115 Tradition 3 (1/2)

Standing to the other side of the young Mrs. Lin was a woman whom Xiu Ling assumed was Lin Kang's grandmother. She could spot the resemblance between Elder Lin and the woman. While the physical features appeared unassuming on Elder Lin, they were emphasized by the lines on the elder woman's face. They seemed to be the result of a constant scowl on the woman's face.

Even though everyone in the photo had dressed up for the occasion, Mrs. Lin's mother-in-law had taken it one step too far. She was wearing a cheongsam but the linings were shining with gold threads and the embroidery on it was shimmering. It was truly a statement piece, it was as if she was afraid that people did not know she came from money.

Mrs. Lin's mother-in-law wore her perpetual scowl like a badge of honour. Even in the family photo, while everyone was smiling, the little Lin Kang excluded, the woman could be seen maintaining her signature scowl while leveling a side-eye at Mrs. Lin.

Perhaps she was unsatisfied that Mrs. Lin couldn't make Lin Kang behave during the photo, perhaps she was unsatisfied that Mrs. Lin came to the photo dressed so commonly, perhaps she was simply unsatisfied with her daughter-in-law, in any case, the photo definitely did not capture Mrs. Lin's mother-in-law in a good mood.

Seeing the picture, Xiu Ling had a chill run up her spine because the disapproval on the face of Mrs. Lin's mother-in-law was one that she saw often on her own mother-in-law. It was as if history was repeating itself.

Xiu Ling put the picture frame down and commented, ”She sure is pretty, and mother, you have not changed at all from the picture.” Even though she did not really feel that way, it was the socially appropriate thing to say.

Xiu Ling turned to glance at her mother-in-law and she realized Mrs. Lin was not even listening to her. She sat in bed with a faraway look in her eyes. Xiu Ling wondered what was on her mother-in-law's mind but she did not probe. She just picked up her slack and continued cleaning.

The mention of the picture and everything brought Mrs. Lin back in time. Gosh, she hated that woman.

When she married her husband, Elder Lin's career had just taken off. He was needed elsewhere practically all the time and he was never home. In his place though was the stacks of money that kept getting higher and higher.

They were nouveau riche and there were generally two ways where one would handle this situation. Mrs. Lin came from a modest family before she married Elder Lin and to be honest, she did not need that much money in her life. She was satisfied with what she had.

Of course, no one would say no to more money but she resented those piles of cash because they brought her husband away from her. Mrs. Lin never found the satisfaction of counting money in a home that kept getting larger and emptier.