Chapter 3

After Blake left for his business trip, I called both sets of parents and told them we'd booked a trip departing from our city.

My father-in-law and mother-in-law immediately told me to book business class flights for them to come from the countryside.

As soon as they walked in, my mother-in-law started grumbling, "Going out to play again, how much money have you even made to be so wasteful?"

My mother-in-law was always like that—loud and incredibly stingy.

After years of being married to Blake, I'd long learned to just let her nagging go in one ear and out the other.

I smiled and pulled my mother-in-law into the house. "Mom, Blake said you two have never traveled before, so this is a chance to send you off! Besides, money's meant to be spent, right?"

My mother-in-law sat down, scrutinizing me. I smiled and showed her my phone. "See, this travel agency is great. My parents go there all the time. No forced sales, the guides are fantastic speakers, their descriptions of the sights are so vivid and engaging. The itinerary is well-planned, and they book five-star hotels."

My mother-in-law glanced at it, clearly tempted. She scrolled through my chat history with the travel agency for a bit, then suddenly looked displeased.

"You've sent your parents off so many times, and we get booked on this little tour?" She looked at me and snorted dismissively. "My son makes so much money, and it all goes to your parents."

I kept a smile on my face. "If one isn't enough, we can add more activities, go to more places, right?"

As I spoke, my father-in-law suddenly stood up, picked up two travel tickets from the coffee table, glanced at them, and immediately got angry. "You booked us a $200 tour, and sent your parents on an $800 one?!"

My mother-in-law snatched the tickets from his hand. After looking at them, she was so furious she stomped her foot, then plopped onto the floor, dramatically slapping her thigh. "Oh, the horror! I thought you were finally being merciful, having a change of heart and wanting to send us on a trip, but I never expected you to book us on this garbage tour!"

I quickly explained, "Blake bought these to support his friend's business. They were special discount tickets, not expensive."

With that, my mother-in-law shoved the two travel tickets into my arms. "Anyway, it's all just travel. We want to go on the $800 one."

"This…" I hesitated. After all, the $800 tickets were bought by Blake.

My mother-in-law immediately burst into a tirade. "You just don't want us to enjoy anything good. You look down on us country folk, don't you? Such a cheap tour, who are you trying to fool?!"

Even my usually quiet father-in-law spoke with a hint of anger now. "We've seen videos online. Cheap tours lock old people in rooms. If you don't buy expensive goods, they don't give you food, water, or even let you use the bathroom. If you want to abuse us, why use such a method?!"

I had no idea how to explain. I pointed to my past chat records with the travel agency. "I've sent my parents on this tour several times; this travel agency is really good."

My mother-in-law swatted my phone to the floor. "Hmph, I don't care. Hurry up and book our flights. We're going to the Northwest."

I picked up my phone, feeling helpless. Seeing my mother-in-law's insistence, I called Blake.

The first call was hung up. Just as I was about to dial again, my father-in-law spoke up. "Don't bother him. A man's busy with work. What are you, a woman, doing, telling him what to do?!"

Having lived with my in-laws for years, I knew how to avoid their temper.

"I just wanted to confirm with Blake."

My father-in-law was impatient. "Does this little thing need confirmation from the man of the house? I've always said a man's place is at work, a woman's place is at home. Women shouldn't interfere when a man is out building his career. Hurry up and book our flights."

My mother-in-law chimed in, "Exactly! It's normal for our Blake to ignore us for a month or two when he's busy. Don't you dare bother him when he's trying to get a promotion."

Stay calm, stay calm. Mother-in-law relations have always been tricky. We only see them twice a year, so I'll just consider this my good deed for the year.

I sighed and had no choice but to open my phone to book flights.

I entered their information, selected tonight's flight, and as I was about to pay, my mother-in-law snatched my phone again.

She suddenly yelled, "Why are you booking us economy class?! That's for the common folk! Our son can afford a house in the big city; how can you make us fly economy?!"

After several rounds of this, I was too tired to argue. If she wanted first class, so be it.

Payment, of course, would be from my husband's bank card.

Only after the tickets were successfully purchased were they satisfied.

"Then I'll postpone the original tour I booked for you. It's just a reservation; you can go any time within a year."

My mother-in-law wasn't happy again. "Don't think I don't know, you just want to subject us to a cheap tour! We're not going. Either refund it, or let your parents go."

Then, my mother-in-law's eyes darted. "Oh, right, just let your parents go on the $200 tour. Let them suffer a bit, and they'll never want to travel again!"

My good intentions were completely wasted on them.

Even though I was used to letting their words go in one ear and out the other, I felt a little angry now.

"Fine, then my parents will go on the $200 tour."