Chapter 14: Assertiveness
Mo Xiaohong saw Ding Yuejun so angry and tried to comfort her.
Taking a deep breath, Ding Yuejun finally suppressed the anger and disappointment in her heart, and looked at Yiyi with a smile, saying, "Yiyi, no matter what, you should take Shanshan to rest. Mom and your sister will go to the kitchen to prepare dinner."
However, Yiyi insisted on going to the kitchen.
Seeing her daughter washing vegetables and tending the fire, Ding Yuejun felt incredibly pained, "Yiyi, why don’t you listen to your mother? You should be resting since you’re injured."
Seeing her mother’s distressed expression, Yiyi’s eyes were filled with delight, and she casually said, "Mom, since Dad said that, I better help out to avoid him having more complaints about me. After all, Dad has always favored Meina and certainly can’t bear to see her toil."
Hearing her daughter’s words, Ding Yuejun’s expression became even more unpleasant.
Yiyi’s words once again reminded her of her husband’s favoritism.
"Is dinner ready? What exactly are you three busy with? It’s been so long and you haven’t finished cooking."
Just as Ding Yuejun was seething with anger, Old Mrs. Mo’s voice came from outside. She entered the kitchen and, seeing her eldest daughter-in-law and them hadn’t prepared dinner, spoke even more irritably, "Why have you been so lazy lately, dragging your feet while working? How long do you intend to delay?"
Already upset because of her daughter’s words, Ding Yuejun’s anger surged upon hearing her mother-in-law’s words. Usually silent, she suddenly blurted out, "Mom, since you think we’re slow, just let Yafen and Meina do it."
As soon as she said this, Ding Yuejun first froze,
But the words were already spoken, and feeling sorry for her daughter, she stormed out with Yiyi and Mo Xiaohong.
Initially, Old Mrs. Mo didn’t quite react, as her eldest daughter-in-law had always been gentle and soft-spoken, and now suddenly being fierce took her aback. It wasn’t until Ding Yuejun led Yiyi and Mo Xiaohong out that Old Mrs. Mo came to her senses, bursting with anger, "Ding Yuejun, get back here and make dinner for your old lady!"
Yiyi clearly felt her mother tremble slightly, but in the end, her mother boldly took her and her sister back to the room.
Once in the room, Yiyi burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Ding Yuejun, saying, "Mom, I’m really happy. I didn’t expect you to finally stand up to grandma. I don’t have to work anymore."
Ding Yuejun was still a bit apprehensive, but hearing her daughter’s last words, she felt only guilt in her heart.
It turns out, because of her weakness, Yiyi had suffered so much. If she had learned to stand up from the start, wouldn’t Yiyi be like Mo Meina, never having to do farm work since childhood? "Yiyi, it’s all Mom’s fault for making you suffer so much. Don’t worry, from now on Mom won’t let you toil anymore."
Hearing her mother’s words, Yiyi only felt relieved.
A mother, who had always known sacrifice, finally became a bit firm.
However, Mo Xiaohong beside her looked worried, "We just left like that, not knowing how angry grandma will be. Should we... go back and continue cooking dinner?"
Seeing Mo Xiaohong like this, Yiyi directly said, "Sister, even if we go back, grandma won’t acknowledge our kindness; she’ll only exploit us more aggressively. Must we rush forward to be ordered around by grandma? Is it that Aunt and Meina don’t have to work and can wait for meals every day without a care?"
Hearing that, Ding Yuejun also persuaded, "Yes, Xiaohong, we should take a break sometimes. In the past, all the work at home was done by me and Yiyi, there’s no reason that Yafen and Meina can sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor."
"Yeah, Mom, can’t we just take a break?"
Beside them, Jiang Shan couldn’t help but interject, she didn’t want to see Mom continue to be so tired.
Seeing her daughters all saying this, Mo Xiaohong finally stopped protesting.
On the other side, Old Mrs. Mo watched as Ding Yuejun and Yiyi truly walked away, feeling so angry her heart hurt. Originally, she wanted to go and scold them, but Qian Yafen happened to come over.
"Mom, what’s wrong with you? Why do you look so upset?"
Seeing her younger daughter-in-law, Old Mrs. Mo immediately recounted the incident with Ding Yuejun and Yiyi to her.
Qian Yafen was slightly surprised upon hearing Ding Yuejun defy Old Mrs. Mo, but then quickly smiled, saying, "Mom, since elder sister-in-law has gone back, I’ll take care of the rest."
"Yafen, you don’t have to do it; I’ll go call Ding Yuejun back."
Qian Yafen hurriedly held Old Mrs. Mo and said, "Mom, it’s alright. I’ve just finished up, I’ll handle the rest." Saying so, she headed to the kitchen.
Seeing her younger daughter-in-law being so obedient and sensible, Old Mrs. Mo was incredibly satisfied, and her dislike for Ding Yuejun, the eldest daughter-in-law, grew. Indeed, Guoping’s family was better.
After dinner was prepared, Qian Yafen quickly called everyone to eat.
Old Mrs. Mo said with a smile, "Yafen, you’ve worked so hard."
"Mom, it’s not hard, let’s just eat."
Actually, Ding Yuejun and her team had almost finished cooking dinner; she didn’t spend much effort and simply fried the last two dishes, "Mom, I’ll go call elder sister-in-law."
"Hmph... why call them? If they don’t want to work, they shouldn’t even eat."
Qian Yafen quickly said, "Mom, elder sister-in-law might be a bit tired today."
"You have such a good heart."
Qian Yafen smiled, then went to the main house.
Upon seeing Qian Yafen, Yiyi raised her eyebrows, knowing she was there to call them to dinner, and directly led her mother and them to the dining room.
"Aunt is really nice, always so kind-hearted."
Knowing that Aunt prepared the rest of the dinner and came specifically to call them to eat, Mo Xiaohong couldn’t help but express admiration.
Yiyi, however, remained silent, gazing deeply.
If not for experiencing another life, she might have been fooled by Qian Yafen, too. Luckily, she now knew her aunt’s character, and dealt cautiously day-to-day.
Actually, in this family, Qian Yafen was the most strategic.
But Qian Yafen was aiming for everything the Mo family had, whereas ultimately she intended to leave the Mo family with her mother and sister, so there wasn’t much conflict between them.
"Hmph, not willing to work but most eager to eat." Seeing Ding Yuejun and the others come in, Old Mrs. Mo wore a grumpy face.
Mo Guowei also knew what his wife had done, looking embarrassed.
And Qian Yafen busily smoothed things over, "Let’s hurry up and eat."
Yiyi naturally wasn’t affected, directly pulling Jiang Shan down, starting to eat.
As for Old Mrs. Mo and Mo Guowei, seeing Mo Yiyi so naturally eating, picking the best pieces, only felt more angry.