Qian Chunli suddenly wilted, she truly hadn't expected Lin Xia's mouth to be as sharp as a knife, stabbing right into the sore spot.
She knew what the neighbors used to say about them, saying Lin Aiguo was biased, but it was all behind their backs, let them say what they wanted, it wouldn't cost her a piece of flesh.
But if Lin Xia really started making a fuss outside, her reputation as a wicked stepmother was sealed.
And the matter of the grain, even if she explained it clearly, there would still be people...
What she feared most was Lin Aiguo finding out, it definitely wouldn't be the same with him as with his first wife.
Lin Aiguo controlled the money, only giving her just enough for household expenses every month, her maternal family were rural residents who struggled by farming, at the Lin family, a large family all on rationed grain, calculated per capita, every month was neither too little nor too much, so she could only think of something related to the grain.
If she had known it would be like this, she really should have dragged Lin Qiang back, not letting him leave to create a disturbance during the bridal chamber, if Lin Qiang had stood there, that would have kept the situation under control! Would Lin Xia dare to speak like that?
But now, saying anything was useless, Qian Chunli could only come out with, "They say a boy of fifteen will eat his father into poverty! If you can eat me out of house and home, what can I do!"
Lin Xia lifted her chin, trying to sound as confident as possible, "Fine! You've got no way out! I do! Next time we go to buy grain, we'll go together and split out our share, each eat their own!"
Xiaoqiu looked up to his sister admiringly, his eyes shining. They had never felt this vindicated in the past few years!
Seeing Qian Chunli pushed into a corner made her feel incredibly thrilled!
"How can that be right! We're all family!" Qian Chunli panicked, if their four people's rationed grain was taken away, with the three of them plus Lin Aiguo, her son Lin Qiang could still eat, being able to eat was already good, but what would she do in the future?
She secretly regretted pushing the issue of oil with Lin Xia and the others, wasn't this a case of losing more by seeking too much?
Lin Yu had been restraining herself from the side, if not for Xiaoqiu holding her back, not letting her get close, she would have gone up to help argue with Lin Xia.
Now seeing Lin Xia speak this way, and her mother being pressured so, of course she couldn't let this become reality.
"Lin Xia! We're all family, why create such a rift! My mom is just straightforward and didn't mean any harm, she spoke hastily, but isn't it all for the sake of our family, losing oil hurts, doesn't it!
Moreover, no matter what you say, my mom was legitimately married into this family by my dad! I'm not saying you should call her 'mom,' but calling her 'auntie' is only right and proper…"
Lin Xia coldly turned to look at Lin Yu, "My mom is lying in South Mountain! Where is your dad lying? Does he know how affectionately you call someone else 'dad'? Would he float above your head at night and have a word with you?"
Lin Yu instinctively shrank back, why did she feel that today's Lin Xia carried a wicked air!
From the moment they had met, she noticed it, Lin Xia was like a different person.
Qian Chunli's face also looked extremely ugly, she didn't dare continue tangling with Lin Xia, who knew if this kid would shout about it outside the gate, she saw that the situation looked grim!
She thought to herself, anyway, there were long days ahead, she had plenty of opportunities to deal with them!
Lin Xia's return marked her first small victory.
Qian Chunli didn't dare utter a sound anymore, she and Lin Yu scooted back to the Eastern House, defeated.
Xiaoqiu joyfully gave Lin Xia a thumbs up, silently expressing his happiness and admiration!
Lin Xia took Xiaoqiu's hand, "Let's go back to our room too!"
Once inside the room, Xiaoqiu whispered in praise, "Sis! You were amazing just now!"
Xiaoqiu still hadn't recovered from her shock, and couldn't help but wonder, was that really her sister Lin Xia? Did it all just seem like a dream?
Lin Xia deliberately grabbed one of Xiaoqiu's braids and drew circles on her face with it, "Impressive, right?"
Xiaoqiu dodged, barely holding back her laughter, "Impressive! After that, the old ladies didn't dare say a word! And Lin Yu, you scared him so much his face changed colors!"
Seeing her sister's smiling face bloom like a flower, a trace of sadness crossed Lin Xia's eyes. She seized the opportunity to instill in Xiaoqiu, "Xiaoqiu! You also need to become like this, understand? And not just with them!"
Xiaoqiu nodded vigorously, "Sister! I understand! I will learn from you! I can't let people bully me anymore!"
"That's right!" The sisters' faces were all smiles!
Lin Xia recalled how tough she had been when facing Chunli just now, which was actually because she had been continuously psyching herself up, recalling her past life to stimulate herself.
Otherwise, she really couldn't have done it.
Moreover, the words she had spoken weren't spur of the moment, but things she had wanted to say in her previous life and had thought about all afternoon, summarizing them together.
Although Chunli temporarily wouldn't dare mention anything about oil being costly again, in the days to come, Chunli and her ilk would definitely look for an opportunity to retaliate.
But, she was no longer afraid!
She had not only been reborn once; she knew many things in advance, and she also had the storage room in Jade, with so many advantages, if she couldn't make something of herself this time, then it was all for nothing!
In the Eastern House, Chunli and Lin Yu also sat by the kang edge, quietly speaking to each other.
"Why was Lin Xia acting so possessed today? Mom, she isn't cursed, is she?"
Now thinking of Lin Xia saying their dad might float above her head and chat, Lin Yu felt her scalp tingle.
Chunli clicked her tongue twice, "Don't say it! It might be true! When has she ever been so fierce before? It was like she became a different person!"
"Mom! What should we do? I'm scared!" Lin Yu grimaced, almost on the verge of tears, "My dad won't really come to find me, will he?"
Having been influenced from childhood, she really believed in these things.
Chunli saw that her daughter was truly frightened, and she kept cursing Lin Xia in her heart, but outwardly she had to appear calm and comfort Lin Yu, "Your dad has been gone for so many years, what are you scared of? Don't listen to that little wretch's nonsense. Yu, don't be scared! Your dad has long since been reincarnated!"
Lin Yu felt somewhat relieved and couldn't help but mutter, "If only Lin Qiang was home!"
Chunli also regretted it immensely, "You're telling me! I should have dragged him home with us! But you know, Yu, we've got a long life ahead of us, I refuse to believe we can't handle those kids! When your dad comes back, we'll just—"
Mother and daughter lowered their voices even further, whispering and muttering, and Lin Yu eventually burst into a triumphant laugh…
That evening, when cooking dinner, Lin Xia specifically instructed Xiaoqiu to make extra food.
This time, Xiaoqiu had no objections and immediately went to work with great vigor!
Her excitement persisted until Lin Chun and Lin Dong gradually returned home.
When Chunli and Lin Yu came out to eat, seeing such a large pot of rice and glancing at Lin Xia, they didn't utter a word but took some food and went back to the Eastern House.