Song Dingxiang [Completed]

C23. Hidden Conflict.

Chapter 23

Song Yulan blushed slightly and hesitated, saying, "After all, I am married to him, so I am considered part of the Xu family... When my mother-in-law and sister-in-law ask me for things, I can't just refuse."

Song Dingxiang was getting furious, she exclaimed, "His mother and sister asking you for things? I have never heard of a mother-in-law asking her daughter-in-law for things!"

Song Yulan replied, "They don't directly ask, but they always hint at it. After hearing it so many times, I just..."

Song Dingxiang laughed in anger, she rubbed her temples vigorously, trying to appear less angry, and said softly, "Sister, that money was given to you by our mother to help you in times of need. Even without that money, the few acres of land that came with your marriage can sustain you. You've only been married for three years, and they've already spent all your savings?"

Song Yulan hung her head, her voice trembling with tears, "What can I do? Mother carefully chose this family for me, I thought they were good when I first got married, but then I realized that my mother-in-law and husband are always eyeing my savings. My husband is too filial, always making me compromise, I have no choice. Dingxiang, your luck is better than mine..."

"I have good luck?" Song Dingxiang was truly filled with anger, "I have good luck? I was jilted by someone, almost died by hanging. Sister, don't you know? I have good luck? I was forced not to marry at fourteen, my husband is going to join the army in a few days, his life uncertain. And you actually think I have good luck?"

"But you have a rich dowry, a woman with a rich dowry carries herself with pride wherever she goes!" Song Yulan's tears fell, and she cried uncontrollably.

Song Dingxiang sneered, "A rich dowry? Sister, who else but you should know our family situation best? When you got married, even if your dowry wasn't the best in the village, it was still considered good, right? I think you should understand our parents the most, as well as me. Who told you that I have a rich dowry?"

Song Yulan's mouth moved, but no words came out.

"I know, it was the Xu family who told you that our parents were biased and treated you poorly but treated me well. They gave you twenty taels of silver and a few acres of land, while they gave me land, silver, and a shop. Is that right?"

The matter of their family buying a shop was not hidden from others, especially since the shop was registered in Song Dingxiang's name, which caused many people to gossip in private.

Song Yulan still remained silent.

Song Dingxiang continued, "Sister, I don't believe you truly know nothing. Zhou Ge had a falling out with the Zhou family, and he came out with twenty taels of silver and five acres of land from them. He was worried that marrying me under those circumstances would tarnish my reputation, so he went to the mountains for three days and risked his life to hunt a tiger. Do you know about this?"

Song Yulan nodded.

"And as for the land, he gave it to me as a betrothal gift. He sold the tiger for money, bought the shop, and gave it to me as well. Do you really think this is money from our parents? Sister, all of this was earned by my husband at great risk. He is afraid that if he leaves, I won't be able to live well, and if I ask my parents for money, people will gossip!"

"Please stop, I understand," Song Yulan cried.

"You really don't understand! If you did, you wouldn't come back asking our parents for money to invest in your husband's business! When Mom married you to the Xu family, it was because she thought they were honest, hardworking people. If she knew how they were, do you think she would have still married you off? And once you cannot support them anymore, do you believe they won't turn their backs on you immediately?"