Chapter 33: The Couple Was Criticized for Being Too Extravagant

After dinner, the couple went to deliver food to Xie’s parents who were working in the fields.

The busy farming season was approaching, and villagers were eager to plant another batch of vegetables. Many people were working in the fields.

Xie Qingxiao rarely came to the fields, but he knew where his family’s land was. He led Lin Xiangyi through a maze of paths before they found Xie’s parents who were turning over the soil.

“Father, Mother, dinner is ready,” Xie Qingxiao called out.

Xie’s parents turned around and saw Xie Qingxiao and Lin Xiangyi. They pulled out the towels tucked into their clothes, wiped their sweat, and walked over.

“Xiangyi, it’s so sunny. You should stay home and rest. Let Ah Xiao deliver the food alone,” Xie’s mother said.

She wasn’t really worried about Lin Xiangyi being out in the sun. She just thought it was unnecessary for both of them to deliver the food.

“I was bored, so I came along,” Lin Xiangyi smiled.

“This rascal must have dragged you here, right?” Xie’s mother blamed Xie Qingxiao. “He doesn’t know how to take care of his wife!”

Xie Qingxiao found a shady tree, opened the lunchbox, and said, “You’re wrong, Mother. I told her not to come, but she insisted on coming to see where our land is.”

In Xie’s mother’s eyes, Xie Qingxiao and Lin Xiangyi didn’t have jobs, so they would eventually have to farm to support themselves.

Hearing Lin Xiangyi’s thoughtful words, she smiled and nodded. “It’s good to know where your own land is. After the land was distributed to households, our family received a lot of land, and it’s scattered in different places. Qingxiao probably doesn’t even know where some of it is.”

Xie’s mother said, “But it’s okay. I’ll take you to see them in a few days.”

Lin Xiangyi never thought about making a living from farming, but she didn’t want to dampen Xie’s mother’s enthusiasm. She smiled and said, “Okay.”

Xie Qingxiao divided the food and interrupted Xie’s mother. “We can talk about that later. Father, Mother, eat quickly.”

Xie’s mother stopped talking and sat down with Xie’s father. She glanced at the bitter melon stir-fried with eggs and the green beans stir-fried with meat in the food bucket. Her eyes almost popped out.

Meat and eggs? Why was it so lavish?

The Xie family’s conditions were good. Xie’s father and mother had four children. The eldest son and daughter-in-law both had jobs in the county, and both daughters were married. They were also filial and provided financial support.

Xie’s father and mother were healthy and could support themselves in the countryside. Although Xie Qingxiao was a bit of a slacker, he only came back to eat.

Therefore, compared to many families in the village who couldn’t afford enough food, the Xie family could eat their fill.

However, they weren’t a family that could eat meat and eggs every day, especially after the lavish feast they had yesterday.

In Xie’s mother’s opinion, they should wait at least a while before eating meat again.

But it was only the second day, and Xie Qingxiao had already cooked her eggs and meat?

Xie’s mother felt her heart bleed. The eggs were their own, no doubt about it.

The meat was for the feast. She and Xie’s father had discussed slaughtering a pig from their own farm. They thought that the busy farming season was coming soon and they needed some meat for nourishment. They specially cut out a piece of meat to make cured meat, planning to eat it during the busy season.

She wanted to say something, but seeing Lin Xiangyi, she swallowed her words back.

Forget it, forget it. It was just a piece of meat. It was cooked, so it was cooked.

This youngest son’s wife came from a wealthy family. She probably ate meat every day in her parents’ home. She must not understand the hardships of rural life. She probably saw the meat and cooked it.

Xie’s mother comforted herself, picked up her chopsticks, and prepared to eat. However, she took a bite of green beans and paused, looking at Lin Xiangyi.

Before she could speak, Xie’s father spoke first. “Did you use too much oil?”

“I did use a bit too much oil,” Lin Xiangyi said.

Xie’s mother’s heart ached again. In her opinion, it wasn’t just a little too much oil. It was like drinking oil!

At this moment, Xie Qingxiao said, “It’s not that much, is it? Just a little more. But it tastes good.”

He was trying to save face, after all, he was the one who cooked the meal.

But in the ears of Xie’s father and mother, who thought Lin Xiangyi had cooked the meal, Xie Qingxiao was speaking up for Lin Xiangyi.

How could this be? If he encouraged her like this, she would use so much oil every meal. How could they live?

“…Xiangyi,” Xie’s mother said cautiously, “Do you not know how to cook?”

“I know how to cook,” Lin Xiangyi had already noticed the change in Xie’s mother’s expression. She immediately distanced herself from the situation. “But I didn’t cook this meal. Xie Qingxiao did.”

“AH XIAO cooked it?” Xie’s mother’s face changed.

The eggs and meat were all cooked by Xie Qingxiao. Did this stinky boy put so much oil in it?

Xie’s mother was not as polite to Xie Qingxiao. She slapped him on the back, scolding him, “You rascal, you don’t know the value of money because you’re not the one managing the household. You use so much oil at once. What will you eat later?”

Most rural people at this time couldn’t afford vegetable oil. They mainly ate lard.

During the production team era, they would wait until the end of the year for the brigade to slaughter a pig and distribute the pork. The lean meat was kept for eating, and the fat was used to render lard. The lard they rendered was probably their entire year’s supply.

If it wasn’t enough, they had to use tickets to buy it in the city. But how could they, rural people, have so many meat tickets? So everyone was used to being frugal and eating meat and vegetables with little oil and salt.

After the production team was disbanded, there were no restrictions on raising livestock. Villagers would raise one or two pigs, not only for meat but also for rendering lard.

They had slaughtered a pig a few days ago and rendered a lot of lard. However, after giving several pounds to their eldest son in the city and their two married daughters, they still had some left.

Villagers knew that they had slaughtered a pig, and many people came to barter for it. They were all in the same village, and they had often helped each other in the past. So even though Xie’s father and mother didn’t want to, they still exchanged some lard.

Moreover, Xie’s mother also wanted to make some money.

Currently, they only had about ten pounds of lard left. She planned to make it last until the end of the year.

But if Xie Qingxiao ate like this, she estimated that it would be gone in two months.

Xie’s mother was truly angry. The slap she gave Xie Qingxiao made a loud cracking sound, and his back burned with pain.

However, Xie Qingxiao knew his parents were frugal, so he didn’t argue. “Okay, okay. It’s my fault. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Don’t let there be a next time! You’re not allowed in the kitchen anymore!” Xie’s mother said angrily.

“No way,” Xie Qingxiao immediately objected. He had just told Lin Xiangyi that his cooking skills would improve in the future. How could he stop cooking?

Xie’s mother was even angrier when she heard Xie Qingxiao objecting to her. “Xie Qingxiao…”

“Okay, okay,” Xie’s father quickly stopped Xie’s mother and gave her a wink. “Just say less. Isn’t he saying he’ll change? He won’t use so much oil next time! Xie Qingxiao, you too. We’re not a wealthy family. You’re not at the point where you can splurge. Be frugal, you hear me?”

“Just eat your food,” Xie Qingxiao ignored his parents’ words. “The food is getting cold.”

“…” Lin Xiangyi sat beside them, not daring to say anything.

Xie’s father and mother were disciplining their son. It wasn’t appropriate for her to speak.

Moreover, she could sense that Xie’s father and mother were actually saying these things to her.

As they said, the Xie family was not a wealthy family. They couldn’t afford to let her splurge. Of course, she didn’t intend to splurge on the Xie family.

She wanted to make money!

But how?

Lin Xiangyi glanced at Xie Qingxiao. They were already married. The one making money would naturally be him. There was no need for her to go over his head.

She would discuss it with him later, Lin Xiangyi thought.

After Xie’s father and mother finished eating, Xie Qingxiao and Lin Xiangyi cleaned up and went back.

Xie’s father and mother rested in place, watching Xie Qingxiao and Lin Xiangyi leave together. Xie’s mother’s brows were tightly furrowed.

“Still thinking about the oil being too much?” Xie’s father asked, a little helpless. “Why are you so bothered? The oil is already used. It’s already in your stomachs. What’s the point of worrying about it now? Didn’t AH XIAO say he’ll be more careful next time?”

“Am I worried about the oil?” Xie’s mother said angrily. “I’m worried that AH XIAO is too extravagant. He said he’ll be more careful, but he definitely won’t change. Do you believe him?”

“How do you know he won’t change?” Xie’s father was puzzled. He looked at Xie’s mother curiously.

“It’s obvious! He’s already fallen for his wife. He wants to give her all the good things. He’s practically treating Xiangyi like an empress. He’s only missing treating her like a queen,”

Xie’s mother looked like she had seen through Xie Qingxiao. She frowned and said, “How could he bear to let his wife suffer?”

His wife came from such a good background. She definitely wouldn’t be someone who could endure hardship.

“It’s not that exaggerated, is it?” Xie’s father thought Xie’s mother was exaggerating.

“How is it exaggerated?” Xie’s mother immediately listed her reasons. “First, he wouldn’t marry anyone else but his wife! Second, he gave her a thousand yuan dowry without hesitation! Third, he was spoiled by the old lady before. He was only used to being served. He never served anyone else. But he carries the bathwater for his wife. He didn’t cook before, but he cooked today…”

Xie’s father: “…” It seems like there’s some truth to it?

“Isn’t that good? He loves his wife. He knows he needs to give her a good life. He knows he needs to work hard to farm and support his wife. Isn’t that better than him wandering around outside all the time?” Xie’s father thought it was a good thing.

“It’s good, but I’m afraid he wants to give his wife a good life but doesn’t have the ability,” Xie’s mother was even angrier. “Our family isn’t rich. Even if your son becomes diligent for his wife, what’s the use? You’ve been diligent your whole life, but I haven’t enjoyed any good fortune.”

Xie’s father: “…” You’re talking about Xie Qingxiao, but why are you talking about me now?

“Oh, what are you two talking about? Didn’t your Ah Xiao and his wife stay to help you with the work?”

As Xie’s father and mother were talking, Lu’s mother, who had been working on the slope, walked over. It was unclear whether she had finished her work and was passing by or if she intentionally came to show off to Xie’s mother. Her expression was visibly smug.

“None of your business!” Xie’s mother didn’t have a good expression when she saw Lu’s mother. She didn’t need to guess to know what Lu’s mother was thinking.

Before Xie Qingxiao and Lin Xiangyi delivered the food, she had heard Lu’s mother bragging to the people next to her about how virtuous Lin Huihui was.

Knowing Lu’s mother’s personality, she was now coming over to brag about how virtuous her son Lu Dingyuan had married.

And her son Xie Qingxiao had married an ancestor who didn’t do anything.

Sure enough, the next second, Lu’s mother pretended to be concerned. “Why are you so angry? I’m just coming to show concern. You really picked the wrong daughters-in-law. Neither of your daughters-in-law knows how to be considerate!”

“The eldest daughter-in-law is fine. At least she has a job in the county. But the youngest daughter-in-law is truly…”

“She just watches her own father-in-law and mother-in-law work in the fields. She doesn’t even help. And she dresses up so beautifully…”

“Wang Juhua, if you keep talking nonsense, believe me, I’ll throw a hoe at you!” Xie’s mother saw that Lu’s mother was getting more and more outrageous. She raised the hoe in her hand and pretended to throw it.

Lu’s mother hurriedly said, “Okay, okay, I won’t say anything anymore. But…”

Lu’s mother turned her head and looked at Lin Huihui behind her with a smug smile. “My daughter-in-law is not like that!”

“Yes, yes, your daughter-in-law is the most diligent and considerate!” Xie’s mother couldn’t help but sarcastically say, “After all, she can’t be lazy or inconsiderate. Not everyone can be as lucky as my daughter-in-law to find a good mother-in-law like me.”

Was she saying that she was a bad mother-in-law?

Lu’s mother found it funny. “Who doesn’t set rules for their new daughters-in-law in the village? You can’t control your own daughter-in-law, so you can only say you’re a good mother-in-law. I’m not like you!”

“Of course, my daughter-in-law doesn’t need me to set any rules. She does it on her own,” Lu’s mother turned around and looked at Lin Huihui with satisfaction.

Lin Huihui had never done any work in the Lin family before. At most, she would pretend to do some work in front of Lin Shan at Chen Fengmei’s suggestion. Today, in order to please Lu’s mother, she ignored her three turns and one ring dowry and actively worked, almost to the point of exhaustion.

She was very annoyed. She hated her mother-in-law Lu’s mother, but she still patiently replied, “Yes, Mother, I do it willingly.”

Lu’s mother looked at Lin Huihui with smug satisfaction, as if to say, “See?”

Xie’s mother didn’t miss the flash of disgust in Lin Huihui’s eyes towards Lu’s mother. She looked at Lu’s mother with pity. Did she really think her daughter-in-law was a simple person?

This kind of person who knew how to disguise herself was sweet and charming when she was being submissive, but if she exploded, who knew how terrifying she would be.

Xie’s mother had already predicted how lively the Lu family would be in the future. She didn’t bother with Lu’s mother anymore and said submissively, “Okay, okay. You have a good daughter-in-law. Are you happy now?”

Lu’s mother was immediately satisfied. She happily led Lin Huihui and her second daughter-in-law to the valley below to continue working.

•  

“Don’t take what my parents said to heart.”

On the way back, Lin Xiangyi was thinking about how to bring up the topic of making money with Xie Qingxiao when she heard Xie Qingxiao say this to her:

“My family isn’t that poor. We can still eat our fill. It’s just that my parents are used to being frugal. I’ll earn money in the future. When I make enough money, they won’t be so frugal anymore.”

“Earning money?” Lin Xiangyi caught the key word and looked at Xie Qingxiao in surprise. “Are you going to be diligent and work in the fields from now on?”

Then she remembered and said, “But working in the fields is very hard. You’ll be facing the land and turning your back to the sky. Can you handle it?”

She almost wrote “distrust” on her face.

Xie Qingxiao almost choked on his breath. He thought it was strange. “Do I look so weak? Do you even think I’m at the point where I can’t lift a finger or shoulder a burden?”

He even wanted to take off his clothes in front of Lin Xiangyi to show her how strong he was!