Chapter 14: Unable to Be Thrifty and Manage the Household
On the other side, at the Lin family’s house, Lin Fengmian was fussing about wanting to go to the county town.
Zhou Xiaomei was full of regret; if only she hadn’t mentioned Shen Qingqing in front of her sister-in-law.
Now, the latter was going to the county town.
And so was Lin Fengmian.
Wasn’t this just looking for trouble?
Patiently and helplessly, she said, “I have to go to work later. If you go to the county town, there will be no one to watch Xiaobao.”
“My brother is on vacation. Let him watch the baby.”
Zhou Xiaomei’s eyes flickered. “Why don’t you go tomorrow instead? Your sister-in-law will give you ten yuan then—you can buy something you want.”
Sending the little sister-in-law to the county town would conveniently avoid meeting Shen Qingqing—a win-win!
Ten yuan was almost half a month’s wage for many people.
Lin Fengmian was tempted for a moment.
But she still shook her head. “I want to go today.”
Zhou Xiaomei was about to have a headache. “You don’t have anything important to do. Why must you go to the county town today?”
“What do you mean I don’t have something important?”
Meeting Shen Qingqing—that was the most important thing.
She had to see what was so special about that woman to have tricked Brother Jiang into marrying her.
Brother Jiang didn’t return home for a visit, probably because of his wife—he didn’t want to face her.
Lin Fengmian thought to herself that she was only sparring with Shen Qingqing.
She wasn’t trying to seduce Brother Jiang or break up their marriage.
So, she was in the right.
No need to feel guilty!
Looking at her sister-in-law’s expression, Zhou Xiaomei knew exactly what she was thinking.
She firmly forbade her from stirring up trouble.
“Those two are a married couple; why are you meddling? If you cause them to divorce, spit alone could drown you.”
Lin Fengmian stiffened her neck. “When did I say I wanted to meddle? Shen Qingqing came to the courtyard. Does she not talk to anyone? Saying a few words to her is considered rebellious and looking for trouble?”
Zhou Xiaomei knew well how stubborn and unreasonable her sister-in-law could be.
If she went to see Comrade Shen, she’d probably make things difficult with sarcastic remarks.
That was Jiang Zhixun’s wife—they would definitely see each other often in the future.
If they ruined their relationship, how could they get along?
Moreover, Lin Fengmian’s intentions were too obvious. If she and Shen Qingqing didn’t get along, outsiders would think she was shamelessly trying to steal Jiang Zhixun.
How could she go on blind dates like that?
How could she ever get married?
“If you never had feelings for Jiang Zhixun, I wouldn’t interfere with you being friends with Comrade Shen, as long as she’s willing. But you should take a good look in the mirror. You grit your teeth whenever you mention Comrade Shen. People who didn’t know you might think she did something wrong to you.”
Lin Fengmian felt her sister-in-law’s words twisting the truth.
Her tone sharpened. “Is she some formidable figure that I have to like her?”
Zhou Xiaomei was momentarily speechless.
She said dryly, “I never said you had to like her. Just get along with a normal attitude—don’t be like you’re sitting on a powder keg, ready to explode at any little thing.”
Lin Fengmian snorted. “I just dislike Shen Qingqing. She dresses flamboyantly and obviously isn’t a thrifty, hardworking woman. I just can’t stand her style; it has nothing to do with anyone else.”
Zhou Xiaomei pressed her temple.
Her sister-in-law already harbored hostility toward Comrade Shen, and now she was accusing her of not being thrifty.
That was clearly prejudice.
No matter how good Comrade Shen was, under such bias, she couldn’t see her virtues!
Besides, Comrade Shen spent her own money—who was anyone else to criticize?
Zhou Xiaomei felt she might vomit blood if this went on.
Not wanting to argue further, she grabbed her bag and left.
“I’m going to work first. You watch Xiaobao. When your brother gets back, talk to him yourself. If he agrees you can go to the county town, then go.”
This was Lin Zhidong’s own sister. Whatever happened, let the siblings sort it out.
Zhou Xiaomei didn’t want to bother anymore.
Lin Fengmian didn’t give her a moment to leave first.
She shoved the baby into Zhou Xiaomei’s arms.
“Take care of your own child. I’m already twenty years old. If I want to go out, I don’t need my brother’s permission.”
“We hired you to help with the baby. I’m going to work now. Why are you making trouble?”
Lin Fengmian hesitated for a moment. “Babysitting also has off days. I’m going to the county town today!”
With that, she went back inside, slung her army green canvas shoulder bag on her back, grabbed her saved allowance and bus tickets, and hurried out the door.
No matter how much Zhou Xiaomei called her, Lin Fengmian didn’t look back.
Lin Zhidong hadn’t come home yet but saw his wife standing downstairs holding the baby, looking anxious.
“At this hour, why haven’t you gone to the cultural troupe?”
Zhou Xiaomei irritably shoved their son into his arms. “It’s your sister. She’s thrown in the towel.”
Lin Zhidong looked confused. “What do you mean?”
“I heard Comrade Shen went to the county town, and she went after her.”
Many times, Zhou Xiaomei really couldn’t understand her sister-in-law’s thoughts.
Shen Qingqing hadn’t provoked her. Even if she liked Jiang Zhixun, she shouldn’t make trouble for her brother’s wife.
If Comrade Shen didn’t warn Xiao Mian, she should be grateful.
But instead, she went to stir things up in front of her!
Lin Zhidong held his son, opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
Finally, he said sternly, “If she dares to mess up, I’ll send her back to her hometown immediately.”
Zhou Xiaomei didn’t want to send her sister-in-law back home.
Taking care of a child wasn’t something to be taken lightly. Although Lin Fengmian was reckless, she had been looking after the baby ever since its full month passed.
The baby hadn’t been hurt once, and she always kept the child clean.
On this matter, Zhou Xiaomei was satisfied.
“Let’s see how things go first. She’s not stupid; she probably won’t break up someone else’s family.”
They were strict about conduct.
Interfering in others’ relationships had severe consequences.
Lin Zhidong thought to himself that Lin Fengmian might not break up others, but she’d find other ways to pick fights with Comrade Shen.
If Comrade Shen felt uncomfortable and didn’t want to stay, Old Jiang would have to live apart from his wife again.
Their relationship already seemed bad.
If they continued to live apart, there would definitely be big problems.
Then Xiao Mian would become the culprit.
He first sent his wife off to work. “I’ll take Xiaobao and go after her.”
“All right, hurry. It’s not too late yet.”
Lin Zhidong nodded. “If she insists on going to the county town, I’ll take her. I could use some ingredients for tomorrow’s guests anyway.”
Zhou Xiaomei was in a rush to get to work and couldn’t care about much else.
With Lin Zhidong there, his sister probably wouldn’t cause a scene.
After kissing her son’s little face, Zhou Xiaomei went to work.
Lin Fengmian took a bus and unexpectedly ran into Jiang Zhixun.
A bright smile spread across her face, and she instinctively wanted to engage him in conversation.
But thinking of Jiang Zhixun as a married man, she forcibly restrained her urge to get close.
Lin Fengmian told herself she disliked Shen Qingqing not because of Brother Jiang.
She just couldn’t stand Shen Qingqing’s ways.
She never intended to break them up!
She didn’t speak to Jiang Zhixun and deliberately sat far away to prove her innocence.
Jiang Zhixun noticed Lin Fengmian but just raised an eyelid slightly.
She was Lin Zhidong’s sister and always clung to him to talk when they met.
Out of respect for their friendship, he would reply a bit.
If she didn’t talk to him, it wouldn’t affect him.
Just as Lin Zhidong was about to leave with his son, the baby urinated on him.
By the time he cleaned up, it was already too late to catch up with Lin Fengmian.