Ms. Liu Juniorâs sister-in-lawâs eyes immediately swiveled as she glanced at her younger sister-in-law, noticing that the clothes she wore were quite nice, and she even sported a silver bracelet on her wrist.
This girl hadnât had a single piece of silver as a dowry when she married, and even the betrothal gifts of silverware given by the Yang Family were all withheld by her mother-in-law. It seemed that the bracelet on this girlâs wrist must have been a recent addition from the Yang Family.
It looked like the Yang Family truly was wealthy, especially with that large courtyard that was so enviable. It was just too bad that the mistress of the Yang Family was the wife of the Land Officer, and with that old man still around, if the mistressâs position were replaced by this younger sister-in-law, wouldnât they, her sisters-in-law, be able to make some money too? Maybe they could even wear silver bracelets and hairpins themselves.
She immediately snorted, "Your mother-in-law is quite lucky to still be alive, itâs just a stroke, why didnât she just die? If she had died, you would be the one in charge."
Upon hearing this, ideas immediately sprang to Ms. Liu Juniorâs brotherâs mind.
"Sister, having your mother-in-law around is a bad thing too, she canât handle even a small matter properly. Take the issue with your niece for example; I think she didnât put her heart into it. If she had, given her relationship with the Ye Family, how could their marriage proposal possibly fail? Now sheâs had a stroke, and youâll have to look after her in the future. Handling her toileting and such, arenât you disgusted? It would be better if she were just dead."
After hearing her brother-in-lawâs intention, which just happened to match her own, she also said, "Exactly, thatâs what your brother said just now. Those with strokes canât be agitated, but if it were me, Iâd say, sister, you could be a bit more ruthless and agitate her. If she dies, so be it. If not, the stroke will become more severe, and sheâll die sooner, saving you the trouble of looking after her."
Ms. Liu Juniorâs mother had not spoken a word throughout.
Ms. Liu Junior was somewhat speechless with indignation, "How can this be okay?"
Seeing that their mother showed no sign of stopping them, Ms. Liu Juniorâs brother continued to brainwash his second sister, "But think about it sister, if your mother-in-law were to die, no one would be over you anymore. Consider the life youâre living now. When dad fell ill, you couldnât provide a penny, and without your mother-in-lawâs nod, you couldnât even see dadâs face. If that old witch were gone, you could come home whenever you wanted. As for us, your siblings, you could help us however you wished. Your brother-in-law has long wanted to work at the carpentry shop, but your second brother-in-law just wonât allow it. Isnât it because your mother-in-law is thwarting him from inside?"
After Ms. Liu Juniorâs brother finished speaking, her sister-in-law started up again.
"Isnât that so, sister-in-law? You heard what Madam Ye said, right? Itâs clear she looks down on us Liu Family people, doesnât she? And why? Isnât it because the Liu Family is poor? If the Liu Family had money, not to speak of marrying into the Ye Family, we could even marry into the richest families in town. If the Liu Family had money, wouldnât you stand taller in the Yang Family? Wouldnât you gain more face in front of your sisters-in-law? Recall the nephewâs full-month celebration â that was your cousin-in-law, wasnât it? Look at what they presented. And us? Those taunting words left everyone embarrassed. If you were in charge at home, not only could your eldest brother-in-law work in the carpentry shop, but your elder brother and I could get in too. Your brothers are capable men; once in, they could work hard and gradually save money. When we have money, our family could renovate the house, and who in your husbandâs family could look down on you then?"
The pair went on like this, taking turns talking, and Ms. Liu Junior, who had always been rather impressionable, found herself tempted.