Chapter 83: Su Ruan Has Jiang Family Backing, What About You?

Wen Bin, exhausted, rubbed the bridge of his eyebrows and sat on the chair: "What's the matter?"

"I was thinking, our family survives only on your salary, life is tight, and look at Su Ruan and the others…"

She hadn't finished speaking when Wen Bin's brows immediately knit, clearly extremely averse to the mention of Su Ruan.

She quickly changed her tone and said, "I mean, I also want to run a small business myself to supplement the household."

"Running a business?" Wen Bin was startled, looking at her skeptically, "What kind of business could you run?"

"I think the stall at the school gate that sells fried cakes and sesame balls is doing fine. Don't you know my cooking Handcraft? Making these little snacks is definitely no problem!"

"The best part is the capital is small; I only need a little cart and a stove or pot, that's enough," Su Yanhua said more excitedly, "Use this month's salary as seed money, and when I earn money…"

"Nonsense!" Wen Bin abruptly cut her off, his face darkening, "You're a teacher's family member, going to the school gate to set up a stall selling snacks? What does that look like! Where should I put my face?"

"How could I be bringing you shame?" Su Yanhua, hearing that, also flared up, "I earn money with my own Handcraft, openly and honestly! It's better than some people who have high expectations but low ability, living off free meals at home!"

"You!" Wen Bin's face turned a sickly green with anger, "If I say no, it's no! You stay obedient at home, that's better than anything! Stop daydreaming about nonsense!"

The couple's quarrel drew Liu Mother, who was busy in the kitchen.

Liu Mother, wearing an apron with flour still on her hands, walked in with a stern face: "What are you arguing about? I heard your shouting from far away! Wen Bin just got off work; can't we give him a moment of peace?"

Su Yanhua, still angry, felt even more aggrieved when her mother‑in‑law entered, and said to Liu Mother, "Mom, you came at the right time, please judge this!"

"I thought of running a small business to supplement the household, and Wen Bin says I'm embarrassing him! I'm doing this for the good of the family, aren't I?"

When Liu Mother heard the words "run a business," her sharp eyes instantly scanned Su Yanhua, the corner of her mouth twitching with undisguised contempt.

"Run a business? You? Yanhua, it's not Mom saying this; look at yourself—are you that material?"

She didn't wait for Su Yanhua to retort, firing off like a rapid volley, "Su Ruan opened a shop; she has the skill, can draw plans, and has the Jiang Family's backing."

"What about you? What can you do? Besides arranging those few meals, what else can you manage? Still want to set up a stall?"

"Exposed to wind and sun, squeezed among those petty vendors, haggling, covered in greasy smoke!"

"If Wen Bin's colleagues or students saw it, what would they think? Our Liu family can't afford such disgrace!"

Liu Mother's words were like poisoned needles, each one piercing the most sensitive, fragile spot in Su Yanhua's heart.

What she hated most was being compared to Su Ruan, and what she feared most was being looked down upon.

"Why can't I be that material?!" Su Yanhua's voice sharpened, her chest heaving wildly, "Su Ruan can do it, why can't I? What's wrong with setting up a stall? Earning money with my own hands is better than some people who rely on their in‑laws to flaunt power!"

"You are overstepping!" Liu Mother slammed the table, flour scattering from her hand, "Su Yanhua! How can you speak like that? Who is flaunting power?"

"Our Liu family has mistreated you, right? We provide you food and clothing, and you still turn out to be a treacherous wolf?!"

She pointed at Su Yanhua's nose, her tone extremely harsh: "I'm telling you, you want to go out and embarrass yourself—no way!"

"Stay at home honestly, take good care of Wen Bin, and have a grandson for our Liu family soon—better than anything!"

"Stop dreaming with a heart higher than the sky and a fate thinner than paper; just make realistic dreams!"

"Mom! You…"

Su Yanhua trembled with anger, tears swirling in her eyes, the overwhelming sense of humiliation and helplessness nearly drowning her.

She looked at Wen Bin as if pleading, but saw him turn his face away irritably, clearly tacitly agreeing with his mother's words.

In that moment, Su Yanhua felt a chill run through her whole body.

In this household, she has always been an outsider.

Her thoughts, her efforts, in the eyes of her mother‑in‑law and husband, are merely embarrassing and unrealistic dreams.

"Fine… fine! You Liu family are lofty, and I am lowly!"

"Alright! I accept!"

She shouted that line with a sob, turned and rushed into the bedroom, slammed the door shut with a bang, and collapsed onto the bed, crying bitterly.

Outside the door, Liu Mother's dissatisfied scolding could still be heard faintly: "…look at her like that! Wen Bin, I told you from the start…"

Su Yanhua buried her face in the quilt; the more Liu Mother belittled her, the more she stewed up a surge—

She was determined to achieve something, to show those who despised her!

Su Yanhua lay on the bed, tears soaking the pillowcase, while Liu Mother's scolding from outside and Wen Bin's silent attitude were like blunt knives repeatedly cutting into her self‑esteem.

"…I told you from the start this girl's mind is restless, not obedient!"

"Look, she's only been settled for a few days, already thinking of running away, still wanting to set up a stall! Do we still need the Liu family's reputation?"

Liu Mother's voice, through the door panel, remained clear and harsh.

"Mom, could you say a little less?"

Wen Bin's voice carried exhaustion and impatience, yet contained no hint of defending her.

"Did I say something wrong? Wen Bin, you're a teacher; you must watch your influence!"

"If she keeps messing around like this and someone recognizes her, how will your students and colleagues view you? How will the superiors view you? Do you still want to pursue a promotion?"

"Promotion…" those three words were like a tightening curse, instantly making Wen Bin shut his mouth completely.

Su Yanhua listened to the sounds outside, her heart sinking bit by bit into a valley, a cold emptiness spreading.

She finally understood completely that in this household, her feelings and thoughts mattered not at all; what mattered was Wen Bin's future and the Liu family's reputation.

And she was merely an accessory that maintained that reputation and future, a tool best kept obedient, without any personal ideas.

A huge despair and a reckless, broken‑jar determination surged up together.

The more they forbade her, the more she insisted on doing it!

Not only to do it, but to make a show of it!

She refused to believe that without the Liu family, Su Yanhua couldn't survive!

In the following days, Su Yanhua seemed to have become a different person.

She no longer mentioned the business, and even ignored Liu Mother's cold sarcasm, silently doing housework, attending to Wen Bin's daily needs, behaving unusually compliant.

She began to secretly save money.

At the same time, she was covertly observing and preparing.

She avoided the direction of Liu Wenbin's school, wandering farther around the textile factory and the machinery plant, observing where the foot traffic was heavy, where stalls were numerous, and which snacks sold quickly.

She secretly noted the designs of those small carts and inquired where stoves and cookware could be bought cheaply.

She even brazenly pretended to be a customer, striking up conversation with the vendors selling fried cakes, when in fact she was there to steal a master.

"If you want to buy, buy; if you don't sell, leave quickly. Don't waste my business! You keep asking questions just to buy something—you're not here to steal a master, are you?"