Chapter 71 – Shameless In-Laws
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Madam Wei stormed through the opening, followed by Madam Zhang.
"You useless thing!" Madam Wei snapped, glaring at Lin Xin. "What took you so long to open the door? Do you think we have nothing better to do than stand outside waiting?"
Lin Xin’s expression stiffened the moment he saw them.
He hadn’t expected to encounter them here least of all now, when Han Yan wasn’t around.
After the separation, both sides had agreed to go their separate ways and live their own lives without interfering with each other. It had been a clear understanding one that neither side was supposed to cross.
Yet his mother-in-law and first sister-in-law had appeared at their home without so much as a warning.
Not only had they come uninvited, but they had even forced their way inside, completely disregarding the boundaries that had been established after the separation.
Lin Xin’s expression tightened as he stared at them, confusion and unease flickering across his features.
He couldn’t understand what had brought them here after everything that had happened, nor why they were behaving as though the agreement between both families had never existed.
His fingers curled nervously at his sides as he shifted his weight, his guarded gaze never quite meeting theirs.
The longer he stood there, the more uneasy he became. Without Han Yan by his side, he felt strangely vulnerable, unsure of how to handle their sudden appearance on his own.
For a moment, Lin Xin simply stood there in silence, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what they could possibly want.
He lowered his gaze, avoiding their eyes as his fingers tightened around the edge of his sleeve. After a moment of hesitation, he finally mustered the courage to speak, his voice quiet and uncertain.
"Mother-in-law... w-why have you come here?"
Madam Wei’s face hardened, the wrinkles around her eyes deepening as she shot him a displeased look.
"What? We can’t come here?"
Lin Xin swallowed nervously, his gaze dropping even further as he struggled to find the right words.
"I-I didn’t mean..."
"Then what did you mean?" Madam Wei snapped, cutting him off sharply. Her voice dripped with contempt, each word laced with venom.
"Do you think you have the right to question me, you useless ger?"
Lin Xin flinched at her harsh tone, his shoulders drawing inward. He opened his mouth as though to retort, but the words died on his lips before he could utter a sound.
Madam Wei’s lips curled into a cold, bitter smile.
"Don’t forget who you’re speaking to."
Madam Zhang pushed past them with an arrogant snort, not even bothering to spare Lin Xin a glance.
"Mother-in-law, don’t waste your breath on him. Come inside."
With that, she swept deeper into the courtyard, her chin held high as though the entire place belonged to her. She glanced around leisurely, inspecting the house with a shameless sense of entitlement, completely ignoring the uncomfortable silence behind her.
Then Madam Zhang’s eyes suddenly landed on the chicken coop.
Her expression changed at once, surprise flashing across her face before greed crept into her eyes.
"Mother-in-law, look!"
She hurried over and grabbed Madam Wei’s arm, pointing excitedly toward the plump chicks pecking at the ground inside the coop.
"They have so many! Look at them! They’re so fat, even though they’re still young!"
Madam Wei’s eyes immediately lit up with greed.
She stepped closer to the coop and peered through the gaps in the fence, her gaze lingering hungrily over the healthy chicks.
"These really are well-fed," she muttered, her eyes gleaming.
The two exchanged a knowing glance, the corners of their lips lifting with undisguised satisfaction. Neither of them needed to say a word. The same thought had already surfaced in both their minds.
Fortunately, Han Yan was not at home.
With him absent, there was no one here to interfere with them. The thought alone was enough to make Madam Wei and Madam Zhang’s eyes gleam with anticipation as they looked over the plump chicks in the coop.
"That must have cost quite a fortune," Madam Wei muttered, her eyes lingering greedily over the plump chicks.
Lin Xin’s expression faltered.
"They belong to us" he said softly.
Madam Zhang glanced back at him, one brow arching.
"And so?"
Her tone carried a mocking edge.
"With so many chicks, what could the two of you possibly do with all of them?"
Liu De’s face darkened. He had finally reached the limit of his patience. Seeing his friend being pushed around by these women, he stepped forward, unable to remain silent any longer.
"They’re Lin Xin’s chickens. If you’re not here to help, then stop interfering."
Madam Wei’s expression hardened. She planted both hands on her waist and turned toward him, her eyes flashing with irritation.
"And who asked you to speak?"
Her voice was sharp and cutting.
"You’re nothing but a ger from another household. What right do you have to interfere in the Han family’s affairs?"
She spat out the words, making it clear that, in her eyes, Liu De had no place speaking on Lin Xin’s behalf.
Madam Zhang continued to wander around the courtyard, completely unconcerned with the confrontation behind her.
Her eyes roamed over everything with a sense of entitlement, as though she were inspecting property that already belonged to her.
Soon, her gaze fell upon the kitchen.
The moment she stepped inside, her eyes immediately landed on the earthen pots and the various provisions Han Yan had recently purchased.
Without asking for permission, she lifted the lid of one of the pots.
Her eyes widened when she saw the polished rice inside.
"Mother-in-law, look. This rice is of such good quality."
Her surprise quickly turned into greed as she ran her fingers lightly over the grains.
Lin Xin’s expression changed.
"Please put the lid back."
Madam Zhang raised an eyebrow and glanced at him.
"Why? I’m only looking."
With that, she opened another earthen pot, rummaging through its contents as casually as if she were searching through her own kitchen.
Madam Wei followed her inside and peered into the pot.
"Tsk. What a waste."
She clicked her tongue, her eyes sweeping over the provisions.
"They have money to spend on all these good things, yet they never think of their elders. What kind of filial children are they?"
Lin Xin’s fingers curled tightly at his sides.
Every one of these things had been carefully chosen and purchased by Han Yan for their household. Hearing Madam Wei speak as though they were entitled to take whatever they pleased made his chest tighten.
"You can’t take those."
Madam Wei let out a cold scoff.
"Can’t take them?"
She turned to him, her voice dripping with indignation.
"You’re only living under the same roof because of his generosity. You haven’t even given him a child since the two of you married. Do you really think he’ll keep you around forever?"
Madam Wei’s eyes swept over Lin Xin from head to toe, her expression filled with contempt.
"You’d better stop acting so high and mighty just because he treats you well now doesn’t mean it will last."
Her voice growing sharper.
"You can’t even work like a proper man, nor can you give him a child."
Madam Wei let out a cold, scornful laugh, her lips curling.
"Who do you think you are?"
Madam Wei fixed Lin Xin with a cold stare as though judging his worth.
"Everything you have now is because of that brat."
She paused, letting the words hang in the air. As she took a step closer.
"Without him, you wouldn’t even have enough to fill your stomach. So instead of standing there pretending you have any authority in this house, you should be grateful he hasn’t thrown you out already."
Her words struck one after another, leaving no room for Lin Xin to defend himself.
"Remember your place, you are nothing but a useless ger. Don’t mistake Han Yan’s kindness for your own worth."
Lin Xin’s lashes trembled as he absorbed her cruel words. His lips pressed together, and he quietly drew a breath, forcing down the sting in his chest. He remained rooted to the spot, too shaken to respond.
Before Madam Wei could say another word, a small, dark, furry figure suddenly sprang toward her.
"Ah!"
Madam Wei let out a piercing shriek as Zhi Zun pounced on her, his claws catching her cheek before he latched onto her sleeve.
"Get it off me! Get this wretched thing off!"
She stumbled backward, frantically waving her arms as Zhi Zun clung stubbornly to her. The little creature bared its teeth and let out an angry hiss before biting down on her sleeve and scratching at her arm.
"Ah! My face!"
Madam Wei screamed as Zhi Zun suddenly scrambled higher, his claws catching her collar before he swiped toward her face again.
"Mother-in-law!"
Madam Zhang rushed forward, panic flashing across her face.
"Hold still! I’ll get it!"
She reached for Zhi Zun, but the moment her fingers came close, he whipped around and hissed fiercely at her. His fur stood on end as he snapped his tiny teeth at her hand.
"Ah!"
Madam Zhang quickly pulled back, clutching her fingers to her chest.
"Don’t just stand there! Help me!"
"I’m trying!"
She gritted her teeth and grabbed Madam Wei’s arm, attempting to pull her away while avoiding Zhi Zun’s claws.
But Zhi Zun refused to let go. He clung tightly to Madam Wei, scratching and nipping whenever she tried to shake him off. Every time Madam Wei thought she had managed to dislodge him, the little creature darted back into position with startling speed.
"Get this beast off me!" Madam Wei shrieked, stumbling across the kitchen with her hair coming loose. "Someone get it off!"
Madam Zhang hurried after her, desperately trying to find a way to grab Zhi Zun without getting bitten herself.
"Mother-in-law, stop moving! You’ll make it worse!"
"Then get it off me!"
"I can’t grab it!"
"You’re useless!"
Madam Wei’s furious shouting filled the kitchen as she desperately swatted at Zhi Zun. The more she struggled, the more determined the little creature seemed to become.
Meanwhile, Lin Xin could only stare in stunned silence at the chaos unfolding before him. His eyes widened as he watched Madam Wei stumble around the kitchen, completely overwhelmed.
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