Chapter 236: Chapter 228: Brainwashing
After giving Shou Jizu a good education, the sisters then turned to educate Tian Manlan.
"Man Lan, you’re just too soft-hearted. If it weren’t for Ah Nan, Xinhua, Jian Country and the other kids’ idea, you’d still be soaked in misery right now!"
"Yeah, you have to be more assertive from now on, and not as weak as you were before!"
"Exactly, Daddy and Mama have recognized you again. With so many sisters and brothers backing you up, straighten your backbone. Let’s see who would dare to bully you!"
"Also, just now we sisters told Shou Jizu that we would pool money to build a new house for your family. In front of Shou Jizu, we said it was a loan, and we’ll even draft a loan note, which we will return to you. We don’t need you to repay us the money, but don’t tell Shou Jizu about this. Let him think the family is deeply in debt, men need some pressure. Without it, men know best how to live an easy life."
The most thoughtful was the third sister Tian Manxing, truly a Shanghai daughter-in-law, with very thorough consideration in every aspect, to which the other sisters all agreed repeatedly.
Tian Manlan was so moved that she was in tears and hurriedly refused, saying she did not need the sisters’ money, but the sisters lectured her some more.
"Take what is given to you. Now we sisters are living better than you, we can afford this money. If you really remember our kindness, in the future, you should live more assertively and not be like you were before."
"Look at you, pregnant yet so fond of crying, you better be careful not to cry your eyes blind. Which one are you really like in your temperament? Big Uncle and Big Aunt are such strong characters, and none of us sisters have such a soft temperament. How can our Tian family have someone as delicate as you?"
Tian Manju, the fiercest among the sisters, had no patience for women who cried and whined, and at this moment, she didn’t hold back in scolding Tian Manlan.
The other sisters also took turns educating Tian Manlan, telling her she must not be as pathetic as before. Even if not for herself, she should consider the kids. You’re a mother, if you can’t even protect your own kids, how are you qualified to be a mother?
Tian Manlan kept nodding her head. Although the sisters’ words weren’t pleasant, she knew they were for her own good. If they weren’t family, who would bother to say such offensive things? How could she not understand the sisters’ intentions?
While the sisters were brainwashing Tian Manlan, the brothers-in-law, after listening to their wives, took turns giving Shou Jizu a lesson from a man’s perspective.
"Young brother-in-law, the most crucial thing for us men is to provide for the family. If you can’t even support your family, that’s truly a failure as a man!" said Liu BoGen, the second sister’s husband and head chef of the canteen.
"What do women expect when marrying us men? Isn’t it that a man can provide a roof over their heads and shield them from the wind and the rain? Young brother-in-law, you haven’t been doing well enough in this regard in the past!" said Hu Dingbei, the exemplary husband of the third sister.
"Yes, young brother-in-law, here I, as your brother-in-law, have to say something extra. The duties and responsibilities of being a husband, you haven’t fulfilled them adequately before. You really need to improve in the future!" said Zhao Dongyang, the educator and fifth sister’s husband.
Shou Jizu continued nodding earnestly in agreement, and sincerely promised that from now on he must learn from his five brothers-in-law, learning how to be a good husband. He didn’t expect to master the essence of what the brothers-in-law knew, but if he could learn half as much, he would be very satisfied.
Shou Jizu’s sincere words made the five brothers-in-law feel quite appreciated, each thinking that this young brother-in-law is teachable and that there’s still room for improvement.
Having appeased the five brothers-in-law, Shou Jizu quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed. His brothers-in-law were easier to placate than his sisters. If he had known today’s New Year gathering was going to be a critique session, even if Man Lan cried a river as wide as the Huangpu River, he wouldn’t have come.
But let’s not dwell on Shou Jizu’s belated regrets. On the other side, Tian Sisi and the three Jianguo brothers, upon seeing Shou Jizu’s embarrassed state, all laughed unkindly, with no sympathy for him—after all, Shou Jizu used to be such a scoundrel!
"Sisi, just now I heard a few aunts say that your uncle plans to build a new house this year, what do you think?" Tian Sisi asked Jianguo.
Actually, she also supported the idea of building a new house, since Tian Manlan’s current house was really too small. Not to mention that they would have a new addition this year, Jianguo and his brothers were also growing up, still squeezed into the same room with their parents, which was very inconvenient.
"Even if the aunts hadn’t mentioned it, I was already planning to build a house this year, and I’ve got the money ready."
Shou Jian Country whispered the amount of his savings into Tian Sisi’s ear, startling her. She hadn’t expected that Jianguo, this young man, had quietly saved so much money. He truly was a little household management expert!
"Jianguo, don’t take out your money, let your uncle figure it out. Didn’t the aunts say they would lend money to your family? Let your uncle go borrow it. Later, he’ll be the one to repay it; it’s necessary to put some pressure on him, otherwise he’ll never develop any ambition." Tian Sisi’s thoughts coincided perfectly with Tian Manxing’s.
Jianguo hesitated; he was not very keen on borrowing money. But what Sisi said made sense. How could he not know his own Daddy’s character? Although he has indeed improved a lot, that’s only because he has had tight control at home. If Daddy found out there was this sum of money at home, he wasn’t sure whether Daddy would relapse into his old ways.
Liu Qiqi, who was next to them, saw that Tian Sisi and Jianguo kept talking about money and building a house. She didn’t understand it after listening for a long time, so she asked Tian Sisi what was going on.
Tian Sisi was uncertain whether to disclose the affairs of Jianguo’s family—after all, it was a private matter. While she was hesitating, Jianguo took the initiative to explain the situation with Shou Jizu and also shared his own dilemma about not wanting to borrow money and not wanting Daddy to know he had it.
"That’s easy, give the money you’ve earned to your aunts, and then have your aunts lend the money to your Daddy," said Liu Qiqi, speaking quite shrewdly, treating the matter lightly. Tian Sisi and Jianguo both saw a spark of wisdom; yes, this way they wouldn’t need to borrow money and could still put pressure on Shou Jizu!
"Sister Qiqi, you are so smart!" Tian Sisi did not stint on her praise, and Jianguo looked at Liu Qiqi with admiring eyes, which made Liu Qiqi quite pleased, and she hummed a little proudly.
"You guys can’t think of a simple solution like this, you’re really foolish. If you can’t think of anything in the future, just ask me, I’ll definitely be able to come up with something!" Liu Qiqi boasted broadly.
Tian Sisi and Shou Jian Country both laughed out loud; Liu Qiqi’s current demeanor was too cute—they could almost see a little tail wagging behind her.