After getting the money, Shen Yuchu wanted to stabilize her younger brother's emotions.
First, she bought Shen Yulong a video game console, and then, following his requests, she bought him game cartridges.
She also took Shen Yulong to a barbershop and spent money to have the barber give him a proper haircut, at least making him look a bit more energetic.
After that, she took Shen Yulong to a street photo studio, had him put on new clothes and new shoes, and took his picture.
Shen Yuchu told Shen Yulong that this photo was going to be shown to a "leader," so he needed to look sharp and not listless like he had been gaming all night.
Shen Yulong was quite obedient this time; after all, for the sake of the game console and cartridges, he would do whatever she asked.
Whatever she wanted, he did!
After taking the photos, Shen Yuchu thought it over and decided to buy a new set of clothes for Lü Chunhuan as well. Although Lü Chunhuan was selfish, she was also stupid and easily fooled.
Shen Yuchu weighed the new clothes for Lü Chunhuan in her hand and said to Shen Yulong: "I'll take your photo to use for matchmaking. Take this new outfit home and give it to Mom.
Tell her I bought it, and remind her that she's going to be a city mother-in-law soon, so she should wear this outfit and not embarrass us. Also, take this savings passbook back with you.
On top of that, Eldest Sister is giving you 15 yuan so you can take the bus home."
Shen Yulong happily took everything. Cradling his video game console and wearing his new clothes, he felt like the coolest guy in the village.
When he got on the bus, he even waved his hand and unusually called out to Shen Yuchu with rare affection: "Sis, don't worry, I remember everything!"
At that moment, Shen Yuchu suddenly felt that the original owner's younger brother wasn't all that aggravating after all.
In the past, he had never called the original owner "sister" and had always bossed her around.
Whatever!
Never mind. It seemed it was all thanks to the almighty power of cash.
After seeing Shen Yulong off, Shen Yuchu counted out a thousand yuan and tossed it directly at Lin Hui's mother-in-law, Madam Wu.
Shen Yuchu said with a hostile tone: "Madam Wu, take a good look. This thousand yuan is the bride price my sister originally gave me.
Now I'm returning it to you. Take it. Stop giving my eldest sister a hard time at your house all the time.
Here, one thousand yuan! Count it yourself, check it carefully!"
Madam Wu: "..." Even if she wanted to retort after having money thrown at her, for the sake of the cash, she obediently shut her mouth.
Shen Yuchu turned her head and looked at Shen Chunfen: "This money is for the three years I lived in the Lin family and ate your rice. Calculated at market prices for every catty of rice, oil, vegetables, water, and all my personal expenses,
I'm giving you fifteen hundred yuan. That's more than fair, right?"
Shen Chunfen naturally didn't dare to take the money; she looked at her son, Lin Xuan.
"Take it. When your son and I get a divorce, we're settling everything clearly!"
Trembling, Shen Chunfen clung to her son: "This—we're all family here, why talk about divorce? Besides, this money... this money belongs to both of you as husband and wife. Mom... Mom doesn't need this money."
Shen Yuchu curled her lips: "I haven't laid any eggs for three years, and I ate your rice. I ought to give you money!"
Lin Xuan walked over and pressed down on her hand. "Shen Yuchu, don't be like this."
"Spare me the nice guy act. Let me tell you the truth.
My mom is a piece of trash, I admit that. But now, I've gotten the money back from your family.
How your mom treated me these past three years, and how you treated me—let's settle accounts properly."
Lin Xuan: "..."
After saying this, Shen Yuchu turned her gaze to Lin Hui: "As the elder sister of the husband, stop moving things from your maiden home to your mother-in-law's house for no reason.
You grew up eating and drinking from your maiden home, and now that you're married, you're still hauling things away from here? Is that proper? Besides, the child you gave birth to carries the Wu surname, not the Lin surname!
Who gave you the nerve? Every time you come back to your maiden home empty-handed, and when you leave, you're lugging large bags plus woven plastic sacks. Are you fleeing a famine or are you a bandit?
Lin Hui, let me give you a piece of advice: as a qualified elder sister-in-law, either you bring things to your maiden home to show filial piety to the parents who raised you, or you act like you're dead and stay out of everything that happens here!
You always show up empty-handed, leave loaded with goods, and then sit in front of Mom and flap your gums about how I'm no good here and no good there.
When you come back to your maiden home, you plant your backside down and don't lift a finger. I'm the one who pours your water, and you complain first that it's too cold, then that it's too hot. Why should I wait on you hand and foot?
If you come back to our maiden home again, either bring money and goods, or shut your mouth!"
Lin Hui looked at Shen Yuchu: "..." You must be out of your mind today!
Shen Yuchu looked at the thousand yuan in Madam Wu's hand. "If you dare say another word, I'm keeping that money."
Neither Lin Hui nor Madam Wu spoke another word.
Shen Yuchu's expression chilled. "Hmph, a married daughter is like poured-out water; I've never heard of spilled water flowing backward."
Hearing this, Lin Hui looked at her mother-in-law.
Shen Yuchu stared at Madam Wu: "And you, your family runs a cannery, how come we never see your family bring a jar of canned goods over for our family to taste?
Just to try the flavor would be fine, too. Look at you—because of this one-thousand-yuan bride price, Eldest Sister hasn't exactly had an easy time in your Wu family either!"
Madam Wu: "..."
Shen Yuchu fished out 9 yuan. "Take the bus back! I'll pay your fare. From now on, live your Wu family lives properly! Make your own decisions and handle your own Wu family business, and stop meddling in the Lin family's affairs."
Every time Lin Hui came back to her maiden home, she would meddle in Lin family business and walk away with a sum of money.
Now, Shen Yuchu had exposed it right out in the open.
Clutching her child, Lin Hui boarded the bus together with Madam Wu, and they left.
Shen Chunfen looked at Shen Yuchu and opened her mouth, feeling vaguely that something was not quite right with her.
Yet now, when she looked into Shen Yuchu's eyes, they seemed to radiate a glimmer of intelligence.
Her gaze was no longer as cowardly and timid as it used to be.
Her eyes now held coldness, ruthlessness, and seemed even to carry a hint of hatred.
This look in her eyes made Shen Chunfen feel an inexplicable terror.
Just one glance from those triangular eyes of Shen Chunfen's made her whole body shudder.
Shen Yuchu likewise found Shen Chunfen unpleasant to look at; no matter how she looked at this mother-in-law, she couldn't stand her.
Was it some natural conflict between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law? Or was she simply never on the same wavelength as this woman?
Shen Yuchu stared at Shen Chunfen's complexion, which looked terrible. Instead, she curled her lips in utter contempt.
"Our accounts need to be settled properly. We'd better use an abacus!
I have no affection for your son, and if it weren't for your son, I wouldn't bother with someone like you for the rest of my life.
Lin Xuan, go to the village office in a minute, I'll write out an application. Have the village party secretary issue a divorce certificate, and we're through!"
Lin Xuan was startled. "You... since when can you read and write?"