian carp and tofu soup. I'll come back tomorrow."
"Okay, sister, you're pregnant with your nephew now, so be careful where you're going when you go out."
Her mother was out, so Yu Lian gave her a few instructions and left. It was still early when she returned to the He family villa. She quickly tidied up around 10 a.m., and a car from the He family came to pick her up.
"Comrade Yu Lian, get in the car." Yu Lian recognized the driver; he was He Lin's driver.
"Okay, thank you for your help."
The two men spoke in unison, each saying only that it was business, and neither uttered a word from getting into the car to getting out. Upon arriving at the He family's old residence, they learned it was the anniversary of He Lin's grandfather's death. The house had been simply decorated, and a unified memorial service would be held once everyone was present. There was no memorial tablet in the house, only a simple altar in the main hall with a photograph of the old man on it.
After entering, Yu Lian politely greeted everyone in turn, and finally stood to the side. Only He Xinglan was willing to give her a kind look.
"Sister-in-law, it's been a long time."
"Yeah, long time no see."
Although her sister-in-law's attitude was nominally good, the two weren't particularly close, and after a few words, the atmosphere returned to what it was before. Yu Lian waited a long time, but He Lin didn't return, despite several phone calls urging him. She assumed her arrival was causing him to resist, and in her anxiety, she noticed the burning gaze from outside the door.
You'll Also Like
-
One-way traffic
Chapter 1215 18 minute ago -
Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.
Chapter 1128 18 minute ago -
Konoha: Superman template, the spoiled brat becomes strong.
Chapter 424 18 minute ago -
I'm doing a crossover anime/manga project, and I'm creating a new kind of "Moonlight&
Chapter 348 18 minute ago -
Crossover Anime: Starting with a team up with Maple the Shield Girl!
Chapter 473 18 minute ago -
I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!
Chapter 124 18 minute ago -
Hokage, no one knows better than me how to cultivate talent.
Chapter 135 18 minute ago -
One Piece: New Century Hextech Warriors
Chapter 109 18 minute ago -
Naruto: I start with one door, and I can open it infinitely.
Chapter 65 18 minute ago -
Many children, many blessings: Surviving in a public restroom with a newlywed bridesmaid group
Chapter 51 18 minute ago