Courtyard House: Drunk and barging into the Xu family's house, I woke up numb.

bang bang bang...

There was a knock on the door. Yu Li got up and opened it. It was none other than her equally scheming mother-in-law, Yang Ruihua.

After Yu Li opened the door and greeted him, she didn't say anything more. Yan Jiecheng could only get up and greet her.

"Mom, why are you here?"

Yan Jiecheng pulled over a stool from the table and let the three women pass.

The third aunt knew that Yu Li was angry, but she didn't hold it against her.

After sitting down, she took out her little notebook for keeping accounts and got straight to the point.

"Boss, your wife should have received her salary this month, right?"

"You haven't paid your living expenses for this month yet. Do I really need to come all the way here to chase you up?"

Yan Jiecheng looked embarrassed upon hearing this.

"Mom, Yu Li just got her salary yesterday. I was planning to give it to you when we had dinner."

"But after my dad did that, he forgot all about it."

The three women opened the ledger and took out a pen.

“Okay, that’s perfect. I’ll come by myself, so you won’t have to make a trip.”

Yan Jiecheng shook his head as he looked at his mother, who was preparing to keep accounts.

"Yu Li, give Mom the money."

Yan Jiecheng was right. They did indeed plan to give the money to Auntie San after dinner, but the scene at the dinner table made her consider separating the family.

However, Yan Jiecheng hadn't agreed to the division of the family property yet, so she had no choice but to pay the money first. After all, she had already eaten, so she should pay the money.

Yu Li reluctantly took out the fourteen yuan she had prepared in advance, placed it on the table, and whispered.

"Please make a selection."

The third woman took the money, counted it once, and frowned slightly. She counted it again to make sure she hadn't miscounted before looking at Yu Li and asking.

"Yu Li, I remember you've been working for three years now, right?"

"Shouldn't we be paid the standard rate of twenty-five yuan per month this month?"

“Your monthly food allowance is five yuan, leaving you with twenty yuan. If you hand over half of that, that's ten yuan.”

"If that's the case, you should give me fifteen yuan, you're still one yuan short."

Yu Li thought to herself, "These old couple are really as shrewd as monkeys; they can't leave out any debts."

"Mom, you remember so clearly, but our company's pre-New Year's wages were calculated according to the original standards."

"The 25-yuan salary only started this month. If you want to charge an extra dollar, you'll have to wait until next month."

The third aunt was not discouraged when she heard this. She picked up the fourteen yuan on the table and said.

“Next month it won’t be fourteen yuan anymore. Your dad and I have discussed it, and starting next month, your allowance will be the same as Jiecheng’s, ten yuan a month.”

"So, starting next month, you will have to pay seventeen dollars and fifty cents every month, which is equivalent to twenty dollars and fifty cents every month."

As soon as the third aunt finished speaking, Yu Li stood up abruptly, disregarding the issue of whether she was an elder or not, and directly objected.

"No, I don't agree! It was supposed to be five yuan, how could it suddenly increase like that!"

Yan Jiecheng's current monthly salary is 31 yuan. After deducting 10 yuan for living expenses, he hands over half of the remaining 21 yuan, and finally receives 10 yuan and 5 mao.

Before Yu Li got a raise, they could save 19.5 yuan a month. After deducting miscellaneous expenses, they would only have 10 yuan left each month.

Yu Li's salary has increased by two yuan, from twenty-three to twenty-five, but their disposable income has decreased from nineteen yuan and fifty cents to eighteen yuan.

Based on this calculation, after deducting daily expenses, they can't even save ten yuan a month.

Instead of saving more money after her salary increase, Yu Li actually lost money. How could she accept such an outcome?

The third aunt had anticipated Yu Li's reaction, and she said calmly.

"It's okay. If you feel it's unfair for you to pay our living expenses, then cook for yourselves."

"You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household. You'll know once you try it yourselves. Is ten yuan a lot or a little too much for each of you?"

“We’re not trying to make money off you, but you can’t expect your dad and me to put money into this every month.”

"I've already given you the accounts. If you agree, we'll start calculating them this way from next month."

"If you don't agree, after you finish eating this month's meals, you'll have to figure out your own meals on the first of next month."

"Whether you cook at home or eat out, we don't care. Do whatever you want, eat however you like!"

Chapter 208 The Battle Between Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law Begins; What a Backstab! [Please Subscribe]

The third aunt's words were the final straw that broke the camel's back, directly igniting Yu Li's anger.

"Mom, what do you mean by that? Do you think we ate too much and took advantage of you?"

"Before Yan Jiecheng got married, he handed over all his salary and had to report to you about every penny he spent."

“After I married Jiecheng, you all wanted us to hand over our salaries.”

"After further discussions, you agreed that we would have to pay living expenses monthly and hand over half of our remaining wages."

“Jie Cheng and I started paying 24 yuan a month, but last year we had to pay 34.5 yuan a month.”

"Now you're asking us to pay thirty-eight yuan every month. Do you think that's reasonable?"

“We’re the only two people earning money to support our family, and we haven’t complained about that. But now you’re arguing with us about the cost of food.”

"If you ask me, you're not here to beg for money, you're here to kick me out of the Yan family!"

"Fine, it seems I can't afford to eat at your Yan family's place. Can I go back to my parents' house to eat instead?"

The third aunt thought Yuli would be angry and object, but she didn't expect her to say such harsh words.

All she wanted was to collect more money; she had no intention of kicking Yu Li out.

It's even more impossible for Yu Li to go back to her parents' home; her son would never agree to it if she did.

More importantly, if she goes back, she definitely won't get her salary anymore, which would be a huge loss.

"Yu Li, you're wrong about that. We have to speak from the heart. When did I ever say I wanted to kick you out?"

“You are the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yan family, a member of the Yan family. I treat you like my own daughter.”

"As for the living expenses, that's only right. You used to earn a low salary, so we made you pay five yuan."

"Now that you're earning more each month, shouldn't I make you pay ten yuan like Jie Cheng?"

"With the food we eat at home, including fish, meat, and steamed buns, five yuan a month isn't even enough to cover our costs. I have to pay out of pocket every month."

"If you don't believe me, you can check the accounts yourself and see if I'm lying."

The third aunt put the ledger directly on the table and pointed at it.

“Your dad can bring back thirty-one yuan a month, and with the money you pay each month, it's only sixty-five yuan.”

"There are seven people in our family. Each person's average monthly living expenses are eight yuan. Seven times eight is fifty-six yuan. We can't even save ten yuan a month."

"Ten yuan is hardly enough to cover the daily expenses of seven people in the family. If it weren't for your father and me splitting every penny in two..."

"In addition, I earn a little pocket money by pasting cardboard boxes every month, and our whole family would have to starve."

"In comparison, you two can still save more than ten yuan each month."

“Other people’s children hand over all their wages before separating from the family, unlike you who only hand over half. This is already a great deal of leniency.”

The aunt was right, but Yu Li had her own ideas; she didn't want to endure this any longer.

"tolerant?"

"We shouldn't be so lenient with each other."

"You call her your own daughter? Aren't you ashamed of yourself? I've never seen you ask Jie Di to pay any money!"

The three women were now unsure what to do. What did the eldest daughter-in-law mean?

"Yu Li, what do you mean by that? Jie Di is still a child. How can I ask her for money?"

"Don't worry, once she grows up and starts working, I'll still make her pay for her living expenses!"

"Even if it were Jiefang or Jiekuang, I wouldn't show favoritism to either of them if they were on duty."

Yu Li stopped beating around the bush and directly stated her thoughts.

"Mom, those are your daughter and your son. You can take them back however you want. I don't care."

"I just want to tell you one thing: Jie Cheng and I are married. Jie Cheng has been contributing his salary to the family for six years since he started working, which is quite a lot."

"So, starting next month, we'll manage our own salaries, so you won't need to worry about it."

“From now on, we’ll each go our own way and live our own lives behind closed doors. You can come back and talk to us about the future after you’ve collected six years’ worth of wages from the second, third, and fourth brothers.”

Yu Li's words startled the third aunt, who stared at Yu Li with wide eyes and asked.

"Yu Li, are you suggesting we separate the family?"