Rebirth: My Dear Little Wife Is So Scheming

Chapter 80 - 80 80 Ingratitude

?Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Ingratitude Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Ingratitude Bai Ju’s family’s ordeal was a story for later, but the next day Bai Xiao bid farewell to her sister, preparing to return home, and of course, she also had to run errands in town. Bai Ju had prepared a huge pile of things for Bai Xiao to take with her, food and drink! Fearing Bai Xiao wouldn’t have enough, Bai Ju even slipped her ten yuan for travel expenses. Bai Xiao knew that this was the money her brother-in-law, He Wang, had just earned the day before, and before it even had a chance to warm in her sister’s hands, her sister had given it to her.

Bai Xiao accepted it, then turned around and left! Her heart was sour, and she felt so sad she wanted to burst into tears, but she couldn’t turn back! She knew Bai Ju was watching her retreating figure, and if she cried, Bai Ju would be even more heartbroken.

Bai Ju watched her younger sister’s slender figure leave, wiped away her tears, and thought how wonderful it was that her sister had grown up. If their parents knew from beneath the grass, they would surely be comforted.

He Wang knew his wife was upset and comforted her by patting Bai Ju’s shoulder; the two of them went back into the house together.

Bai Ju tidied up the house, preparing to wash up and then head to work. Their factory operated on three shifts: day, night, and evening. She was on the evening shift today and couldn’t be late. Their family relied entirely on her modest salary, and He Wang was also preparing to go out and look for work.

Life was different now, at least He Weng had recovered and no longer needed constant care. In a while, He Weng would be able to start working too! The burden on the family would be lighter then.

Suddenly, Bai Ju felt that never before had life seemed as beautiful as it did at this moment.

While sweeping the bed, she suddenly noticed something was off with the pillow at the head of the bed where Meimei slept. Upon lifting it, she found the envelope from Factory Director Wei and her group beneath it! On top there was a note, with Bai Xiao’s handwriting jumping out from the paper.

“Dear second sister, Factory Director Wei gave us a total of one thousand yuan. I knew you would refuse to keep it, so I’ve left three hundred yuan for you. Tomorrow I’m planning to go to our eldest sister’s and leave three hundred for her, and I will take the rest to school. So don’t worry, from now on you won’t need to prepare living expenses for me, I’ve grown up. We are sisters, bonded in this life, not the next, and I won’t thank you and brother-in-law for your selfless care over these years; so, you shouldn’t say anything else either. Your sister, Bai Xiao.”

With the three hundred yuan in hand, Bai Ju cried her eyes out. He Wang came in from outside and thought something had happened to his wife! He hurriedly consoled her until he learned Bai Xiao had left behind money. Looking at the thirty crisp ten-yuan notes Bai Ju took out of the envelope, realizing that ten yuan was the largest denomination available, both were filled with emotion.

“How about this, I ride the bicycle and chase after her, surely I can stop her. We can’t keep this money. Bai Xiao has four years of university ahead of her, she’ll need money for lots of things. Moreover, this money was earned by Bai Xiao for saving people’s lives, we would feel guilty for taking it.” He Wang was a good man, and an honest one. If not for He Wang’s kindness, it might not have been possible for Bai Ju to give her younger sister five yuan a month. These things were the result of a man’s responsibility and a broad heart, not just empty talk.

After all, his own three children were still without food and drink, and to selflessly care for a younger sister-in-law like this, most people couldn’t do it. It was impossible for the family to not have fights over this.

Bai Ju shook her head and wiped away her tears, while He Wang grew anxious, “Why don’t you agree? This is not right…”

He Wang was too grateful for his little sister-in-law to even consider keeping the money.

He Weng walked out from his room! This home had no privacy at all; anyway, you could see and hear the conversation between his brother and sister-in-law through the windows. He was bound to be aware of these matters, and understanding his big brother’s anxiety, he knew his brother was not one to be ungrateful.

“Forget it, Xiao left the money and even left me a note! She did it so we would keep it! She made it clear that even if you try to return it, she can’t accept it. Besides, this is Xiao’s way of showing her care. I get it. We’ll keep this money and later, when Xiao needs money for university, we can give it to her then. Isn’t that better than stubbornly trying to return it to her now?” Bai Ju knew her sister was trying to support her, hoping she wouldn’t feel guilty when facing He Wang.

It was the first time in years that she felt like she could stand tall in front of He Wang, and it wasn’t because he was petty or caring about such things, but precisely because he wasn’t petty or concerned that made her feel more guilty. A man who tirelessly worked for his family did so because it contained his loved ones. But to do the same for Bai Xiao didn’t seem right. Bai Ju knew this, and that was why she felt even more guilt-stricken; she always felt like she lacked a solid foundation when she spoke.

It was because she herself couldn’t be assertive and confident.

He Wang was about to say something else, but He Weng stopped his older brother. “Big brother! Don’t say anymore. Sister-in-law is right. Since Bai Xiao left the money out of goodwill, if we really care about her, we should accept it. It will make her feel valued for contributing to us. That’s how relatives behave.”

He Wang glared, even honest people have their moments of anger. “How can you say that? You shouldn’t say such things. You know how important that money is to Bai Xiao. She’s a young girl alone out there, and she has to go through four years of university, and that’s university. Even though I know universities provide a stipend and waive tuition fees, she still needs to buy textbooks, doesn’t she? Not everything can just be dismissed. There will be times of urgent need. If we take her money, what will she do? No matter how hard things get for us, big brother and your sister-in-law still have a way to earn money, but where can Bai Xiao, a student, go to make money?” At this point, he felt disappointed with his brother’s ingratitude, not expecting his younger brother to suggest accepting the money.

He Weng tried to help his older brother sit down but was shrugged off by He Wang, who sat down by himself, fuming and ignoring He Weng.

Bai Ju glanced at He Weng. She knew her younger brother-in-law wasn’t heartless. The boy must have had his reasons, or else he wouldn’t have said that.

She pulled He Wang back. “Listen to what your brother has to say! Look at your stubbornness every day. You haven’t even spoken yet, and here you are getting all worked up. Can’t you just have a proper conversation?”

He Wang pointed at He Weng with deep anguish. “I—I feel cold inside. I can’t believe these are the words of my own brother. ‘When someone treats you with the slightest kindness, you should respond with a spring-like bounty.’ But… but… Ah, it’s because I haven’t disciplined you well over the years. I always thought you were frail and didn’t want to worry you, and look where that’s got you now.”

He Weng laughed, squatting in front of He Wang, who looked displeased. “Who punished you and made you stand?”

He Weng knew his brother was tough on the outside, but warm-hearted on the inside.

He fetched a small stool and sat in front of his brother, his actions nimble and tactful. He Wang softened at the sight of his brother, who he had raised like his own child. Even though he was upset, he couldn’t bear to continue rebuking He Weng.

Bai Ju kicked He Wang lightly. “Alright, your brother is already like this, what more do you want? Know when to stop!”

He Wang chuckled to himself; his wife was even using idioms now.