Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 15

“Bullshit!”

Mom is no curse! Nor is she some “scourge of heaven”!

Everything was clearly caused by that old witch!

“Husband!”

“Xiao Xiang!”

“What… what is this about? We’re family! Family!”

Wang Fengqin looked at Shen Daqiang, his face swollen on one side, then at Shen Xiang, who was struggling to get up. Her heart ached, torn over whom to attend to first.

“Zhiqiu’s second uncle, Xiao Yuan, can’t we talk things out? Why resort to violence?”

“What’s to become of my husband and my Xiao Xiang now?”

Wang Fengqin slapped her thighs and wailed, “We came today for the baby’s third-day blessing, to bring her good fortune! If you didn’t want us here, you could’ve just said so! What’s all this about?”

“Zhiqiu, if you have grievances, take them out on me!”

She pounded her chest, crying as if her heart were breaking. “If you’re unhappy about anything, tell me and your father!”

“You never say a word to us, then turn around and tell your second uncle everything. What are you trying to do?”

Wang Fengqin knew Shen Daqiang valued face above all else—he hated airing dirty laundry in public, giving people fodder for gossip.

For Shen Zhiqiu to do this, and to tell Ye Yunlin of all people? Shen Daqiang would surely hold it against her.

Ye Yunlin wouldn’t stay in Guojing forever. Once he left, Shen Daqiang would make that little bitch pay!

Shen Daqiang shot Shen Zhiqiu a knife-like glare, making it clear he’d settle the score with her later.

Li Shuying stepped in front of Shen Zhiqiu, shielding her as she met Shen Daqiang’s gaze.

Shen Daqiang reluctantly looked away. Li Shuying then turned to Wang Fengqin with a sneer. “Tsk, what a sharp tongue you’ve got!”

“Not only can you turn black into white, I bet you could even argue a dead man back to life!”

“Shen Daqiang, you sure married a capable one, didn’t you?”

She circled Wang Fengqin slowly, eyeing her. “Did you hear Zhiqiu calling us? Or see her writing letters? How can you be so sure she ‘told on you,’ huh?”

“What exactly did she ‘tell’ us? Go on, enlighten me!”

Wang Fengqin stammered, “Sister-in-law, how… how would I know?”

“You don’t know, yet you spout nonsense anyway? What, is your mouth an asshole—can’t hold in the shit?”

Li Shuying was the head of the women’s affairs office at her factory, mediating disputes daily. She’d seen and heard it all. Wang Fengqin’s petty tricks were child’s play to her.

“Shen Daqiang, they say a man should marry virtue. But you? You brought home a troublemaker. Then again, you’re no prize either—a perfect match, like a turtle pairing with a bean!”

Li Shuying had always been quick with words, capable of tearing into someone for half an hour without cursing. But with Shen Daqiang and Wang Fengqin, she couldn’t be bothered. If not for the children present, she’d have ripped them to shreds!

“Shen Daqiang, if you won’t treasure Xiaoshuang and Zhiqiu, don’t expect us to stand by and watch!”

“What, you think we’re dead? That we’d just let you trample them?”

“Don’t blame Yunlin for hitting you—I want to hit you too! Look at the mess you’ve made!”

“Let me make this clear: Zhiqiu didn’t have to ‘tell’ us anything. We’re not blind!”

“You dare bully her right in front of us—who knows how you’ve tormented her all these years!”

“You—!”

Shen Daqiang was used to people kowtowing to him. Never had he been berated like this. His face twisted with rage, but he didn’t dare retaliate, fearing Ye Yunlin’s fists.

Under Ye Yunlin’s glare, Shen Daqiang lowered his finger, which had been pointed at Li Shuying.

Fuming, he barked at Wang Fengqin, Shen Liya, and Shen Xiang, “Let’s go!”

“Dad, wait.”

Shen Zhiqiu’s voice stopped him. Shen Daqiang turned, scowling. “What? Finally remember I’m your father?”

He thought she’d realized her mistake and was already planning how to milk the moment.

But Shen Zhiqiu simply held out her hand. “Dad, when are you giving me back my savings?”

“All these years, I’ve handed my salary to the family. You said it was for my dowry. Well, I have a child now—shouldn’t that money be returned?”

Shen Daqiang and Wang Fengqin’s faces darkened instantly. Shen Zhiqiu’s salary alone surpassed what the two of them earned in three months combined.

It was her money that had kept their household living better than their neighbors.

Wang Fengqin’s eyes darted. She tugged Shen Daqiang’s sleeve before he could explode and asked sweetly, “Zhiqiu, are you short on money?”

Without waiting for an answer, she answered herself, “But that can’t be. Xiao Yuan would never let you want for anything. His salary’s high, and his family’s well-off.”

She expected Yue Mingyuan to step in—what man wouldn’t find this embarrassing?

But Yue Mingyuan acted as if he hadn’t heard, busy playing with Yaya.

“My salary is mine. That’s separate from everything else. Now that I have my own family, it’s inappropriate for you to keep it. People will talk.”

Shen Zhiqiu was playing on Shen Daqiang’s pride, but her savings were no small sum.

Easier to go from frugality to luxury than the reverse. After years of comfort, Shen Daqiang knew life without her money would be miserable.

So even if it meant losing face or enduring gossip, he’d never return it.

“What’s yours? I gave you your life! Now that you’re earning, shouldn’t you support your father?”

Shen Daqiang clutched his jaw, each word sending pain through his injury. But he couldn’t let this slide.

“Shen Zhiqiu, remember this: your last name is Shen, not Ye! You’re my daughter!”

“I raised you all these years. A little salary, and you dare nag me about it?”

“Don’t bring this up again. Understood? If you do, I’ll break your—”

A sudden pressure from multiple directions cut him off.

Ye Yunlin was one thing, but Yue Mingyuan’s gaze was unbearable—as if another word would be his last.

“Let’s go. Now.”

Not daring to stay, Shen Daqiang hurried out.

The moment they left the ward, he exhaled in relief. So did Shen Xiang.

Shen Daqiang warned him, “Stay away from your eldest brother-in-law from now on. That man’s a demon.”

Shen Xiang nodded vigorously.

Wang Fengqin gripped Shen Daqiang’s arm and sighed. “Husband, maybe we should return Zhiqiu’s salary. She has a point, and with her uncle’s family here, we don’t want them thinking poorly of us…”

“Zhiqiu also said people might gossip…”