The things Li Chunjuan brought looked like a big bundle, but in reality, there wasn’t much of real value inside. This was already her third time coming to see Wang Lingling—the first two times, she hadn’t found her at home.
As soon as Wang Lingling opened the bundle, she got angry. She kicked it hard, scattering all the green wild vegetables inside across the floor.
“Aiyo, girl, what are you doing? It wasn’t easy for mom to find—”
Wang Lingling bit her lower lip. “And here I thought you were sincerely coming to see me. You bring a sack full of wild vegetables? Am I even your real daughter?!”
Wang Lingling had never been someone who liked hard work. Though she had been trying to take on the role of a stepmother with the mindset of building a better life, and had stirred up a fuss to split from the family and live independently, it wasn’t without its hardships. All these grievances had piled up inside her, leaving her especially irritable and anxious.
When she first saw Li Chunjuan arriving with large and small bags, looking submissive, Wang Lingling had thought she truly came to make peace.
She hadn’t forgotten how, back when she said she wanted to marry Zhao Jun, Wang Yongshun and Li Chunjuan had scolded her right to her face. But after thinking things over just now, she realized she could really use a helping hand, and Li Chunjuan had shown up at just the right time.
She even wanted the things Li Chunjuan brought, so she had put on a friendly face. But the moment she opened the bag and saw it was full of worthless wild vegetables, her anger boiled over.
Wang Lingling snapped, “Just leave! Don’t come again. I’m doing just fine on my own—I don’t need your fake kindness.”
Li Chunjuan’s hands froze as she was picking up the scattered vegetables. She slowly turned her head, clicking her tongue in disbelief, her face full of shock.
It was only now that she realized what kind of person she had raised. When Wang Lingling had caused trouble before, one could chalk it up to her rashness over marrying Zhao Jun. But now, even after she came bearing gifts and smiles, this girl dared to speak to her like that!
Li Chunjuan was truly heartbroken and furious. Though she hadn’t treated her two daughters with the same indulgence she gave her son, she had still raised them well over the years.
All her effort—was this the result?
Li Chunjuan said bitterly, “Fine, fine. Now that your mother’s family has fallen on hard times, you’re disgusted with us, huh?”
These days, just thinking about the past made Li Chunjuan miserable. This time last year, her life had been so good—Wang Ying was doing all the housework, her son was studying in town, and she had dozens of yuan in hand. In just half a year, the family had fallen so far that no one wanted anything to do with them—they were being avoided by everyone.
Wiping her tears, Li Chunjuan complained, “I won’t even talk about your older sister. Ever since you got married, I’ve always been thinking of you and wanting to visit. But with one thing after another happening at home, I couldn’t spare the time.”
Li Chunjuan was boiling inside, but on the surface, she still had to act agreeable with her daughter.
Wang Yongshun had told her that their family was being bullied now because they had no one to rely on, so even if Wang Lingling said unpleasant things, she had to endure it and keep a low profile.
Sure enough, when Li Chunjuan said this, Wang Lingling furrowed her brows.
Wang Lingling truly didn’t understand—what could have possibly happened to the family? In her previous life, she had married Xu Shuang. Life wasn’t great, but at least in the countryside, they never had to worry about food or clothing.
Her maternal family had been doing decently too—her younger brother Wang Yaozong graduated that year and went to the city to work in a factory, which was a rare example of someone escaping the fate of a farmer.
