Chapter 88: Chu Ling Plots with Sister Liu

At these words, Brother Liu’s face instantly turned ashen.

“Dad… that’s not what I meant… I…”

A sharp slap rang out, landing heavily on his cheek.

Clutching his face in shock, Brother Liu stared at his mother.

“You heartless wretch! You’d even ignore your own sister. I can’t believe I raised you!” Mother Liu stood with her hands on her hips, her expression filled with anguish and disappointment. “If I’d known you’d turn out like this, I wouldn’t have given birth to you at all, you ungrateful thing!”

Brother Liu’s face went deathly pale. “Mom…”

His wife hurried to intervene, speaking up, “Dad, Mom, I was only making a suggestion. There’s no need to get so angry.”

She’d only wanted to test her in-laws’ reaction, never expecting them to be so vehemently opposed. This made things difficult, especially since her own family was pressing her urgently. She’d wait a few days, let her in-laws cool off, and then try again.

“Eldest daughter-in-law, don’t ever mention such things again!” For the sake of their future grandchild, Father and Mother Liu forced themselves to endure once more.

They’d lost their appetite for dinner and retired early to their room. Liu Yan’er shot the eldest daughter-in-law a vicious glare before retreating to her own quarters.

At the table, only Brother Liu and his wife remained.

Brother Liu’s face was full of pain. “Wife… please, don’t upset my parents like that again, alright…”

She ignored him, eating in silence. He was such a coward. If it hadn’t been for his honest nature and the generous bride price his family offered, she’d never have married him.

After just half a bowl of rice, she left the house in low spirits. Now three months pregnant, she needed some exercise. She’d never wanted this child, but now, if she wanted to control the Liu family, she had to keep it.

She wandered aimlessly. Passing a villager’s house, someone called out to her.

“You must be the captain’s sister-in-law. Hello, I’m Chu Ling.”

Chu Ling greeted her with a bright smile, extending her hand.

One cannot refuse a friendly gesture. The eldest daughter-in-law of the Liu family, bewildered, shook hands with her. “You know me?”

Chu Ling replied, “Of course. My husband, Han Guoqiang, is good friends with your husband. He’s talked about your family before.”

“Oh, you’re Guoqiang’s wife. You’re quite pretty,” the eldest daughter-in-law remarked.

Her husband and Han Guoqiang were of similar age and had grown up together, their bond strong. When she married, Han Guoqiang had even served as the best man and came to her home to fetch the bride. She had a good impression of that tall, honest man.

Chu Ling smiled. “Thank you for the compliment.”

“So, did you need something from me?” the eldest daughter-in-law asked, sensing that this clever-looking woman wouldn’t call out to her without reason.

Chu Ling glanced around and said, “Let’s talk inside. I have something to discuss with you.”

With her mother-in-law ill these past days and her husband Han Guoqiang caring for her at the town clinic, and her sister-in-law off somewhere playing, the house was empty—perfect for a private conversation.

“Alright,” the eldest daughter-in-law replied, a bit puzzled but agreeing.

Once inside, Chu Ling got straight to the point. “Sister-in-law Liu, I heard your younger brother is getting married soon, but things aren’t going smoothly?”

The eldest daughter-in-law arched a brow. “Who told you that?”

The bride’s family had only started demanding more money recently; news shouldn’t have spread so quickly. Must have been her mother-in-law—of course! That old woman couldn’t keep her mouth shut about her family affairs.

Her expression darkened.

Chu Ling smiled but didn’t explain. She wasn’t foolish enough to reveal that she knew all this from a previous life. If the eldest daughter-in-law misunderstood, so be it—it suited her just fine.

She remembered all too well that around this time in her previous life, the captain’s family was thrown into chaos. The daughter-in-law had tried to force the captain’s youngest daughter, Liu Yan’er, into a marriage swap with a thirty-something simpleton, all for her own brother’s wedding.

The captain and his wife adored their daughter and immediately rejected the idea. But the daughter-in-law wouldn’t give up, causing daily uproar at home until she almost miscarried. The captain’s son, caught between his wife and his family, quarreled with his parents several times.

In the end, the captain and his wife were heartbroken. In front of the whole village, they decisively split from their son and told him to pack up and leave. The farce ended amid a chorus of sighs and whispers.

Chu Ling remembered it so well because at that time, Liu Yan’er had just begun to fall for the scoundrel Chen Guang and saw Chu Ling as a rival. After the incident, Liu Yan’er even came to brag, saying that with her parents’ backing, she’d always get her way.

Ha! Get her way indeed. In the end, she didn’t marry Chen Guang, but was hastily wed to someone else.

Now that Chu Ling had been reborn, she intended to be “helpful” for once and let Liu Yan’er truly get her wish.

Chu Ling said, “Sister-in-law, I have a good idea that could solve your current troubles.”

The eldest daughter-in-law eyed her warily. “Comrade Chu, we’re not exactly close. Why would you help me?”

Chu Ling replied, “Because… there’s someone I must deal with.”

She outlined her plan. The more the eldest daughter-in-law listened, the brighter her eyes grew. In the end, though, she hesitated. “But what if Liu Yan’er refuses to go to town? She never listens to me.”

Chu Ling smiled. “You might not be able to call her out, but there is someone who definitely can.”

Not long after, at the educated youth courtyard—

Seeing Chu Ling at his door, Chen Guang was puzzled.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you always glued to your husband now? Bet you’ve forgotten all about me!”

When Chu Ling had first come to the countryside, she’d abandoned him for someone else. Later, when he went to confront her, her husband had beaten him up. He remembered all those humiliations.

“I didn’t come here for old times’ sake,” Chu Ling said coolly. “You think farm work is tough, don’t you? I’m offering you a shortcut—are you interested or not?”

Chen Guang sneered, “Since when are you so kind-hearted?”

“I admit I made mistakes before. Now I just want to make amends,” Chu Ling replied, suppressing her disgust.

Chen Guang was always full of himself. With just those words, he’d probably start imagining all sorts of things. Sure enough, a knowing look flashed in his eyes.

“I get it. You married a local just to avoid farm labor, didn’t you?”

“Something like that,” Chu Ling replied.

A sly smile played on Chen Guang’s lips. “So, you still have feelings for me…”

“Chen Guang, I’m already married,” Chu Ling said, a flicker of loathing in her eyes. This man was insufferably narcissistic—disgusting.

Not wanting to waste any more words, she swiftly explained the matter and, throwing out, “Believe it or not, it’s up to you,” took her leave.

Watching her retreating figure, Chen Guang narrowed his eyes, deep in thought…