Chapter 179 - Cui Zhu (1/2)

Chapter 179: Cui Zhu

“I didn’t tell my sister-in-law!” Shi Yumei raised her voice before saying coldly, “Lord, please wake up. This is the Shi Household, not Ren. Those worthless friends of yours——”

“How dare you!” Ren Zhixian exclaimed, interrupting her words as he pointed at her and scolded, “Are you lecturing me? Is this how your family raised you? How dare you talk back to your husband as a wife!”

“You asked and I replied, how is that talking back?” Shi Yumei got angry too.

“Just listen to yourself, if that’s not the case, then what is!” Ren Zhixian slammed the table angrily and coldly said, “Don’t give me all that nonsense! In the end, all of you are just looking down on me with your snobbish eyes. All of you despise me because I’m poor, huh! Wait until I am successful, I will be waiting to see all your faces! Don’t think you’re amazing just because you’ve got some stinky money! If you hate to part with your money, then I won’t demand any from you! Hmph, I’ll go and buy them myself!”

“Lord!” Shi Yumei said angrily, “Which one of them treated you as a friend? If they did, would any of them not know that you are currently lodging with your in-laws? We are already broke; if they truly are your friends, then would they really be concerned about receiving New Year gifts from us?”

Hearing the word “lodging” greatly hurt his pride. It made him feel a sense of inferiority from having to lodge under someone else’s roof and he had a great urge to shout at Shi Yumei with confidence! However, no matter how firm or strong-willed he might be, he was indeed “lodging” at someone else’s house!

And because of that, the shame fueled Ren Zhixian’s anger further. Holding himself back as he disregarded those words, he said, “What do you know? When did I say that my friends are concerned about my New Year gifts? Shouldn’t friends send gifts to one another from time to time? What we are sending are our best regards and not about whether they are expecting gifts or not! This is the relationship among friends! So what’s the meaning behind your family’s intention? Do they hope for me to be cut off from others and not have a single friend?”

Only with those ‘friends’’’ flatteries and fawning did he feel like he was a man and had retrieved a little of his pride as a man, so how could he lose them easily? The more dire the situation he was in——he definitely would not admit his present state. He wanted to put on a strong front to let them remember his good side!

If he were to realize that the only reason why others were fawning over him was because he was foolish and easy to swindle, as well as him being part of the wealthy Shi family, his rage would only become boundless!

“You are one to talk!” Shi Yumei was angry too. She sneered and said, “You always criticize my family without reason. In what way did my family offend you? What you eat, what you wear, what you use, and where you stay, even your books and the concubine who serves you, which of them weren’t provided by my family? How dare you put on airs when you’re enjoying what my family can provide! Let me tell you, since you are so capable, you can take care of your friends yourself. Who are you to instruct my brother? Did you take my brother as your errand boy!”

Shi Yumei glared angrily at him as she let out everything within her heart to her heart’s content. After which, her melancholy vanished and she felt entirely pleasant!

She knew that her husband was a prideful person and ever since returning to the Shi household, she had been following his orders carefully and coaxing him in fear of hurting his pride. She had endured all his whining and complaining about her family and helped fulfil any of his unreasonable requests! But now, she realized that it was all in vain! He would never be considerate towards her intentions. Rather, he became more demanding and harsh! Did he think about how difficult it would be for her who was stuck in between? Even if he was not considerate towards her, she was still his wife, and she did not dare to complain. However, her mother and second brother were innocent, why should they be dragged into his complaints!

“You, you! How dare you!” Ren Zhixian was startled. His face was pale and his fingers trembled as he pointed at Shi Yumei, but no words came out from his mouth.

“Do you and your family think that you are all amazing just because of some stinky money? What a joke!” Ren Zhixian sneered.

“It’s not really anything amazing!” Shi Yumei sneered and said, “But are you not using them?”

“You!” Shi Yumei words shot right at his heart! In his mind, there were only three words swirling inside: How dare her!

“Lord, Eldest Young Mistress! If there’s anything, why not discuss it peacefully? Please don’t fight anymore! It’s inauspicious to do so near the New Year!” Cui Bao took advantage of the fact that she was favored by Ren Zhixian and stepped in to interrupt them when he was cornered by Shi Yumei.

Ren Zhixian snorted. Finally a way out! He brushed his sleeves before throwing one last sentence at Shi Yumei, “I can’t be bothered to argue with you!” He then pulled Cui Bao before storming angrily into his study room.

Shi Yumei’s face turned grave as she stared at the sight of their backs without saying a word.

“Eldest Missy, please calm down!” Cui Zhu signalled for the servants to retreat as she poured a cup of tea and offered it to Shi Yumei.

“Cui Zhu,” Tears dropped unknowingly from Shi Yumei’s eyes as she looked at Cui Zhu and said, “You’ve always been the best to me and we’ve always been the closest! You once begged me not to make you a concubine to the same husband as me, and I promised you. But in the end, I failed to fulfil that! Cui Zhu, I have let you down!”

Shi Yumei could not help but shed tears as she whimpered.

“Eldest Missy!” Cui Zhu’s face was pale and tears gathered in her eyes without any warning. She quickly blinked her tears away before smiling, “Eldest Missy, what are you saying! It’s all in the past now! Besides, Eldest Missy has always been good to this servant. It’s already a blessing that I can serve you for the rest of my life!”

“I have let you down, I’ve really let you down!” Shi Yumei felt even more miserable when she heard Cui Zhu say that. She wiped her tears and said, “I shouldn’t have been lenient! I——”

“Eldest Missy, please don’t say anymore!” Cui Zhu gently shook her head as a faint amount of tears gathered in her eyes.

Shi Yumei let out a long sigh as she held Cui Zhu’s slightly cold hands and said, “Wait until after the New Year, I will speak with Lord and ask him to promote you ****! That way——”

“Eldest Missy!” Cui Zhu’s expression changed. Both her knees weakened and she knelt in front of Shi Yumei, “Eldest Missy, please no! This servant begs of you, this servant does not want that!”