Volume One, Chapter 13: A Sister-in-Law Like a Mother—Is This How You Treat Your Own Mother?

Su Li passed by nearby. She wasn’t unaware of their conversation; she simply pretended not to hear.

“Are you ladies washing clothes?”

“Teacher Su going out?” Aunt Zhang heard Su Li’s voice and turned with a smile to ask.

“Just stepping out for a bit. I’m going to visit my mother-in-law this afternoon and thought to buy her a dress.”

Aunt Li praised, “Teacher Su is truly filial.”

Su Li smiled shyly. “You all keep busy, I’ll head off first.”

“Hey, that female student is still at their place, and Section Chief Shao is there too. Teacher Su really trusts them a lot,” Aunt Li shook her head. “If it were me, I wouldn’t feel at ease.”

Su Li pedaled away. In her previous life, she had tried to be cautious, yet it hadn’t prevented the outcome.

Aunt Zhang, recalling what she saw last night, shook her head. “It shouldn’t be that bad. Section Chief Shao treats Teacher Su so well.”

She said it partly for others, but also to reassure herself, as if persuading herself not to overthink.

Su Li and Li Mo arrived at the agreed department store. They first looked at cameras. Su Li had three hundred yuan on her, plus seven hundred from her parents. Though still short, she wanted to get a sense of the options.

“Li, over here!”

Li Mo waved excitedly upon seeing Su Li approach.

“Hey, I’ve got news. My colleague Zhang Qiang said if you’re using it yourself, there’s no need to buy a new one. He has a friend who bought a camera two years ago, used it for two years, and now wants to sell it cheaply.”

Li Mo raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Three hundred yuan? That’s a great deal, way more cost-effective than new.”

Su Li’s heart leapt. That would cover what she and Shao Ting’an had saved, leaving her parents’ money untouched.

“That’s perfect! I don’t have enough money right now either. Getting a reliable secondhand one sounds great.”

“Zhang Qiang promised it’s absolutely trustworthy. He can vouch for it wholeheartedly.”

“When can we get it?”

“I told him to bring it to the newspaper office on Monday. I’ll check it for you, and if it’s good, I’ll deliver it to your school.”

Su Li hugged Li Mo tightly. “Dear little Jasmine, you’re my lucky star. This is wonderful!”

“So, shall we still look at cameras?”

“No need. What’s there to see? Let’s go browse clothes.”

Su Li immediately pulled Li Mo upstairs to look at dresses.

“Li’er, new arrivals! This one would look stunning on you,” Li Mo said excitedly, pointing to a pale pink dress hanging by the entrance.

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“Comrade, this dress just arrived at our store yesterday. Feel free to try it on.”

Su Li’s eyes brightened at the sight of the dress, and her heart fluttered with excitement. Encouraged by Li Mo, she eagerly took the dress to try on.

When she emerged, she looked in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.

The sales clerk and Li Mo both widened their eyes. The dress seemed tailor-made for her, perfectly matching her temperament; its color complemented her skin so well that they were both momentarily stunned.

“Li, it really suits you. Let’s get this one.”

Su Li smiled gently. “How much is it?”

“This is the only one like this in all of Pingjiang, unmatched in price and fabric quality. Though it’s a bit pricey—forty-five yuan.”

Hearing this, Su Li didn’t hesitate. “Wrap it up for me. Also, please recommend a not-too-expensive dress for my mother-in-law.”

At that moment, a familiar voice sounded behind them. “Su Li, Li Mo, what a coincidence!”

Su Li and Li Mo turned to see Liu Hongmei and Shao Tingting, exchanging glances simultaneously.

“Sister-in-law, where’s my brother?”

Su Li replied calmly, “At home.”

Shao Tingting shot her a displeased look, pouting. “Leaving my brother alone at home?”

“Does your brother not take care of himself? Why can’t he be alone at home?” Li Mo retorted with an eye-roll.

“What kind of talk is that? Tingting is just worried no one is taking care of Ting’an,” Liu Hongmei said.

Li Mo turned to her. “He has hands and feet—how do you expect to take care of him? If you’re so concerned, why don’t you go fawn on him!”

Liu Hongmei had a fondness for Shao Ting’an and had been at odds with Su Li until Shao Ting’an and Su Li married. Only then did she quiet down.

But she still worked at the machinery factory, and according to Su Li’s sister-in-law, Liu Hongmei hadn’t given up—she would occasionally linger around Shao Ting’an.

Still, her appearance and personality were not to Shao Ting’an’s taste.

So, after all these years, it remained a one-sided affection.

Shao Tingting disliked Su Li and got along well with Liu Hongmei, always giving Su Li a cold look whenever they met.

Liu Hongmei’s face flushed white and red under Li Mo’s sharp words. Shao Tingting, irritated, glared at Li Mo and changed the subject.

“That dress is really beautiful. How much?”

The sales clerk smiled. “Forty-five yuan. This comrade already claimed it.”

“Su Li, you’re such a spendthrift. Forty-five yuan for a dress? How much do you earn a month? If you weren’t married to Shao Ting’an, you wouldn’t be able to afford such nice clothes.”

Liu Hongmei, as usual, looked down on Su Li and never held back her tongue. Su Li had no desire to engage with her.

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Li Mo frowned and scoffed coldly, “What right do you have to look down on her? Her husband is capable, earns well, and willingly spends on Su Li. You’re just worrying about things that don’t concern you.”

“Li Mo, with a mouth like yours, every time Su Li stays silent, you jump in. Ever heard of seeking parents? Never heard of seeking trouble.”

“Liu Hongmei…”

Su Li was about to retort, pulling Li Mo with her, but suddenly thought better of it and softened her tone. “We’re all classmates. What’s the point of this?”

She held back the urge to snap back, thinking that now Zhao Xinran was at the machinery factory, perhaps Liu Hongmei could be a useful ally.

“Stop pretending to be good. Just wait until I get home and tell my mom how wasteful you are. Don’t think marrying my brother gives you the right to act so high and mighty.”

Su Li tolerated Liu Hongmei because she still had value, but Shao Tingting constantly bossed her around—why should she endure that?

In her past life, Shao Tingting had often helped Shao Ting’an and Zhao Xinran scheme against her.

Zhao Xinran had no connections in Pingjiang; it was easy to get medicine for infertility, but transfusing blood from a tuberculosis patient wouldn’t have been possible without Shao Tingting’s help.

She just didn’t know when they had conspired together.

“Tingting, you’re not young anymore. How can you be less mature than a three-year-old?” Su Li glared coldly. “Children don’t distinguish between kin and strangers because they’re immature. But at your age, being so thoughtless is just betrayal.”

“You little bitch, who are you calling a traitor?”

Shao Tingting flew into a rage, raising her hand and lunging at Su Li.

Su Li raised her hand, grabbed her wrist, and twisted hard, eliciting a scream like a slaughtered pig.

“Ah…”

“I knew it, you little bitch. The Shao family at least gave you an education. The eldest sister-in-law is like a mother, and this is how you treat your own?”

“Su Li…”

With a sudden flick, Su Li threw Shao Tingting off, and she landed hard on the ground.

Liu Hongmei and Li Mo were stunned—Su Li, usually gentle and calm, was unexpectedly fierce.

Only Shao Tingting’s hysterical cries snapped Liu Hongmei back to reality, and she hurried forward to help her.

Su Li shook her hand. “Shao Tingting, be polite around me from now on, or next time it’ll hurt even more.”

Li Mo stared at Su Li, her eyes round and shining with admiration.