The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead
Chapter 249 - 241: Arguing

Chapter 249: Chapter 241: Arguing

Originally thought two bottles of wine would be enough, but once we got to the uncles and aunts, there was no leaving. They insisted on two cups per person, and even Li Huakun was defeated. We ran out of "wine", so he quickly signaled the two groomsmen behind him with his eyes.

Several regimental and company commanders at the table nearby saw this and wouldn’t let them leave, saying they had plenty at their table. By the time they got to their table, they were fiercely pouring drinks, and the result was predictable.

If it weren’t for Jiang Nanzhou’s decent alcohol tolerance, I reckon he wouldn’t have been able to stand up when it was time to send off the guests.

The little aunts and Mrs. Shen, along with the eldest sister-in-law, were busy gathering pots and pans to clean up the unfinished meat and dishes. At this time, there was no concern about leftovers; the main thing was not to waste.

Excess food was also packed up to take away, with Aunt Wei and Aunt Gao each taking a fish, while Aunt Liu walked away with a chicken, and Aunt Cuihua got a fish as well.

The groomsmen and bridesmaids were given some sweets and wedding candies by Lu Jingqiu, along with a bottle of wine as a thank-you gift for each.

The remaining little aunt took a duck and a chicken with some leftover dishes.

She, along with Mrs. Shen and the eldest sister-in-law, took a chicken and leftover vegetables back home.

Big Brother Shen and Shen Mu helped Jiang Nanzhou, while Shen Ting and Yuxian supported Grandpa Jiang, and the family got home after three.

The eldest sister-in-law looked at all the braised pork and even the fatty pieces and said, "Jingqiu, you two couldn’t finish all this stuff in a week."

Lu Jingqiu said, "Eldest sister-in-law, let’s just finish all this meat tonight."

Mrs. Shen laughed and said, "We’ve just had a meal; we’ll eat again tonight, and whatever’s left, you can distribute to the neighbors tomorrow, so it doesn’t go to waste."

Lu Jingqiu said, "Mom, do you really have to leave tomorrow?"

Mrs. Shen nodded, "It takes several days to travel, and round trip is almost half a month. Your Uncle Shen, your big brother and sister-in-law, we all have work commitments; we can’t delay any longer."

Shen Ting smiled and said from the side, "Second sister-in-law, do you not want to let us go? If you can’t bear to see us leave, then during the holidays, why don’t you stay in Capital City for a while?"

Big Brother Shen said, "That’s right. Uncle Lu is also over there. If Nanzhou gets any vacation time, the two of you can head back together."

Lu Jingqiu nodded, "Yeah, that’s what I’ve been thinking too."

At this point, Grandpa Jiang and Jiang Nanzhou were both drunkenly asleep upstairs, and even Big Brother Shen, with his red face, couldn’t stay awake and lay down.

As for Shen Mu, his face was a bit red, but he was okay.

Lu Jingqiu laughed and said, "Shen Mu, do you want to take a nap too?"

Shen Mu shook his head, "I didn’t drink much. Your second cousin can really hold his liquor. Even Shang Ze, who is known for his drinking, couldn’t outdrink him, let alone Gao Shu.

This time Gao Shu was plied with quite a bit of drink."

Lu Jingqiu was surprised for a moment. Before, Shen Mu had always called Gao Shu "Ah Shu." Why did he suddenly become so distant? In their previous life, even if they weren’t in the same city, they often kept in touch.

Occasionally, Shen Mu would come over, and the two would drink and chat face-to-face.

Could it be because of her that the two were now drifting apart?

It’s true, after returning from Ten-miles Village, many things had changed.

...

In the Gao family home, Gao Shu had barely been brought back home by Gao Da and was lying in bed, not having rested for a moment, when Xia Lin suddenly drenched him with a basin of cold water, soaking both him and the bedding through and through.

The dousing snapped the disoriented Gao Shu back to some semblance of alertness. He frowned at his wet clothes and the water on the bed, then his gaze shifted to Xia Lin, who was holding the basin, and his brows furrowed with irritation. He darkly said, "Linlin, what are you doing?"

As he spoke, he hurriedly got up, disregarding the wet clothes clinging to his body, and began to straighten the bedding. Cotton was so expensive these days, once soaked with water, it would no longer be warm.

Xia Lin, seeing how Gao Shu was only concerned with the bed covers, sneered sarcastically and violently threw the enamel basin onto the ground, making a piercing noise.

Gao Shu was somewhat displeased and turned to question her, "What are you playing at?"

Xia Lin snorted lightly, her voice laced with mockery, "Watching the woman who once chased after you get married must leave a bad taste, doesn’t it? Drowning your sorrows in alcohol, what’s the matter? Regretting it now? Regretting that you married me?"

Gao Shu’s actions paused, and he turned to look at his wife, who had always spoken of eternal love and vows with him, incredulous that she would say such things.

After scrutinizing her for a few seconds, the fury in his eyes turned into mockery as well, "Hmph, Xia Lin, I can’t help but feel you’re trying to beat me to the punch by accusing me first. From the very beginning to the end, I haven’t even looked Lu Jingqiu in the eye once. Whatever I am now, I’m open and upright, with nothing to be guilty of.

But you, ever since Jiang Nanzhou first visited Ten-miles Village, your eyes seem to have been revolving around him. Talking about repaying a debt of a life saved—what I see is you deliberately getting close to him.

Yes, I’m not as handsome as he is, I don’t have his brute strength, nor his successful career. Women, isn’t that what you like? You said I have regrets, but it seems to me that the one full of regrets is you."

Ever since you got into university, I’ve noticed you changing. You used to be so virtuous, magnanimous, and cheerful—once you got here, you stopped respecting elders, played tricks on my uncle’s family, and secretly did business with my Fourth Brother behind my back, which resulted in him suffering a huge loss alone while you took the money as if it was all due to you. Then you even encouraged others to frame Jingqiu.

From beginning to end, you’ve only thought of yourself, never once considering my feelings. Before doing all these things, have you ever thought about me, a member of the Gao family, how am I supposed to face my relatives, my friends, my neighbors?

Did you ever think about it? If you had considered my feelings even the slightest, I wouldn’t have ended up being force-fed alcohol until I couldn’t breathe.

I’ve lost face in front of my friends, been bullied like this, and you didn’t care; instead, you still come to question me.

Xia Lin, you’re becoming more and more of an enigma to me."

Xia Lin listened to his string of doubts and questions, her face pale as she took a step back, "You say I don’t care about your dignity, that I don’t think for you.

Ha... haha, that’s laughable. If I didn’t consider you, if I didn’t think about our home, would I have worked so hard to get into university? Would I have disregarded the shabbiness here and chosen to live with you? Would I have traveled all the way north to Yangcheng City in the scorching heat, going through months of hardships to sell goods?

What was all that for if not to be independent of our parents, not to live with some pride, to have our own money and not have to grovel and borrow from others when in need?

While you’re questioning me, have you ever considered what you’ve done for the family over these two years?

All you know is to act aloof and like an intellectual, putting on airs of integrity. Are these intangible things more important than reality?

Let’s talk about having a child, have you thought about my university studies while pregnant? Have you considered who would take care of the baby, how much to pay a nanny, and whether you could trust the person we hire? After the baby is born, how will I nurse the child when I’m at school all day, and we’ll certainly need formula, where’s the money for that coming from?

Have you even thought about these practical matters?

You say I don’t respect the elders, but why don’t you look at how Aunt Gao treats me, what sort of attitude your sisters-in-law have toward me? Where were you when I was being picked on by them?

You accuse me of tricking your Fourth Brother, but why don’t you acknowledge that I painstakingly made those clothes stitch by stitch? You say I like Jiang Nanzhou, but you never considered that he saved your wife’s life.

Moreover, knowing full well that I have issues with Lu Jingqiu, knowing the kind of relationship you have, why did you still go to her wedding today? It would have been enough if you had just gone by yourself, but you even dragged me along. Did you think about the kind of reception we’d get when you brought me along?

You’re outright asking to be humiliated. You say I’m the one who embarrassed you, but since the face has already been lost and you still wanted to go, then it’s of your own doing."