What kind of family would ask for favors from the bride’s family at a wedding banquet?

Arranging a job would be too easy for Zhou Wenbang… but Mother Yuan’s sudden demand was a terrible move if she wanted Zhou Wenbang to agree reluctantly.

Xia Xiaolan had thought today’s wedding banquet was a bit bland – turns out the drama was saved for last.

Zhou Wenbang wasn’t easy to deal with; Xia Xiaolan could tell Yuan Han was in trouble.

Yuan Han reacted quickly:

“Mom, why are you bringing this up now!”

This wasn’t his idea; Yuan Han wasn’t that impatient.

But Mother Yuan didn’t think she’d done anything wrong. They had the marriage certificate, and held the banquet – Yuan Han was now the Zhou family’s son-in-law.

What logic was there in having a son-in-law without a job when his father-in-law was a high-ranking official?

Mother Yuan deliberately asked in front of the Zhou family relatives to make it hard for Zhou Wenbang to refuse.

The Zhou relatives exchanged glances, but Zhou Wenbang seemed prepared, and even Jiang Hong wasn’t particularly angry.

Zhou Wenbang didn’t address Mother Yuan at all – to avoid accusations of bullying – and spoke only to Yuan Han:

“Yuan Han, your mother says your family emptied their savings to prepare for the wedding. In front of everyone here, let me ask you – did I force you to buy the things I required for Zhou Yi’s marriage? Did the Yuan family ever mention that the four major items and other things exceeded your family’s means? Back then, Zhou Yi herself agreed, and you promised, patting your chest, that you’d prepare the four major items within half a month to marry Zhou Yi.”

Zhou Wenbang didn’t need to say more.

Yes, the items were prepared in half a month, so why cry poverty at the wedding banquet?

What would people think?

Without cursing, Zhou Wenbang’s few sentences had Yuan Han sweating profusely:

“Please don’t be angry. Whatever was needed for the wedding, I agreed to it myself. Xiaoyi is the precious daughter you and your Mother-in-law raised with such care – how could I let her suffer with me? Naturally, I couldn’t let her standard of living drop after marriage.”

Zhou Yi also felt her mother-in-law was too hasty.

“Dad-“

Her father was being ridiculous, arguing with an unsophisticated housewife.

Zhou Wenbang sneered:

“Let’s not discuss the four major items for now. If the Yuan family is unsatisfied, bring the receipts – I, Zhou Wenbang, will pay for them myself. As for your job, Yuan Han, you and your family know very well how you lost it, don’t you?”

Zhou Yi blushed.

Yuan Han was speechless.

Getting him transferred back to his hometown was Zhou Wenbang’s doing.

But being fired was because Yuan Han had been absent from work without reason for days.

At that time, he and Zhou Yi were hiding in a remote countryside, not going to work. The Yuan family had kept their whereabouts secret, so naturally, when his workplace couldn’t find him, they fired him.

When Zhou Wenbang brought this up publicly, Yuan Han could hear the anger hidden in his words.

It was during that time that he got Zhou Yi pregnant… How could Zhou Wenbang not be angry?

“It was just my mother being anxious. Her words were inappropriate – I apologize on her behalf.”

Yuan Han was willing to lose face, and Zhou Wenbang’s expression softened slightly:

“Since your mother asked about your work arrangements, I have an idea – tell me if it’s acceptable. Zhou Yi has a job, but she’s pregnant now. This girl has never experienced hardship; you promised so firmly to take good care of her – surely you can’t just talk the talk? I’m thinking you don’t need to rush back to work now. Wait until after you’ve taken care of Zhou Yi and she’s had the baby.”

What?

Have Yuan Han stay at home to care for a pregnant woman?

Xia Xiaolan almost choked on her water – this move by Zhou Wenbang was truly brilliant.

The Zhou relatives all wanted to laugh.

Mother Yuan was dizzy with anger.

Mother Yuan had never heard of a grown man staying home to care for his pregnant wife!

Every woman gets pregnant and has children – was Zhou Yi’s pregnancy especially precious?

Mother Yuan wanted to jump up and object, but the Yuan sisters held her back forcefully – if she said anything more, Yuan Han would suffer!

Among everyone present, perhaps only Zhou Yi was happiest.

She had wanted to spend more time with Yuan Han anyway, so her father’s requirement was considerate. During her pregnancy and childbirth, Yuan Han would take care of her, making their relationship even closer.

As for Yuan Han’s career being delayed for over a year, Zhou Yi didn’t take it seriously.

After she had the baby, having her family arrange a better job for Yuan Han would be effortless!

“Yuan Han, just listen to our dad…”

Zhou Yi kept giving Yuan Han meaningful looks.

Yuan Han’s feelings were too complicated at this moment.

He was ambitious but lacked connections and background, which was why he wanted to marry a wife from a good family.

Now he realized that while Zhou Yi was simple-minded, the Zhou family wasn’t easy to please.

Being the Zhou family’s son-in-law meant having to bow his head – Yuan Han was mentally prepared for this.

But when Zhou Wenbang directly told him not to work and to stay home to care for Zhou Yi during her pregnancy, Yuan Han still felt deeply humiliated… But circumstances forced his hand, so Yuan Han smiled and agreed:

“I’ll do as you say. I’ll learn how to take care of a pregnant woman and ensure Xiaoyi has a safe delivery.”

Such endurance under humiliation.

Xia Xiaolan thought Yuan Han might endure now, but who knows how he’ll take revenge on the Zhou family in the future. So Zhou Wenbang was right – never let Yuan Han rise.

Whether man or woman, one only has so many years of peak energy for struggle. After a few more similar incidents, Zhou Wenbang could effectively ruin Yuan Han.

Yuan Han agreed to Zhou Wenbang’s requirement.

Mother Yuan was so angry she didn’t eat a bite.

She had no energy left for drama, and the wedding banquet ended hastily.

Throughout the entire event, only Zhou Yi was happy.

As Xia Xiaolan was leaving, she heard Mother Yuan arguing shrilly with the restaurant staff about the bill:

“Over a hundred yuan per table – what are we eating, dragon liver and phoenix brain?”

Dragon liver and phoenix brain for just over a hundred per table – what a lovely dream.

The restaurant staff explained patiently, “This price includes cigarettes, alcohol, and tea per table. The liquor is Maotai, the cigarettes are Zhonghua, plus wedding candies and cakes…”

These items should have been prepared by Jiang Hong, but since she’d even skimped on buying bedding, she simply had the restaurant handle the purchases.

It was just a matter of 400 yuan in total, but Mother Yuan argued with the staff. Zhou Yi felt embarrassed, and when Zhou Wenbang’s eyes swept over, Yuan Han’s heart raced, and he quickly paid the money.

Now Yuan Han was truly out of money.

Fortunately, Zhou Yi’s dowry could help them get by.

Zhou Yi followed Yuan Han to their new home. The small courtyard was quite tidy, with newly whitewashed walls and checked roof tiles. The house was furnished with new furniture and appliances, not much different from Zhou Yi’s conditions at her parents’ home.

Zhou Yi was fairly satisfied.

The two Yuan sisters entered the house smiling:

“Xiaoyi, you’re pregnant – shall we help you make the bed?”

Zhou Yi, this simpleton, didn’t realize they wanted to see her dowry and happily agreed.

People say mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships are difficult, as are sister-in-law relationships, but Zhou Yi didn’t feel it at all. Yuan Han’s two sisters seemed nice, and though her mother-in-law lacked sophistication, she still showed concern for Zhou Yi’s comfort.

The Yuan sisters helped unpack the dowry.

Two new quilts, a washbasin, a thermos, and… huh, that’s all?!

Elder Sister Yuan spoke frankly: “Xiaoyi, did you leave some things at your parents’ home?”