Back to the 1980s: Transmigrated as the Bigshot's Pampered Wife-Chapter 51: Won’t Turn Back Until Hitting the South Wall
At the Dong family’s dinner table, even though the father and sons were exchanging looks, everyone could tell they were in good spirits.
When the heads of the household were in a good mood, everyone else was happy too, and even the food tasted exceptionally delicious.
Just as everyone was happily eating, Mr. Dong’s youngest daughter, Dong Yuanyuan, returned.
"Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother, and my sisters-in-law and nephews, I brought you all gifts."
"Yuanyuan’s back! Come eat. Eat first, then you can hand out the gifts." Ren Xiaofang was especially happy to see her daughter.
For the past two days, she hadn’t dared to breathe a word at home, all because she had sent her husband’s eldest daughter to the Su family.
Her husband and her two step-sons had been giving her the cold shoulder. If she made one more mistake...
She believed the father and sons would tear her apart. Now that her own daughter was back, she no longer had to walk on eggshells.
"Thank you for the gifts, Little Sister." The Dong family’s two sisters-in-law thanked her with beaming smiles.
Their stepmother and stepsister both had salaries, as did they. The Dong Family also had a household assistant.
Everyone in the Dong Family contributed a portion of their salary for the assistant to buy groceries and household supplies. Mr. Dong covered all other household expenses.
So, their stepmother and stepsister weren’t freeloading off them. Their own children were still in school and didn’t contribute to living expenses.
All things considered, they weren’t losing out. As for driving out their eldest sister-in-law’s family, she wasn’t *their* sister, after all.
Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law only bad-mouthed their stepmother discreetly in front of their husbands.
In reality, they were quite pleased but didn’t dare to laugh out loud. So, their husbands wouldn’t blame them for being friendly to their stepsister-in-law.
"Yuanyuan, sit down and eat." Mr. Dong also favored his younger daughter a little more.
"Dad~ I already ate out. Wouldn’t it be more fun for you all to open gifts while you eat?"
Dong Yuanyuan wheedled, linking one arm with Mr. Dong and the other with her mother.
Dong Qihua and his son focused on their food, not sparing their sister (aunt) any extra glances.
"Little Aunt, you don’t have to hide away anymore. Su Shuochi is already married."
Dong Laoer’s daughter, Dong Baozhu, said innocently. She was sixteen this year and in her third year of junior high at the compound’s school.
"Baozhu, who did you hear that from? That your Little Aunt was hiding from that cripple? Your Little Aunt went out of town for a performance, a performance, you understand?"
Ren Xiaofang couldn’t stand anyone slandering her precious daughter.
"Little Grandma, I heard it from my classmate. Her older sister is best friends with Little Aunt, and her sister said..."
"That’s enough. Just eat your food," Dong Laoer scolded his daughter. He couldn’t care less why his younger sister had been away for several months.
Their eldest sister had just come back, only to be driven away by this stepmother who was barely two years older than him.
His father-in-law’s family were a real piece of work, always trying to get benefits from him. He could barely handle his own affairs, let alone find time to visit his sister and her family.
The main reason was that he didn’t have any extra money, and he was holding in a lot of anger with no one to vent it on.
"Baozhu~ did you say Shu Ci got married? Who would be willing to marry a cripple? Is she some girl from the countryside?"
Dong Yuanyuan, however, asked with great interest. She wasn’t afraid of her family laughing at her; she used to constantly declare at home that she would marry no one but Su Shuochi.
’It’s a pity he became a cripple. Someone as beautiful as a flower like me could never spend the rest of my life with a cripple.’
After being yelled at by her father, Dong Baozhu didn’t dare to speak rashly again. Hearing her little aunt’s question, she just looked timidly at her dad.
It was as if she would tell everything she knew, holding nothing back, if only Dong Laoer gave a nod.
Dong Yuanyuan didn’t want to beg her second brother over such a small matter, so she turned and asked her eldest niece, Dong Lili.
But Dong Lili had liked the Sheng Family’s eldest son since she was young and had never approved of her "little grandma" scheming against the Sheng Family.
Consequently, she also disliked this little aunt. Like her father and brother, she kept her head down and ate.
When Dong Yuanyuan asked her, she replied without raising her head, "He married Gu Jiaojiao from next door."
"What? Shu Ci actually married that sickly fake rich girl? Does the Su family even have a future? How could a sickly girl be worthy of my Shu Ci?"
The Dong Family: ...
’How is she not worthy? Su Shuochi has been going out to buy rice and meat himself.’
’They say the Su family eats meat every day. They’re clearly not short on cash, and they’re even supporting our Eldest Aunt’s family!’
"Jiaojiao is the one who lost out by marrying a cripple! She’s the prettiest girl in our compound."
Dong Laoer’s son, Dong Qiming, immediately retorted. He couldn’t stand anyone belittling Gu Jiaojiao.
"Qiming, you don’t still like Gu Jiaojiao, do you?" Dong Yuanyuan asked shrilly.
"Jiaojiao is my biological cousin. What’s wrong with me liking her?"
Dong Qiming was eighteen this year, two months younger than Gu Jiaojiao, and he used to have a secret crush on her.
Even after Gu Jiaojiao became unreasonable, he still liked her. A few days ago, he learned that she was his biological cousin.
This made him even more thrilled. ’So what if she’s my cousin? Now I can openly protect and care for her.’
Dong Qiming and Gu Jiaojiao were classmates, and he had been waiting for her to come back to school.
From now on, he could look out for her without hiding it.
Dong Yuanyuan: ...
The multi-talented member of the performance troupe was momentarily rendered speechless by her nephew’s retort.
’He’s right. There’s nothing wrong with what Dong Qiming said. What’s wrong with liking his cousin? It’s not like he said he wanted to marry her.’
"I’m going to find Shuoci right now." After saying this, Dong Yuanyuan forgot all about the gifts and bolted out the door.
Mr. Dong knew his youngest daughter had done many inappropriate things. Although he knew it was wrong, he still shielded her.
Dong Yuanyuan was the daughter of his old age, after all. His eldest daughter and sons were not close to him.
In the past, he was busy with campaigns and battles and had no time to look after his children. By the time he was free, they had all grown up and no longer needed him.
When his youngest daughter was born, his life had stabilized, and he occasionally had time to dote on her, which was why he favored her so much.
He lifted his gaze to watch Dong Yuanyuan’s retreating back but said nothing. He had spoiled this little girl too much. She wouldn’t learn her lesson until she hit a wall.
*
That afternoon, Old Sir Sheng had seen his second grandson go looking for trouble with Jiaojiao. He was waiting for his eldest son to get off work so he could give him a heads-up.
"Liang Yuan, you need to keep a tighter rein on your children. You don’t know..."
Old Sir Sheng went on and on, telling his eldest son everything he had seen and heard that afternoon.
"Dad, your heart isn’t strong, so please don’t worry about it. Jiaojiao has Shuo Ci to protect her; she won’t be at a disadvantage."
"That’s true. Back when Shuo Ci was first injured, he refused to go out or see anyone. Now, he’s all smiles whenever he sees people. It’s clear he really likes Jiaojiao."
"Dad, of my four children, the eldest, Shi Jing, and the youngest, Jiaojiao, were both raised by you personally. They’re both good kids. I’m ashamed that I failed to properly raise the second one and the others."
"You can’t be blamed for that. You were too busy with work back then, where would you have found the time to manage them? Besides, a child’s inherent genetics are very important.
We Sheng Family men are of ruffian stock, while Jiaojiao’s grandfather was a professor at Imperial University. With such a noble bloodline, she’d turn out well even without being taught."
Mr. Sheng: ...
’Is this really my dad?’
Seeing Mrs. Sheng return, Old Sir Sheng ended the conversation, intending to go to his second son’s house for dinner.
But he was stopped by Third Sheng, who had just walked in. "Grandpa, why don’t you just eat here with us? Second Uncle is probably already eating by now."
