Chapter 437

In the dead of night, the Liu family's daughter had returned to her maternal home, her eyes still red. Liu Father and Liu Mother could naturally see that something was wrong.

The old couple exchanged glances. Liu's Father turned around and left the room while Liu Mother had her go wash up and lie down in bed before asking her, "Did you have a fight with Zhiqing? What happened? It's rare for him to come back for a visit, and you've only gotten to spend time together like this a couple times this past year. What issue couldn't be talked through properly?"

"Mom!" Liu Ling hugged her mother tightly, choking up as she spoke, "I don't even know if I did something wrong myself, but I just feel suffocated by these days, even though dividing up the family assets was supposed to be a good thing. Why do we feel worse off now than when we had nothing?"

Liu Ling was closest with her mother out of anyone, and would usually not hide anything from her, instead seeking her advice and looking for solutions from her.

After quietly listening to her daughter's words, Liu Mother sighed helplessly, "So you feel that Zhiqing should have no secrets from you at all, or that he should hand over everything for you to manage?"

"I'm not demanding that everything has to be placed in my hands, but aren't spouses supposed to be honest with each other? Isn't that the bare minimum?" Liu Ling said, "If even the closest married couple has to play games and can't be frank, then what's the point of being together?"

Liu Ling's thoughts weren't exactly wrong, but they were still quite naive.

"What if he insists on not telling you? Do you plan on still staying with him?"

"I..."

Liu Ling fell silent. She just felt stifled in her heart, but had not thought about getting a divorce or anything.

Seeing her daughter's hesitant expression, Liu Mother understood her thoughts.

"Since you're still going to live your days together, everything you're fighting over now is meaningless. You've been pushing this issue for years and he still refuses to tell you, which shows that your pestering has no effect on him. In this matter, you're the only one who can't let go, and the only one suffering, which gives the impression of unreasonable demands." Liu Mother was older and saw things much more clearly. "No one can be completely selfless! Your in-laws are already quite open-minded to split up the family assets early and give it to you two. Zhiqing treats you well too. When you feel upset, think back to our own family. Your grandmother is nearly 90 but still clutches onto every cent of her pension money. Do you think your father has bared his heart to me? It was only when your eldest brother got engaged that year that your father was willing to hand over his salary to me. The money had barely warmed up in my hands before it was all spent on you kids..."

In truth, everyone was the same. Looking back over a lifetime, it was all heartache.

How many truly perfect good men could there be in this world!

And even if they existed, you'd have to see if you deserved someone like that.

The right lid for every pot. When you think your partner isn't good enough, look back at yourself - are you really that great?

Whether you're lucky or not depends on having an open mindset. Dwelling on things only makes life difficult for yourself.

From Liu Mother's perspective, compared to all the other people around them, her daughter had the easiest life.

The husband could provide, they had family assets, the kids were grown up, money was not lacking, so what more could she ask for?

"Mom, hearing you say all this, it makes me feel like I'm the one being unreasonable!" They do say honest words pierce the ear, so the truth is always hardest to hear.

"My girl, listen to your mother's advice. In this life, as long as you don't go hungry or cold, you're already quite fortunate. And if you can spend money on whatever you want, your parents are healthy, your kids don't stir up trouble, the people around you don't scheme against you, then you're living a blessed life. Think carefully, isn't this right?" Liu Mother said, "And your two sisters-in-law, you're close with them, so I should be glad to see you siblings get along so well, but you can't be muddleheaded about things either. The things Zhiqing gives you, how could you give them away to your sisters-in-law? How do you think that makes Zhiqing feel? How does that look to your in-laws?" "But wasn't it Eldest Sister-in-law who said she liked that hairpin I had? At the time, Zhiqing had given me a whole box of jewelry, over 10 pieces including bracelets and earrings, so I casually gave them two items." Later, Liu Ling regretted it, because she saw both her sisters-in-law go out wearing those hair accessories from her room, and while Mother-in-Law didn't seem to notice or recognize them, Father-in-Law's expression changed.

When An Zhiqing called to confront her about this matter, she also felt ashamed, which led to her snapping at him.

After that, she never gave those items to her sisters-in-law again. As for the snacks Zhiqing gave her, those were all homemade treats that all her nieces and nephews enjoyed, so she wouldn't begrudge sharing those little things, right?

But that only happened a few times, because Zhiqing stopped giving her more. Her nephew Wen Qing would sometimes say Auntie made this or that delicious thing when he stayed over at her house, but he was never told to bring any back anymore. Yet she had always felt Zhiqing was only superficial generosity.

"If you really feel close with them and want to give them something, spend a little money, even just a few tens of yuan, to pick out a couple items at the mall. Try looking at it from another angle - those were things they risked their lives to keep back in the day, yet you gave them away so casually. If it were me, I wouldn't feel assured leaving my things for you to manage either, fearing you'd give handouts to your maternal family behind my back." Liu Mother had never actually said such blunt words to her before, as she hadn't known the An family's attitude about this matter, thinking it was just some trinkets they casually gave away.

But now it was obvious they took note of things even if they didn't speak up about it.

"And demanding rent from your second sister-in-law for those two shops, when you originally refused to accept any rent from her, and now so bluntly asking for it, how could you open your mouth to say that? After letting her use them for free for two years, now with one request you've offended her." If this wasn't a child she herself gave birth to, Liu Mother would look down on her.

There were proper ways to handle matters, yet she went and caused trouble for herself.

"Mom, I didn't intend to ask Sister-in-Law for shop rent either. You absolutely can't bring this matter up. She's my own sister-in-law. It doesn't matter if the property sits unused, she can use it, it doesn't cost much." Back then, Liu Ling had felt too embarrassed to even accept rent, so how could she possibly broach the subject of wanting money now? She could never open her mouth to say that.

Liu Mother sighed, "And that's why I say you're my silly daughter! It would have been better if you collected the rent back then. How well or poorly people live depends on their own ability entirely. Rather than blaming others now for not having earned money."

From Eldest Sister-in-Law's perspective, it was the same. Both were daughters-in-law and sisters-in-law of the family, yet Little Sister basically gave Second Household over a hundred yuan every month for free. How could her heart not feel unbalanced?

As mother and daughter continued talking, dawn broke. Only now did Liu Ling realize there were so many issues at home, with the two shops even causing so much conflict between Eldest and Second Sister-in-Law.

She had never heard any of this before, and assumed the family was quite harmonious.