All the members are good people, only the host is a pervert

Chapter 152 The Young Widow 3

Under Lin Cuilan's furious scolding, several people, though filled with anger and resentment, could only leave in disgrace. The house, which had just been noisy and full of arguments, suddenly became quiet, leaving only Lin Cuilan and Lin Ruan alone. The atmosphere in the house was somewhat dull, and the sunlight streaming in through the window could not dispel the faint sadness and solemnity.

Lin Ruan had just arrived in this world, and everything was still unfamiliar. To make matters worse, since this world had just been formed, her system, always criticized as "useless," was completely useless this time, with no reference to the subsequent plot. Helplessly, Lin Ruan followed Lin Cuilan into the room.

The room was small and simply furnished, with two old wardrobes and a slightly worn-out bed. However, it was already the best room in the house.

The Chen family's house is 55 square meters, with three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. However, since there are many children in the Chen family, Lin Cuilan lives in the smallest bedroom. The remaining two bedrooms are partitioned off with wooden planks, creating four bedrooms. The master bedroom is larger, with room for a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. The eldest, Chen Jianhua, and the second, Chen Jianjun, live there, and Lin Ruan also lived there after their marriage. The two rooms separated from the second bedroom are smaller, with only a bed and a wardrobe. Chen Jianjun and Chen Lihong usually do their homework in the living room.

"Ruanruan, this is the second son's pension, a total of 3300 yuan." Lin Cuilan carefully took out the remittance slip from her pocket. Her voice was a little hoarse and a little tired. "I'm his mother, and you're his wife. We'll each get half. What do you think?"

In the short few steps Lin Cuilan had taken to the room, Lin Ruan had quickly grasped her predicament. She had never felt any affection for Chen Jianguo; this suddenly deceased husband was nothing more than a vague figure in her memory. The Chen family, now in her eyes, was undoubtedly a den of wolves and tigers. The greed and selfishness of Chen Jianhua and his companions had made it clear to Lin Ruan that staying here would only lead to endless trouble. While they wouldn't dare to do anything to her openly, the thought of spending so much of her life dealing with these extremes was unbearable.

She lowered her head slightly, with a gentle expression that was just right, and said softly, "Mom, I'm doing well enough to have a job. You can take an extra 300 yuan for the pension, and treat it as the 600 yuan my job paid. We can split it equally."

Upon hearing this, Lin Cuilan quickly waved her hand and advised, "Ruanruan, you're just too honest and kind. Listen to me, you can do a lot with these extra three hundred yuan. Those three white... ahem, you heard what your eldest brother and the other three said just now. If you stay in this family, let alone the pension, I'm afraid you won't even be able to keep that job. Don't think I'm trying to scare you. With these three hundred yuan, you can rent a small house next to the supply and marketing cooperative and live your own life in peace and stability. How wonderful it would be."

At this point, Lin Cuilan's emotions suddenly got out of control, her eyes turned red, and her voice was choked with sobs: "Mom has money, and I don't want you to support me in my old age. If you find the right person in the future, you don't have to stay with the second child. You are still young, and there are good days ahead of you. Mom just wants you to remember this good thing about me. When I'm old in the future, you can come and see me occasionally, and I will be satisfied." Lin Cuilan wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her rough hand as she spoke.

Lin Cuilan, reborn, has a profound understanding of the ugliness of human nature and the cruelty of reality. She knows that money is more reliable in her own life than in anyone else's. She's willing to open up to Lin Ruan because it was she who saved her from a tragic death on the street. But she can't bear the thought of relying on Lin Ruan for her retirement, regardless of her willingness. She's not the kind of person who would be so selfish as to tie a twenty-year-old girl to her side for the rest of her life. In her view, a daughter-in-law shouldn't bring her mother-in-law with her when she remarries; wouldn't that ruin Lin Ruan's life?

As Lin Ruan listened to Lin Cuilan's words, she had other plans in mind. She had no intention of remarrying. In this era, marriage often meant losing freedom for women, becoming entangled in tedious household affairs and complex interpersonal relationships, and she didn't want to suffer. However, if she didn't remarry, living alone would inevitably face many troubles. As a young, single, and employed woman, she was a tempting commodity in the eyes of others, and there would inevitably be a constant stream of people coveting her. Although she could handle these problems with her abilities, if too many lives were involved, it would inevitably attract attention, and this trouble could last for five or six years, which was too long, and she didn't have the patience to deal with it.

But if she took Lin Cuilan with her... this idea suddenly flashed through Lin Ruan's mind, and the more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Lin Cuilan had been in this family for many years and was very good at managing housework and dealing with various trivial matters. If she was around, not only could she help her avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble, but her life would also be much easier.

Thinking of this, Lin Ruan looked up at Lin Cuilan with a sincere and clear gaze, and said, "Mom, I'll listen to you, but you have to come with me." She paused deliberately, observing Lin Cuilan's reaction, and then continued, "But Mom, I want you to live with me because I really like your delicious cooking and admire you for keeping the house in order. I can't do it like you. If you are willing, I will give you ten yuan a month to help you, okay?"

Although Lin Ruan hoped that Lin Cuilan could live with her and shield her from the troubles she had faced in recent years, she also didn't want to hire a mother-in-law to serve her like a Buddhist nun. It just so happened that hiring a nanny wasn't an option these days, so if Lin Cuilan was willing, she could offer her a little extra money, which would be a reasonable arrangement.

She thought Lin Cuilan would be willing. After all, here, Lin Cuilan also had to clean the house and cook for the whole family, and was very busy. If she came to her place, she would have to do less work and eat better, so it would be a good deal no matter how you calculated it.

Lin Cuilan didn't hear anything else except Lin Ruan asking her to stay over there. Her eyes widened in surprise. What about cooking? What about housework? She didn't take any of that seriously.

She was a person who clearly distinguished between love and hate, desiring the life of those she loved and the death of those she disliked. As a mother-in-law, she had already been open-minded enough to let Lin Ruan remarry with the pension. If they could live together, how could she bear to let Lin Ruan work? Just like how she had always been reluctant to let those ungrateful children work, no matter how ignorant they were. At this moment, Lin Cuilan felt a warm warmth in her heart, as if she could see the warm picture of her future life with Lin Ruan.

Lin Cuilan's eyes were red with excitement again, and she nodded hurriedly, "Okay, Ruanruan, Mom will go with you! You kid, why are you talking about money? Mom cooks for you and takes care of the house willingly, but don't mention money anymore."

Seeing Lin Cuilan's straightforward agreement, Lin Ruan felt relieved and replied with a smile, "Mom, it's settled then. But you must accept the money. Consider it a token of my appreciation. Otherwise, I'll feel bad."

Lin Cuilan patted Lin Ruan's hand and said with emotion: "Alas, Ruanruan, you are such a sensible child. Since you said so, Mom will accept it. From now on, we will take care of each other. Oh, by the way, while this is going on, Mom has another idea."

Lin Ruan looked at Lin Cuilan doubtfully: "Mom, what do you think?"

Lin Cuilan took a deep breath, her expression becoming serious. "Ruanruan, we have to separate from them. Think about it, you saw what happened today. They only care about money and benefits, and don't care about family affection at all. If we don't separate, who knows what else they will come up with to plot against us in the future. Besides, you're about to start a new life, and you can't always be dragged down by them."

At this moment, in Lin Cuilan's heart, she and Lin Ruan were on the same side, and they were ours. Those three ungrateful bastards had better get out of here as far as possible.

Lin Ruan thought for a moment and felt that Lin Cuilan's words made sense. She really didn't want to get involved in the Chen family's mess anymore. Splitting the family might be the best option. So she nodded and said, "Mom, I'll listen to you, but how do we go about splitting the family?"

Lin Cuilan's eyes flashed with shrewdness. "I'll take care of this. I'll call them all back tomorrow and make things clear in front of everyone. This house, the money, and some of the household items must be divided up properly. They all know about the pension, so I don't think they'll dare mention it again. Don't worry, I'll give you everything that belongs to the second child, and no one else can take it away from you."

Lin Ruan said worriedly, "Mom, what if they don't agree to the division, or deliberately make things difficult when it comes to the division?"

Lin Cuilan snorted coldly: "Hmph, how dare they! I am their mother, and it is not their turn to have the final say in this family. Besides, this division is for the good of everyone. We can live our own lives and avoid conflicts every day."

Lin Ruan watched Lin Cuilan's determination, a wave of admiration welling up in her heart. She truly admired her. How many people, faced with family conflicts, knowing they were irreconcilable, yet still played dumb and muddled through, thinking blood is thicker than water. It was surprising that Chen Jianhua and his men, merely showing a touch of greed over the compensation, had such decisive and assertive attitude in handling their relationship.

"Mom, it all depends on you." Lin Ruan said.

Lin Cuilan patted her chest and said, "Don't worry, Ruanruan. With Mom here, this matter will definitely be resolved smoothly. After the family is divided, we will move out. Mom still has a small courtyard left by your grandparents. Although it's a bit run-down, Mom has money and can fix it up and live in it."

Lin Cuilan's parents were both retired Red Army veterans who returned to their hometown. One became the director of logistics at a steel mill, the other a local government official. Because they were injured in the war, they had only one child, Lin Cuilan. Concerned about their child's future, Lin's parents, in a moment of favoritism, concealed their ownership of a property when the steel mill allocated housing and instead allocated a large, 55-square-meter house to their family. Lin's father even went so far as to buy the property, fearing it might be taken away by the mill in the future.

Apart from the deceased Lin's parents, only Lin Cuilan and Chen's deceased father knew about this matter. The children were all unaware of it. They had originally planned to wait until the children grew up and got married before dividing the family property. At that time, they would move into the bungalow and give the house to the three brothers.

In her previous life, it was the same thing. Later, when the house was renovated, the bungalow was exchanged for three apartments and a considerable amount of money. By then, the eldest son had long since stopped giving money to Lin Cuilan, and he even came back with some things just for this matter. Lin Cuilan finally softened her heart and gave them one of the apartments. The remaining two apartments were given to the youngest son, who was always full of filial piety. She divided the money equally with her youngest son and daughter.

Who knew that after she had almost gotten all the money, both her son and daughter would turn against her, leaving her in such a situation!

In this life, they won’t even be able to touch it, and won’t even be able to know it!