When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 61: Chapter 41: The Scorned Wife of the 1950s (41)

”My partner and I are usually busy, so we don’t have time to go picket at Wang Goudan’s workplace. Besides, I’ve got plenty of money. Instead of giving you two thousand yuan, I’d rather give it to my own parents.”

She glanced at the flickering light from the opposite door and raised her voice just enough for the person on the other side to hear. ”They’ll sit in a busy place holding signs that say Wang Xianbing’s real name is Wang Goudan, that he’s been a troublemaker since he was a kid, that he fell into an outhouse and ate sheep droppings!”

”One yuan per person, per day. Wow, that’s enough to cover their salary for two or three years. I think my parents would be out there rain or shine for such a righteous way to make money.”

”Tsk, tsk. I wonder if his superiors will be able to withstand the pressure and keep your precious Goudan around?”

Old Mrs. Wang, and Lin Jin inside the room, both looked as if they’d been struck by lightning. ’How can this person be so impervious to both threats and persuasion?’

’She can actually do that...’

Old Mrs. Wang, all bark and no bite, blustered, ”You wouldn’t dare!”

”If you dare to call people over, I dare to do it. Anyone can walk on the road in front of the factory. They’ll just be holding up signs stating truths that the folks from our village can confirm. Is that a crime?” Zhu Yun said with a light laugh.

”Old Mrs. Wang, I’m not the same pitiful girl you used to bully anymore. From now on, you’d better not have any crooked ideas about me, because they’ll all be reflected right back at you.”

”Your daughter-in-law put you up to this, didn’t she? You’re being used as her weapon, and you don’t even realize it.”

”Your son and daughter-in-law know what I’m capable of; they take the long way around just to avoid me. They’re hoping to use me to knock you down a peg. Such sweet faces but such bitter hearts. If they weren’t, I wouldn’t have done something so drastic to your family.”

Her expression turned cold. ”This is the last time. If there’s a next time, I’ll rip the facade right off your family and let everyone see what’s underneath!”

Zhu Yun even leaned in close to the old woman’s ear and whispered, ”Old Mrs. Wang, your son is your weak spot. And your son’s weak spot is his reputation. Without a good reputation, he could be stripped of everything!”

”Don’t think I don’t know that he actually has some feelings for me. If the time comes, all I have to do is rip my own clothes and accuse him of assault. Do you think he’d ever be able to make a name for himself after that?”

”If you don’t push me, I won’t resort to mutual destruction. Understand?”

A chill ran down the old woman’s spine. ’She really is a daughter of the shameless Zhu family. Her honest and kind act was just a fox spirit’s disguise!’

Old Mrs. Wang wasn’t very brave, and she knew that a woman who had once tried to kill herself was capable of anything.

After closing the door, Zhu Yun walked over to Chu Shenyu with a smile. ”All settled. From now on, all we have to do is watch the show!”

Though Chu Shenyu endured the ravages of noise at the machinery factory every day, his hearing was actually quite good.

Every day, he not only exercised his body but also trained his hearing. Prolonged exposure to noise could damage one’s hearing, but with proper training, it could be improved.

”Your family,” he began, hesitating, unsure how to phrase it. ”We’re married now, so your family is my family. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Zhu Yun smiled and said, ”No need. But if one day I fail to fend them off and they come to you, just act like you always do—put on a cold face, look completely aloof, and make them understand that I’m the one clinging to you, and you can’t wait to break free.”

”I won’t,” Chu Shenyu said, his lips pressed into a thin line. He looked at her with firm resolve. ”I won’t leave you, and I won’t allow you to leave me!”

Zhu Yun was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and playfully punched his shoulder. ”I’m just teaching you how to handle them. It’s the only way to make them go home quietly.”

”Don’t worry, it’s just a last resort.”

They had both woken up early and were tired now, so they went to their separate rooms to sleep.

Zhu Yun summoned the Teletubbies and pulled up information about the original host’s family.

Back then, the Zhu family had used the two hundred yuan bride price to build an extra courtyard. All three of their sons were now married, and each had two or three kids.

Old Sir Zhu didn’t like to work and was fond of drinking. He had to have a cup of liquor with every meal. Perhaps because he drank so much, his tolerance had increased, and he didn’t throw drunken fits as often anymore.

Mrs. Zhu was the type to throw her weight around at home but cower outside. She only dared to vent her temper on her two daughters; even her daughters-in-law, who had given her grandsons, could walk all over her. She was constantly run off her feet, and her already gaunt frame seemed to have been drained of its life force by some malevolent spirit, making her look a whole generation older than she was.

Later, when Old Sir Zhu grew too impatient to work in the fields, he divided the family property. The old couple didn’t live with any of their sons, choosing to live on their own. However, the three sons had to pool their grain rations for them every year, take turns making them clothes, and each give them eighty cents a month. They had essentially started their retirement early.