Chapter 39 - 14: "It’s Her! It’s Her!

Chapter 39: Chapter 14: "It’s Her! It’s Her!

Mother Gu doted most on Gu Chenghuai, who had left home at a young age. Hearing Changsheng’s mother curse soldiers—and by extension, her son—her face darkened with displeasure.

"Da Zai’s mother is right. People with such low political consciousness really do need to undergo some serious thought reform."

"I’ll go talk to the team leader about this later," she said, grinding her teeth.

Changsheng’s mother’s expression turned to panic.

Mother Gu wasn’t finished. "Whether Da Zai’s mother is hardworking or lazy is the Gu Family’s business. As her mother-in-law, I haven’t said a word, and Chenghuai has no complaints. So, Changsheng’s mother, stop being a busybody meddling in what doesn’t concern you. Why don’t you wipe your own ass first!"

She had vaguely heard that Changsheng’s mother was always badmouthing her third daughter-in-law. She had planned to have a "talk" with her after things settled down, but who knew the woman would only get worse.

Mother Gu had many sons, including a very successful one who was a military officer, which gave her a special status throughout the Fengshou Team.

When she made a complaint, the team leader was sure to take it seriously.

Afterward, Changsheng’s mother was sentenced to two months of shoveling manure and had to copy ideological quotes. This was absolute torture for the illiterate woman, who spent her days clumsily gripping a pen to draw out the characters, so exhausted that she didn’t even have time to listen to gossip.

And because of that, the idle chatter about Lin Zhao in the Fengshou Team died down considerably.

「Meanwhile, at the Su Family’s home.」

Su Yuxian had heard about the commotion by the river. She merely smiled at the news, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

’Lin Zhao is so lucky. Her own family adores her, her in-laws are so protective, and even her children are well-behaved. It’s enough to make anyone jealous.’

Liao Hongjuan looked at Su Yuxian and said in a low voice, "I heard that young man from the Lu Family is coming back soon. You’d better grab this chance. If this marriage falls through, you’ll have to do as I say."

"I know. Yizhou and I have already agreed. We’ll get married as soon as he gets back," Su Yuxian said, lowering her eyes and hiding her emotions.

Liao Hongjuan was quite dissatisfied with her daughter’s attitude. But thinking that she was about to get married, she didn’t scold her harshly like she did when she was a child. Her tone could even be considered gentle.

"Don’t think I’m being harsh, but our family is poor. Your father isn’t very capable, and your two little brothers need money for school and for getting married when they’re older. Your mother just hopes you can marry into a good family and help us out."

"Only when your brothers are well off can you be well off. You know what happens to a married daughter with no family to back her up. I’m doing all this for your own good. You’ll understand once you have kids of your own."

Su Yuxian was somewhat moved. "Mom, I know. As long as I can marry into the Lu Family smoothly, I will help my brothers."

A faint smile appeared on Liao Hongjuan’s worried face. "You’ve been sensible since you were a child. I’m not worried about you."

Aside from the Gu Family’s third son, Gu Chenghuai, Lu Yizhou was the most successful man in the entire team.

He was getting remarried and already had a daughter—a little money pit—but he was a soldier with a monthly stipend. He was some kind of officer, they said, with room for promotion. Once he was promoted, his stipend would be even higher. Lu Yizhou was a hot commodity in all the surrounding villages, with dozens of mothers and aunties keeping an eye on him.

Fortunately, her Yu Xian was clever. She had used the excuse of helping to write and retrieve letters to build a connection with the Lu Family, and she had even won the affection of Lu Yizhou’s mother.

And just like that, the opportunity was at hand.

Su Yuxian pictured Lu Yizhou’s handsome, square-jawed face, and the corners of her mouth lifted. A look of longing filled her eyes.

’I’m already in my twenties, and I’m finally getting married.’

’I’m so hardworking. I’ll definitely have a better life than Lin Zhao!’

Su Yuxian firmly believed it.

-

「Back at the river.」

After Changsheng’s mother scurried away in disgrace, Da Zai and Er Zai squatted back down to continue washing clothes.

Catching sight of the two boys using the laundry soap, Mother Gu and her two daughters-in-law winced. The amount of foam on the clothes was terrifyingly excessive.

’How could they use the soap like that? What a waste!’

Mother Gu called out, "Da Zai, Er Zai, use a little less soap! Your clothes aren’t that dirty."

Huang Xiulan came forward and said to the boys, "How about your auntie washes them for you? You two are being too wasteful. All those suds could wash a whole lot of clothes."

Er Zai looked at his older brother. Da Zai refused, "No, thank you. We’re almost done."

"Then I don’t need help either," Er Zai chimed in. He always followed his brother’s lead.

Huang Xiulan was disappointed but didn’t press the issue, though she couldn’t help but cringe at the waste.

Da Zai and Er Zai were very capable. They rinsed the suds from the clothes, wrung them out, and placed them in the wooden basin. The two of them carried the basin over and looked up at their mother.

"Mom, we’re done," they announced.

"Da Zai and Er Zai are so capable! You’re the best role models for your younger siblings and the sons who give me the least to worry about," Lin Zhao praised them with genuine sincerity.

The two little boys puffed up with pride, their motivation renewed.

Witnessing her third daughter-in-law feeding her grandsons such sweet talk, Mother Gu’s mouth twitched.

’...’ ’That wife of my third son is really something else!’

But as the mother-in-law, she didn’t dare say much. The trouble her own daughter had caused had only just died down, and Mother Gu was afraid Lin Zhao would remember it and start a commotion.

"Let’s head back since you’re finished washing."