Lu Gu stood by the bed, his eyes curving with amusement. The man on the bed was tall and broad-shouldered, with a straight nose and handsome features. Even with his eyes closed, his brows and eyes exuded charm. Lu Gu grinned and lightly pinched Shen Xuanqing’s nose, then tweaked his ears.
Back when he was the one sleeping, Shen Xuanqing had often woken him up like this. Today, he was returning the favor.
Before long, the man whose earlobe was being pinched opened his eyes. Seeing his smiling fulang by the bed, his handsome face instinctively broke into a grin. He grabbed Lu Gu’s arm and yanked him onto the bed.
His strength was overwhelming. Lu Gu tumbled onto him, then was pinned down by the back and waist, unable to get up. Only his legs and arms flailed uselessly, looking rather comical. Shen Xuanqing burst out laughing. Lu Gu, embarrassed by the undignified fall, felt a flicker of irritation, but with his cheek pressed against Shen Xuanqing’s chest, the deep, rumbling laughter made him chuckle too.
The two of them laughed and wrestled on the bed for a while. Meanwhile, elsewhere, Zhou Yunzhi entered the courtyard, and Wei Lanxiang set aside the small shoes she was making to pour her a bowl of tea.
The two sisters-in-law rarely showed their underlying tensions openly. Their conversation remained polite for a few exchanges.
Ji Qiuyue was cooking in the kitchen. When lunchtime arrived and Zhou Yunzhi walked in, even if she disliked her, she still forced a polite smile. But she didn’t offer to let Zhou Yunzhi stay for the meal. With anyone else - even a non-relative,she would’ve at least extended the courtesy, but this eldest aunt was beyond consideration.
Zhou Yunzhi always carried herself with the dignity of an eldest aunt, but today, she didn’t mind the lack of a lunch invitation. She had other things to say. Noticing the cured meat Ji Qiuyue was slicing, she clicked her tongue. "Living quite well, aren’t you?"
Ji Qiuyue looked up with a smile, playing dumb and not taking the bait.
Zhou Yunzhi’s mouth never rested. She glanced at Ji Qiuyue’s wrist, then at the silver hairpin in her hair, and said sourly, "Your Daqing certainly dotes on his wife. Such a shiny hairpin! Though, I must say, it’s nothing compared to the thick bracelet Guzi wears."
At this, Ji Qiuyue’s smile faded slightly. "There’s no comparison to be made. You’re overthinking it, Eldest Aunt."
Seeing her displeasure, Zhou Yunzhi pressed further. "Fourth boy sold deer and sheep this year, he must’ve made a fortune. Yet all I see are bracelets and satin for Guzi. You all work like oxen tending to the livestock, and what do you get? A pittance. I say, it’s unfair."
[Shen Xuanqing was second in his own family but fourth among all cousins, hence "Fourth boy")
Ji Qiuyue’s smile vanished entirely. She nearly scowled but held back, remembering Zhou Yunzhi’s status as an elder. Forcing a tight smile, she said, "What do you mean by ‘unfair’? To us, we’re all one family. Eldest Aunt, how can we nitpick like that?"
"I’m only looking out for you," Zhou Yunzhi insisted.
"I appreciate your concern, but such words shouldn’t be spoken. No matter how much Shen Xuanqing earns, it’s his hard-earned money. Everyone knows hunting in the mountains is dangerous. Why should I covet his wealth? My Shen Yaoqing may not be the most capable, but he provides our food, clothes, and child’s needs. Why should I envy others?"
Realizing she’d spoken too harshly, Ji Qiuyue softened her tone. "Eldest Aunt, isn’t that the truth? We may be poor, but we have our pride. Didn’t Brother Yutao once say, ‘A man may be poor but not without ambition’? I still remember that."
Zhou Yunzhi, slighted by a junior’s rebuke, was furious. Unlike Ji Qiuyue, she had no reservations about hierarchy. She shot a glare at Ji Qiuyue and stormed out. "Ungrateful fool! Trying to help her get some money, and she acts all high and mighty. Truly hopeless!"
Wei Lanxiang had just returned to the main room after putting away her sewing basket. After exchanging a few words with Shen Yan, she stepped into the courtyard with Zhao'er in her arms—only to see Zhou Yunzhi’s angry face. Startled, she asked, "What’s wrong, Eldest Sister-in-law?"
Zhou Yunzhi shot a venomous look toward the kitchen and sneered, "What could be wrong? You’ve raised such a sharp-tongued daughter-in-law. So clever, yet she can’t even recognize good advice!"
"Eldest Sister-in-law!" Wei Lanxiang called after her, but Zhou Yunzhi ignored her, striding out of the gate and disappearing around the corner.
Ji Qiuyue was equally furious. Though uneducated, she had her pride. She refused to stoop to underhanded schemes or let Zhao’er grow up coveting others’ wealth like some villagers. She dreamed of her son leaving the village, broadening his horizons. Perhaps even becoming a scholar and teaching in town someday.
And here was Zhou Yunzhi, as an elder, stirring discord, trying to paint her as petty and jealous. How could she not be angry?
When Wei Lanxiang learned what happened, she immediately saw through Zhou Yunzhi’s schemes. Fuming, she cursed her as a vile creature.
After fooling around with Shen Xuanqing, Lu Gu finally managed to get up. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he said, "You should get up too. Sister-in-law was cooking when I left."
Rested and refreshed, Shen Xuanqing got out of bed swiftly. Before leaving, he called for Shen Yaoqing, who was digging in the backyard vegetable patch. When the three returned together, they sensed the tense atmosphere at home. Upon asking, they learned it was Zhou Yunzhi’s doing.
"She’s petty. Let’s not stoop to her level," Shen Yaoqing said, unbothered. But seeing his wife upset, he lowered his voice to console her. "Next time I deliver rabbits to town, you come along. I’ll buy you fabric for a new dress and some nice silk flowers. We’ll save up, and by year’s end, I’ll get you a new hairpin."
Ji Qiuyue finally smiled. "Why waste money? This one’s fine."
"Listen to me. Change it for New Year’s, let your sister-in-law envy you for once," Shen Yaoqing teased. With just a few words, he had his wife smiling again.
A simple silver hairpin wasn’t too expensive. Now that he was earning more money, setting aside some for his wife’s new hairpin was manageable. It was an expense, but buying one every two or three years was worth it for her happiness.
Shen Xuanqing and Lu Gu also comforted Wei Lanxiang, finally easing her anger toward Zhou Yunzhi. At lunch, Shen Yaoqing sat with Zhao'er in his arms. Just as he picked up a bite, a warm wetness spread across his thigh - Zhao'er had peed on him. Oblivious, the baby giggled up at him. The whole family burst into laughter, the joy returning at once.
No comments:
Post a Comment