Chapter 115: The Vicious Mother-in-Law’s Affection – 6

After the Zhang parents returned home, they couldn’t stop questioning Zhang Ruiran. “Did you save your future mother-in-law’s life in a past one or something? Good grief, she dotes on you even more than we do.”

Zhang Ruiran shook her head, looking just as bewildered. “I thought she spoiled me before, but now I’m realizing her affection has gone to a whole new level.”

Mother Zhang spoke with a sense of relief. “It’s for the best. If you get along with your mother-in-law, a woman’s life is already halfway to being easy. Even though mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships are much better in today’s society than they used to be, who doesn’t want a smooth life? The fewer difficult people you have to deal with, the better. You really are lucky…”

Zhang Ruiran felt the same way. She truly was lucky!

The Zhang Family relatives were all curiously prying, trying to find out how much the groom’s side had given for the bride price. When they heard Mother Zhang rattle off a never-ending list of items, their hearts felt like they were soaking in sour lemons. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

“So what are you giving as a dowry? Since they’ve been so thorough, our Zhang Family can’t afford to fall short!” These words were clearly intended to stir up trouble.

Just then, Mother Zhang’s phone rang with a video call.

“Mom, look at this gold jewelry. Is it pretty? This one is called ‘Phoenix in Bloom,’ and this one is ‘Eternal Joy’… Aren’t they all beautiful?”

On the screen, Zhang Ruiran was draped in gold, looking like a literal golden tree.

Ren Xin said cheerfully, “Don’t you think she looks beautiful, Mother Zhang? Our girl is just stunning; everything looks good on her.”

Mother Zhang beamed as she looked closely, repeatedly praising Ren Xin’s taste. She didn’t even know which one to choose.

Ren Xin spoke with the bluntness of the nouveau riche. “We’ll buy them all! She can wear whichever one she feels like in the future!”

All the Zhang Family relatives gaped in shock. This woman was far too wealthy!

Then again, word was that the bride price alone was fifty million, and that didn’t even include the cars and the house! That was fifty million, not fifty thousand. It was an amount an ordinary person couldn’t save in ten lifetimes, yet she had everything just by getting married.

How did Zhang Ruiran get so lucky? She used to be just an ordinary girl, so how did she suddenly fly up the branch and become a phoenix?

After Zhang Ruiran and Ren Xin finished dinner, Ren Xin’s “little classroom” went into session.

“Ruiran, don’t think of me as your mother-in-law right now. Just think of me as… a best friend. I want to share some heartfelt words with you.”

Zhang Ruiran looked as solemn as if she were attending an end-of-year board meeting. “Auntie, please, go ahead!”

“Regarding Ruihang… and I’m not just bragging because he’s mine, he really is a wonderful boy. Your uncle passed away early, and although he left behind a lot of money, there are many things in this world that money can’t fix. Your uncle protected me very well; I never had to experience the deception and schemes of the business world. I have self-awareness. Back then, Ruihang was still young, so I could only sell all the shares in your uncle’s company. I took that large sum of cash and put it all into commercial housing and storefronts. I suppose I was lucky; I caught the right trend at the right time, and I managed to build up a bit of wealth.

“After that, I lived only for Ruihang. Back then, I couldn’t let go. I felt like my son was the apple of my eye, and I watched him every second. He was sensible; he understood my hardships and my fears, and he was exceptionally well-behaved.

“He continued to accommodate me for a long time, until the day he told me, very formally and nervously, that he was in love.

“My first reaction was a feeling that my son was moving away from me. Then, I realized that I was the one who was sick. I told myself I loved him dearly, but I was still using motherly love to bind him, to the point where he had to be cautious even when telling me he liked someone. I am trying to exit his life gracefully and hand him over to you, so that I can finally be myself. Not someone’s mother, not someone’s daughter-in-law, and not someone’s wife—just myself.

“Ruiran, I like you very much, but I love my son more. I hope you won’t hurt him.”