Chapter 1388: Look Out For Yourself
In all the years since she had married into the Han family, she had only given birth to a daughter. If Han Shu had not protected her all these years, she would have been chased out of the family long ago.
She was treated like a slave in the family. In any area that Han Shu could not see, her in-laws would find a way to make her life difficult. How could she possibly have anything good to eat?
Han Jing sighed as she looked at Wang Xiaoqin’s thin body. “Sister-in-law, you have to work hard to obtain the life you want. Don’t be so passive and wait for others to give it to you. My older brother is a good man, but he is still a man, and he doesn’t pay attention to details. Besides, there’s no one to teach him. He cannot possibly take care of you in every respect.”
Wang Xiaoqin was taken aback, and then immediately panicked. “I… I didn’t say that your older brother is not a good man. He’s very good. He’s very good to me too…”
To be fair, Han Shu was very protective of her. If not for him, she did not know what her life in this family would be like.
Han Jing hurriedly explained, “That’s not what I meant. Sister-in-law, I’m just trying to tell you that you can have a better life. You have to look out for yourself and Little Yu. She’s just a child. Look at how thin she is.
“My parents are so harsh towards us, their own children, much less you, a daughter-in-law whom they find unsatisfactory. So you mustn’t feel sad. You should focus on Elder Brother.
“Right now, Elder Brother is the main pillar of support in the family. He’s your husband and very strong-willed. You must pay more attention to him and coax him so that Little Yu can have a bigger share. He will only notice certain details if you point them out. If his wife and child don’t make any fuss, you cannot expect my elder brother to notice the injustices you suffer after he spends all day working to support the family and dealing with his parents’ prejudices.”
Wang Xiaoqin was stunned. She had never thought of all these.
“I… What should I do? Your older brother is… already very good!”
…
“It’s true that he is very good, but do you notice that he is fighting this battle alone? In our family’s oppressive atmosphere, aren’t you afraid that he will give up after too long?”
Wang Xiaoqin really did not know how to reply.
Han Jing said, “My parents have been like that for many years. You also understand that they are utterly dismissive of Elder Brother because he has no sons. To them, everything that is Elder Brother’s actually belongs to Younger Brother. Elder Brother should sacrifice everything to support his younger brother. They say Elder Brother will have no support in his older age. Because of their mentality, they are always telling Elder Brother that his future is hopeless.
“But you actually have your own family and a good daughter. The two of you are so diligent. Your lives should be improving. When you’re young, you should raise your daughter properly and have a better life you can enjoy. Then in the future, you can see your daughter married in dignity.
“Let Little Yu go to school, and perhaps she can be like me in the future. She can attend a prestigious university and marry a good man. She has no brothers to support her, surely you want to prepare a dowry for her?”
Wang Xiaoqin had not thought about all these. For years, she had been despised because she could not bear a son. She had no say in anything. Of course she had not considered her daughter’s future.
She had no basis for considering it.
So when Han Jing said all these to her, she was at a loss.
Han Jing sighed when she saw Wang Xiaoqin’s expression.
Actually, her sister-in-law was a very nice person, but her parents were too difficult to deal with. After so many years, her sister-in-law had grown numb to the oppression.