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Chapter 708: Chapter 698: Kicked under the Kang
Shen Yunfang saw her sister-in-law’s brazen demeanor and knew that if she didn’t pay her any attention, she would continue to buzz around. So, she may as well sit up again and tidy up the blanket on her.
Li Xianghe was quick to take a seat next to her.
"Just say what you have to say," Shen Yunfang adjusted her hair.
"Well, it’s not a big deal. I just wanted to talk to you, second sister-in-law, about my dad wanting to hire someone from outside to take care of him," Li Xianghe spoke without beating around the bush, so she directly stated what she wanted to ask.
"That’s got nothing to do with us. In the family, we have our father, not to mention the eldest brother and your second brother. It certainly wouldn’t come down to us women to discuss this matter," Shen Yunfang immediately understood her purpose and bluntly blocked her off.
She had said she wouldn’t get involved in this, so why did she still come to find her?
"It’s not like that. I’m also a daughter of the Li Family, how can I not ask?" Li Xianghe didn’t like hearing this, "Besides, with a daughter like me at home, there’s no need for our dad to hire someone else. Second sister-in-law, wouldn’t you agree? The money doesn’t come from the wind; we can’t let dad spend it so recklessly. It’s absurd to use the money on a stranger instead of your own daughter," she complained.
At the end of the day, what Li Xianghe couldn’t let go of was the small sum of retirement money in the old man’s hands.
After saying this, she eagerly awaited Shen Yunfang’s support for her view.
Shen Yunfang folded the blanket neatly, glanced at her, and said unhurriedly, "Once the retirement money is given to our father, it’s no longer our business. However our dad chooses to spend it, that’s his own affair. We, as his children, shouldn’t dictate what he does with it."
"Who says so? Even if we’re not discussing money, between an outsider and a daughter like me, who would take better care of my dad? It’s bound to be his own daughter, right? Even a daughter-in-law wouldn’t measure up, let alone a stranger," Li Xianghe leaned forward, as if looking for an argument.
This posture was just like her mother, Qiu Shuping. 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Shen Yunfang looked at her and for a moment really wanted to slap her across the face. Such nonsense she was spouting - had she provoked her somehow? To demean others but insist on dragging her into it as a daughter-in-law...
"Your own daughter might be good, but you’re not divorced. You’re now a daughter-in-law of the Sun Family. With your husband, Sun Chengbin, not at home, it’s expected that you show filial piety to your in-laws. If you don’t tend to them and instead run to your parents’ house every day, won’t others criticize our family for not managing things properly? Moreover, Niuniu is still young. You should focus on looking after her first," Shen Yunfang reasoned.
"Oh please, there’s not much to worry about. My in-laws’ place doesn’t lack my filial piety. As for that damn child Niuniu, it’s like that. At four years old, she still can’t speak a single word, what difference does it make if she’s cared for or not? It might as well be..." Li Xianghe was in a hurry to justify herself.
"Li Xianghe," Shen Yunfang interrupted her as her words became more and more inappropriate. "Niuniu is your own daughter, how can you, as a mother, speak of your own child like that?"
"Tch, it’s the truth, what’s not to say about it?" Li Xianghe was indifferent.
Shen Yunfang held back her frustration, originally not wanting to get involved, but seeing Li Xianghe’s lack of maternal responsibility, she couldn’t help but speak out, "Niuniu’s condition is obviously not normal, and you, as her mother, should take her to the hospital to get checked. See what kind of illness she has, and if diagnosed, seek treatment. Treating it as nothing and constantly belittling your own daughter, have you considered what happens when Niuniu grows up? She can’t communicate with others and is always immersed in her own world. When she grows up, how will she work, how will she live? Have you thought about any of this?"
Li Xianghe was at a loss for words after being incessantly questioned.
After a long pause, she finally said, "That’s easy for you to say. You have my second brother’s salary, and if you want to see a doctor, you just go. But what do I have? The money my husband earns barely ends up in my hands, just ten or eight yuan, and that’s not even enough for my mother and me, let alone taking the child to see a doctor. Maybe you, sister-in-law, could show some kindness and help your niece out with some medical expenses." Li Xianghe’s last sentence was said with a sarcastic tone.
"These are all excuses, excuses for not taking responsibility," Shen Yunfang criticized sharply, without any ambiguity. "Whose fault is it that you have no money? It’s your own fault. Your husband, Sun Chengbin, like your second brother, is also a soldier, and he’s even served as a battalion commander for many more years. You are so capable, so why haven’t you held onto the money he earns? Now is the time you cry poor, but what were you doing before?"
Li Xianghe had nothing to say in return to her rebuke.
"And look here, Niuniu is your own daughter. If your man isn’t capable and doesn’t earn money, then what use are you? Are you missing hands or feet? Can’t you go out and earn money?" As Shen Yunfang spoke, her anger resurfaced, making her words even more cutting.
"I—I’m not capable. I don’t know how to do anything," Li Xianghe responded helplessly.
"If you don’t know, then learn. If you can’t learn, then go do some hard labor." Shen Yunfang didn’t give her any chance to evade. "Others can go out and work; why can’t you? Moving back and forth between your parents’ house and your in-laws’, besides eating extra food, what have you gained?"
Li Xianghe was shamed and said displeasedly, "That’s why I came to talk to you about our father, right? If our father would let me take care of him, then wouldn’t I have money?" Even if she had money, she never thought about taking Niuniu to the doctor. In her view, Niuniu was a defective child. If it had been the old days, such a child would have been discarded, and the mere fact that she was still raising her was already doing enough for the child.
"Let me tell you, you can forget about that idea. You should know our father better than I do, his own daughter. If he really favored you, you wouldn’t need to be jumping around so much these days. Let me be clear, you can forget about the Li Family’s money."
Li Xianghe’s face turned red with embarrassment, wanting to refute her sister-in-law’s words, but deep down she knew she was right.
"Then, sister-in-law, could you lend me some money?"
Shen Yunfang almost laughed out loud at her boldness.
"Why should I?"
"Big sister’s Jiajia was sick, and you were willing to pay for her treatment. Niuniu is also your niece." Li Xianghe finished her sentence and looked at Shen Yunfang.
"Just because they’re both nieces, there’s no reason Jiajia should get her second uncle to pay for treatment if she’s sick, but when it’s our Niuniu’s turn, there’s no help, right?"
This time, Shen Yunfang genuinely laughed. "Li Xianghe, oh Li Xianghe, what a beautiful dream you have. It’s true that Niuniu and Jiajia are both Li Hongjun’s nieces, but I’m willing to pay for Jiajia’s treatment, and for your child, I’m simply not willing to pay. Let me make it clear to you; Niuniu is a good child, but her misfortune is having a mother like you. I just don’t like you, so I’m not paying."
"Ah, you shameless wretch, how dare you treat me like this! I’m a daughter of the Li Family, your sister-in-law. See how I deal with you today." Li Xianghe, realizing all her plans were doomed and stoked by the lashing from Shen Yunfang, couldn’t bear it anymore and attempted to resort to physical violence.
But who was Shen Yunfang? She was an army wife personally trained by Li Hongjun, and with one kick, she sent her attacking sister-in-law tumbling under the bed.
