"All these years, I don’t know how you’ve endured!"
Liao Zhaoji felt that her words struck a chord deep within her, yet there was nothing she could do, only to say, "Who knows what’s wrong with the Ruan Family!"
Having birthed three sons, this was supposed to be the proudest achievement of her life. Yet, within the Ruan Family, it meant nothing; she could never understand how some cheap girl could be treasured like a gem while her sons were treated like grass.
"That’s no good habit at all. You must stand up for yourself, understand? Even if not for your own sake, you have to think about your boys, right? And listen, I’m only telling you this because we’re close. Your mother-in-law spoils that girl rotten, you know. That brat of mine has been running around with your Jiaojiao these days. Do you have any idea how outrageous she can be?"
"What happened?" Liao Zhaoji hadn’t noticed any of this because of the recent slew of incidents.
"She actually made two sets of clothes for that little brat of mine. What business does she have with that boy? It’s all for the sake of your Jiaojiao’s face. This is not a good sign. God knows, all of the Ruan Family’s possessions might end up empty, all bestowed upon that Xiaoya, and your three sons will be left to fend for themselves!"
"What!" Liao Zhaoji erupted, nearly leaping from her chair: "She actually made two sets of clothes for your son?" She could hardly believe her ears!
Even her own sons didn’t get anything; how could clothes be made for an unrelated boy? Could it truly be because of an excessive fondness for Ruan Jiaojiao, leading to love by association?
Has this old hag gone mad!
Liao Zhaoji couldn’t stay put any longer; turning around, she was ready to go back to the Ruanlin Family to demand an explanation. Why should outsiders be clothed when her own grandchildren aren’t? Was this how a grandmother should act?
"Hey, don’t get excited. Let me explain slowly."
Seeing that Liao Zhaoji had fallen for her ploy, Liu Mei secretly rejoiced, but outwardly, she pretended to have Liao Zhaoji’s best interests at heart and advised, "The clothes are already made; even if you go back now and speak up, it won’t do you any good. You might even end up getting scolded."
"Then what should I do? This old hag is getting more and more outrageous. I’ve never seen such blatant favoritism!"
"Exactly. But who did you run into but her? She’s so formidable, you can’t argue with her." Liu Mei pulled her back to sit down and whispered in her ear for a while.
The more Liao Zhaoji listened, the brighter her eyes shone, and gradually a smile crept onto her lips.
Liu Mei patted her arm, "Trust me, this way is foolproof. No matter how biased the Ruanlin lady is, she can’t afford to go too far in front of everyone, right?"
Liao Zhaoji nodded gleefully, her gaze towards Liu Mei had changed: "You’re right! I’m going back right now!"
"Go on, then," Liu Mei waved her off with a beaming smile.
Liao Zhaoji immediately got up and walked out, her steps light as she returned to her parental home to discuss her plan, only going back to the Ruan Family when it was nearly evening.
The next day, the 25th of April, was a beautiful day with gentle winds and clear skies.
The Ruan Family was bustling from early morning. According to local customs, laying the foundation was a significant event, necessitating reports to the Earth Temple and the ancestors. Ruanlin, taking advantage of the darkness before dawn, killed a chicken and steamed a fish, then placed them on the offering table.
Ruan Jiaojiao was also woken up early by Du Qing, dressed in what Du Qing found to be a pretty and eye-catching outfit, yet Ruan Jiaojiao felt was rather plain and tacky. Together they went to the head of the village to join in the spectacle.