Li Hongmei immediately looked at Old Mrs. Li upon hearing this. Although she hadn’t sold much these past few days, she had tasted the sweetness of making money.
She hadn’t made a substantial amount yet; what could she do if Lin Jiayi really wouldn’t let her sell anymore?
Old Mrs. Li gave her a reassuring look, speaking in a faint voice, "What kind of talk is that? Hongmei has heard that you’re too busy with the business, so she traveled all the way back to help you. She can learn if you teach her patiently; this is what you should be doing as her brother and sister-in-law. What is it about shouting and yelling that shows your competence? It’s just some leftover meat. At worst, we’ll eat it ourselves. We’ve been selling meat at home for so long, and we’ve hardly had a taste ourselves."
"Eat it ourselves?" Lin Jiayi stepped forward and lifted the covered cloth, "How can we eat this much meat? Right now, all our family’s money is tied up in this. If we eat it, what will we use to buy goods tomorrow?"
Inside the basket, there was pig intestine, heart, liver, lungs, head meat—a half-basket full of various cooked foods; it was impossible to finish eating it all.
Besides, there really was a strange smell emanating from the meat, noticeably different from what they usually ate.
Thinking about how all their money was invested in this stock, Old Mrs. Li felt even more distressed, she secretly glared at her eldest daughter before speaking.
"I think the meat is just undercooked a bit. When Guang Yuan comes back later, let him recook it. Add more seasoning to mask the smell; we can still sell it tomorrow."
Lin Jiayi actually thought the same. Although those people came aggressively today, nothing serious happened in the end.
They could just sell in a different place for the next few days. They didn’t own a shop, so they could just sell wherever they walked.
She just didn’t want to make it easy for Li Hongmei.
Old Mrs. Li, seeing that Lin Jiayi remained unyielding, gave her eldest daughter a meaningful look, "Didn’t you just say you’d give your sister-in-law the meat-selling money? Your sister-in-law is right here; it’s a good opportunity for her to see how hard you’ve worked these past few days."
Li Hongmei opened her eyes wide in disbelief, her mother was actually asking her to give that wretched woman money?
Seeing Old Mrs. Li persistently giving signals, she reluctantly took out five yuan.
"I gave the money I made before to my brother. This is from today’s sale, sister-in-law, here you go."
Lin Jiayi frowned—only five yuan from the sale?
But of course, she wouldn’t let that five yuan slip by; it was all her money after all.
Lin Jiayi took the money and turned to leave. Li Dongmei, afraid her older sister would settle scores with her, also scurried away in a hurry.
Li Hongmei could only fiercely glare at her retreating figure, then turned her head to see Old Mrs. Li started speaking in dissatisfaction.
"Mother, look at her, she’s practically climbing onto my neck and you’re still siding with her."
Old Mrs. Li glanced out the window, "Are you foolish? No matter what, you still need to rely on her cooked food secret recipe to make money."
"What secret recipe for cooked food; I think she’s just fooling you all. I’ve tasted it; Qin’s Cooked Food doesn’t taste like this at all."
"You care whether it does? Given her relationship with Lin Chuxia, even if it’s not the same flavor, it will be. How many have actually tasted Qin’s Cooked Food?"
Li Hongmei didn’t argue; she too had used the Qin Family’s name while selling her goods.
"Didn’t you tell me to keep the money made from selling cooked food for myself? Why are you going back on your word and making me pay out?"
Old Mrs. Li felt frustrated, as if trying to forge iron that wouldn’t harden, "I did say you could keep it for yourself, but I didn’t let you ruin our family business. Look how much meat is left in that basket?"
Li Hongmei was indignant, "I also didn’t know how much it would sell. What if it wasn’t enough? Wouldn’t that mean I’d earn a lot less?"
Li Guangyuan suddenly roared in anger—an outburst he had never allowed himself in all these years, which left several women in the courtyard stunned.
But soon, someone regained their composure.
The first one to rush up was Li Hongmei, "How am I to blame for harming the family? Isn’t she the jinx? She’s the one who took initiative to sell the cooked food. Now that there’s an issue with the cooked food you all prepared, you’re accusing me. I traveled all this way back to help you, and not only do you not appreciate it, you’re trying to pin the blame on me. Where’s your conscience?"
"Did I ask for your help? You’re married now, you should just stay in your marital home, supporting your husband and teaching your children, instead of always coming back to your parents’ house and causing trouble. Can you not bear to see your family have good days?"
Lin Jiayi, seeing Li Guangyuan voicing the very words she dared not say, felt extremely delighted in her heart.
She didn’t even mind that Li Hongmei almost messed up their business.
Yes, rebuke this sister-in-law harshly, make sure she never returns to her family home.
For the first time, Li Hongmei was scolded by Li Guangyuan, pointing fingers at her nose. She stomped her feet in retort, "You’re the ones who can’t stand to see me have good days. I could have married someone from the city, but you made me marry Ma Dazhuang, ruining my life. What right do you have to talk about me?"
"What’s wrong with Ma Dazhuang? In my opinion, he’s more than good enough for you. You, with your lofty ignorance, not knowing how to live properly, lacking brains but still trying to act clever, have someone who wants you and yet you don’t treasure your fortune. You—"
"Slap!"
A fierce slap landed on Li Guangyuan’s face; Old Mrs. Li was angry, her visage turning a steel blue.
"Kneel down for me."
Li Guangyuan looked at Old Mrs. Li’s face; the shadow of strict discipline from his parents since childhood made him quiver, and with a thump, he knelt on the ground.
Old Mrs. Li picked up a fire poker beside her and began striking Li Guangyuan with it, clearly using her full strength with each blow.
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