The 70s Novel: The Supporting Character Just Wants to Lie Down-Chapter 22: Many Rights and Wrongs in Human Relations

Wang Zhaodi looked at the increasing number of people and things, and was so moved that she was a mess, tears in her eyes, constantly saying thank you, which made the people feel even more sorry for her. Some distant aunts brought things, reluctantly at first but willing eventually.

Liu Yulan, watching this scene, felt a heavy block in her heart.

These people were well-meaning, but they also openly embarrassed Wang Baoxing and Liu Yulan, making them seem so heartless and unkind...

Especially when Zhao Qinfen arrived, she even brought new clothes for Wang Miaomiao, "Sister-in-law, the new clothes you asked me to make for Miaomiao are ready, come and have a look... How do they look?"

Zhao Qinfen had prepared them a long time ago, loving the new clothes so much that she tried them on secretly at home several times but couldn’t bear to bring them over. Actually, her figure was smaller than Wang Miaomiao’s, so they didn’t fit well.

Today, she had come deliberately, to let people know that Liu Yulan had money to make new clothes for her youngest daughter, but wouldn’t even give a bit of dowry to her stepdaughter.

Everyone busily unfolded the clothes, revealing a purple floral dress, a purple floral shirt, and black pants.

"Oh my, Qinfen, your craftsmanship is good..." praised someone sourly, complimenting Zhao Qinfen while the sourness was directed at Liu Yulan.

Many present felt uneasy, their gazes filled with sympathy when looking at Wang Zhaodi, and mockery when looking at Wang Baoxing and Liu Yulan.

When Wang Miaomiao saw many belongings at the start, she took a notebook and pen to help Wang Zhaodi register who sent what, so Wang Zhaodi would know these were gifts in return, almost like a dowry list.

"Big sister, I’ve recorded all these things, you should tidy up and put them away." Wang Miaomiao casually said, "Oh, by the way, I noted down the silver bracelet dad gave you, and also the grain mom promised..."

"What? What silver bracelet?" Zhao Qinfen shrieked, looking at Wang Zhaodi.

Actually, everyone in the room was stunned by what Wang Miaomiao said and turned their gaze towards Wang Zhaodi.

Only Liu Yulan quietly moved close to Wang Miaomiao, and Wang Miaomiao understood instantly, about to stand up, but Liu Yulan pressed her shoulder down, bending over and putting her ear close. Wang Miaomiao whispered something with a smile.

Liu Yulan straightened up after listening, praised her younger daughter with a look and got an idea.

Looking again at Wang Zhaodi surrounded by motherly women, trying hard to explain, "It’s my mother’s dowry."

They passed around the bracelet looking envious, "This must be 40 grams..."

"Yes, it’s surprising that Jin Feng had something this good."

"The old ancestor of the Li family was a well-known old doctor, so having some family fortunes is normal."

The crowd chattered, their focus slowly shifting. They were all thinking about what other heirlooms the Li family siblings might have.

Zhang Hexiang looked the worst among them, her face dark, eyes blazing as she stared at the bracelet.

"I’ve been out for too long, the child’s dad may be worried, I’ll head back now."

Before anyone could ask what heirlooms her family had, Zhang Hexiang left, running home once outside the door.

The group exchanged glances, gathering their thoughts. They noticed Zhao Qinfen still holding onto the bracelet, and all eyes turned to her. She reluctantly handed it back to Wang Zhaodi, knowing it was a Li family heirloom; if it were a Wang family item, she wouldn’t have let go easily.

"Brother, you’re quite generous." Zhao Qinfen sarcastically jeered at Wang Baoxing.

Zhou Fengjuan retorted, "What kind of person is Baoxing? He’s nothing but honest, how could he embezzle his wife’s dowry. Jin Feng only had one daughter, Zhaodi, who else would she leave it to?" implicitly telling her to stop dreaming, no way she’d get her hands on it.

Upon hearing this, the look in people’s eyes towards Wang Baoxing grew complex, some whispered he was naive, others found his honesty commendable.

Zhao Qinfen, feeling stifled, turned to Liu Yulan, taunting and provoking, "Sister-in-law, you’re quite accommodating, didn’t you know my brother hid his late wife’s keepsakes to reminisce every now and then?"

Liu Yulan remained unmoved, responding, "Currently, I’m still the head of this household. Your brother is useless; if it weren’t for my fierce reputation all these years, clinging to our thin family resources, who knows how long ago some people would have schemed against us to our demise."

The feud with the second family began as soon as Liu Yulan married in, with Wang Baoxing’s mother partial to the second family. Even though they split up while she was alive, knowing her eldest son was struggling, she still constantly sought to take things from the eldest to give to her younger son, to help out Wang Baoan’s family.

"You..." Zhao Qinfen was choked with anger, unable to probe further, as the elder was deceased. But everyone there, being relatives and neighbors, were well aware of the ongoing disputes within the family, feeling more sympathy for Liu Yulan.

Some people are like that, changing their stance as soon as the wind shifts.

Sigh, thinking she had it tough, and now knowing she didn’t embezzle the Li family’s bracelet, some respected her character more.

"By the way, I heard Miao Miao earlier, did you promise some grain? What grain?" Zhao Qinfen sensed the dissatisfaction from everyone and quickly tried to change the subject.

"Alas, everyone knows our family’s situation. The kids have never worn new clothes since they were small, always adapting unwanted ones from others." Liu Yulan tenderly brushed off Wang Miaomiao’s bangs, revealing the hideous wound still vividly on her forehead after seven or eight days, showing no signs of fading.

"With Miao Miao hurt like this, she might be disfigured, what to do in the future?" Liu Yulan lamented, "A girl loves to look pretty. I gritted my teeth to buy her a couple of new outfits, and my sister-in-law has opinions about me."

Liu Yulan explained about the clothes first, and everyone remembered Wang Miaomiao’s forehead wound was pushed by Wang Zhaodi, forgiving the decision about the two new outfits. The poor girl’s disfigured, what’s wrong with buying new clothes for comfort?

"Forget clothes, I’m asking about the grain?" Zhao Qinfen saw Liu Yulan dodging the question and urged.

Liu Yulan quietly observed the expressions around her, satisfied with the effect, and turned to Wang Zhaodi, "Zhaodi, your dad and I have discussed; we won’t give you a dowry, but this year’s public work points in the village, we’ll convert them to grain for you to take. Your fiancé’s family just divided, so it’s convenient. You’ll take the grain when you marry, at least you won’t go hungry in the short term."

The village’s public work points are for autumn harvest grain divisions, exchanged for money at the year-end, and it’s still long before autumn harvest. When a girl gets married, her household registration transfers to her husband’s family, but her previous points can’t transfer with her.

If Wang Baoxing and Liu Yulan didn’t give it, no one would say anything.

Upon hearing this, everyone thought Liu Yulan and Wang Baoxing were thoughtful, both being sincere people. To provide a silver bracelet and grain was already pretty good.