Reborn in the 1980s: I became a stepmother in the 1980s

Part 112 At first glance, she looks like a well-behaved and sensible girl.

As soon as Si Nian walked over, she heard these words.

She was left speechless once again.

So these were Lin Xue's parents.

Indeed, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

One came to the Zhou family to ask for pork belly.

The other came to the Lin family to ask for a pork hind leg.

Si Nian stepped forward and unceremoniously asked, "Who are you two? Do I know you?"

The two of them were taken aback for a moment, then their faces darkened. "You're from the city, yet you don't recognize your own uncle and aunt?"

"I've been home for so long, and you, my so-called uncle and aunt, haven't come to visit me once. How would I recognize you? Isn't that amusing?"

"We're here now, aren't we? Why are you so petty? You're nothing like the generous Sisi."

Si Nian laughed. "Oh, are you not here for the pork hind leg? From the moment you arrived, you've been asking for meat or the pork leg, without a word about me, your niece. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have thought you were just here for the meat."

Si Nian's words sparked discussions among the villagers who had gathered to watch.

Exactly, this was Si Nian's bride price. What did it have to do with the Lin family? To ask for meat right in front of her was truly unbelievable. Si Nian had been home for so long, and they hadn't come to visit her once, yet they had the nerve to ask for meat. It was beyond comprehension.

If it were them, they would have lost their temper already.

Upon hearing this, Uncle Lin was immediately enraged. The murmurs from the surrounding crowd made his old face flush with embarrassment. He glared harshly at Si Nian and scolded, "You child, how can you be so disrespectful? We're not asking for everything, just a little bit as a gesture of filial piety from you to your elders. Why can't you be as sensible as Sisi?"

"Elders? I don't even know you. Why should I show you any filial piety? Have you ever given me a single cent or shown me any concern? Since you think Lin Sisi is so great, why don't you ask her to buy meat for you instead of asking me, someone you claim doesn't know how to behave? If I'm the one who doesn't know how to behave, what about you?"

"Oh, right, aren't you the one who just went to the Zhou family asking for ten pounds of pork belly on behalf of Lin Xue? You really are two of a kind. One asks for ten pounds of pork belly, and the other asks for a pork hind leg. I thought Lin Xue was shameless enough, but I didn't expect her father to be even more shameless." Si Nian covered her mouth in mock astonishment.

The surrounding villagers were shocked by her words. This Uncle Lin and his family were truly shameless. It was one thing to come to the Lin family for meat, but to also go to the Zhou family? Even the parents of the groom wouldn't do something like this.

Uncle Lin's face changed color as he heard the pointing and whispering around him. He glared at Si Nian angrily, then turned to his younger brother, breathing heavily. "Second Brother, look at how your daughter speaks to her elders!"

Father Lin's face darkened upon hearing that Lin Xue had gone to the Zhou family to ask for pork belly. What was supposed to be a joyous day was now marred by this disgraceful behavior, making the Zhou family laugh at them. He hadn't expected his elder brother's family to be this shameless.

At this moment, Father Lin couldn't hold back any longer. With a stern face, he said, "Brother, Nian Nian is right. This is her bride price. Even as her parents, we have no right to handle it, let alone give any to you. Don't even think about it!"

Father Lin had always doted on his daughter. Although he was usually simple and honest, often being taken advantage of, he would never compromise when it came to his daughter. Especially considering he owed his daughter more than a decade of fatherly responsibility. He had no right to manage her bride price at all. His brother's words were truly out of line.

Seeing that her father was not someone to back down easily, Si Nian felt a slight sense of relief. She had feared that if she stood up to argue, her parents might pull her back, saying, "Let it go, they're family, just give it to them." If that had happened, she would never want to have much contact with this family again.

Now, she felt somewhat satisfied. Even though her father wasn't overly aggressive, knowing how to refuse was good enough.

Seeing Uncle Lin fuming with anger, she feigned innocence and said, "If you're so eager for meat, why don't you let your daughter get married? Why covet someone else's bride price? Is your family so poor that you need to beg for food? That's really pitiful."

The crowd's mouths twitched. In reality, Uncle Lin's family had a son and a daughter, and during the division of property, they got the best house, which was in much better condition than Father Lin's. Now, Si Nian was making it sound like they were beggars.

Uncle Lin and his wife were furious, almost seeing red.

"Fine, if you're not giving it to us, at least send some to our parents. As a daughter of the Lin family, it's only right for you to send some food to your grandparents, isn't it?"

Si Nian nodded repeatedly, showing cooperation. "Of course, it's only right. But shouldn't your daughter send some too? Whatever she sends, I'll match. Don't worry, I won't give any less than she does. So, Uncle, instead of asking others to give this and that, why not think about what your family should be giving? After all, we're both granddaughters of the same grandparents. It wouldn't be right if I send something and Lin Xue doesn't, would it?"

The surrounding people agreed. Si Nian had just returned home and was already being asked to give this and that. The second branch of the family wasn't favored, and yet, the granddaughter who just came back wasn't even visited by her grandparents. They had no shame in making so many demands. Why not ask his own daughter to send something?

"You... you're too much. You're just making excuses not to give," Uncle Lin retorted angrily.

Si Nian replied with a hurt expression, "Uncle, what are you saying? You're the eldest, and if you don't set an example, how can us juniors dare to overstep? I'm just afraid that if I give too much, people will laugh at you, and then you'll blame me for embarrassing you..."

Father Lin couldn't bear to see his daughter so aggrieved. Heartbroken, he stepped forward and said, "Enough, Brother. It's a joyful day, and you're making a scene. Nian Nian didn't come back to be bullied by you. Just take care of your own family."

The surrounding people also couldn't stand it. "That's right, Lin. Don't be so greedy. This young girl just came back and isn't familiar with everything. Forcing her to do this and that is just bullying."

"I agree. Your daughter Lin Xue is almost eighteen. If you don't worry about her, why worry about others?"

"Exactly. If you're so filial, why don't you give something yourself?"

"Aren't you afraid the Zhou family will laugh at you? I'm embarrassed for you..."

Uncle Lin and his wife, red-faced from the scolding, cursed under their breath as they left, leaving with a parting threat: "Fine, Second Brother, this is how you treat me, your elder brother? Just you wait."

He gave Si Nian a vicious glare before turning and slinking away.

The onlookers, well aware of Uncle Lin's greed and shamelessness, were exasperated but offered their comfort to Si Nian, telling her not to take it to heart.

Grateful, Si Nian thanked everyone and invited them to her wedding, asking them to come and celebrate with her. Her demeanor was gentle and polite, and her soft, pleasant voice reflected her well-mannered and considerate nature.

It was clear she was a sensible and well-behaved young girl.