Chapter 14.2

The reputation of the Xu family’s three brothers was now thoroughly tarnished, and people were openly criticizing their lack of morals. After the beating, Luo Lan went to her elder brother’s house, where her eldest sister-in-law suggested she move in with them.

“You’re a single woman, and it’s not safe. There are always men with bad intentions. Even though our house is crowded, it’s better than your small shed.”

Her elder brother agreed, “We’ve almost finished making the earthen bricks. We’ll build you a room in the spring. Then you won’t have to squeeze in here.”

Luo Lan replied, “I’ll move in once it’s built next year. Don’t worry about me. Elder sister is already looking for a match for me. If things work out, I might get married.”

Her eldest sister-in-law sighed, “I’ve also been looking, but I haven’t found anyone suitable yet, so I didn’t mention it. We may be struggling a bit now, but we can’t just settle. Marriage is a lifetime commitment. I think it’s best to find a man who’s never been married or one who’s divorced without children.”

She genuinely cared for Luo Lan, who nodded obediently. “I think the same. I can’t take on a man with several kids.”

Her eldest sister-in-law agreed, “Absolutely. Being a stepmother is tough, especially if he has several sons. You’ll work yourself to the bone for their weddings, and they might still call you an ungrateful stepmother or even kick you out.”

“Yes, sister-in-law, take your time. I’ll fix up my shed to get through the winter.”

Her elder brother understood that she didn’t want to squeeze into their crowded bed and started planning improvements for her shed. “I’ll prepare more straw and build another layer with wood. We’ll find a way to set up a stove inside, so you can stay warm and cook.”

“But there won’t be any space left.”

“It’s just you. How much space do you need? Staying warm is the priority in winter.”

“Alright.”

As her elder brother and sister-in-law discussed ways to improve her shed, Luo Lan had her own plans. The weekend came quickly, and she took a leave from the team, heading into the city alone.

The bus stopped at the station, and she followed the crowd out. She oriented herself and then walked towards her destination, relying on her memory.

The Zhou family lived in a large courtyard in the west of the city. The houses there weren’t too shabby. Instead of going directly to the Zhou household, she strolled down the alley, observing and chatting with people.

Seeing an elderly person with a child, or a group of kids playing, she stopped to talk, offering candies to the children. They eagerly surrounded her, and when she mentioned looking for Zhou Qingshan, they pointed the way and started talking about the Zhou family.

“Zhou Qingshan’s mother is a bit crazy. Be careful,” one child said.

A little girl added, “Don’t worry, she doesn’t hit people. She just wanders and cries sometimes, asking where her youngest son is.”

A boy nodded in agreement, “She asked me once. People say she’s confused. Her youngest son died a long time ago, but she forgets.”

A few candies bought her the most sincere and honest words from the children. She walked through the alley and arrived at the courtyard where the Zhou family lived. At the entrance, a woman holding a child asked, “Who are you looking for?”

“I’m looking for Zhou Qingshan.”

“Go straight in, his house is at the far end of the courtyard, the main room.”

“Thank you.”

After politely thanking her, she entered the gate, carrying two pounds of peaches she had exchanged with the system. These peaches were large and rosy, looking very appealing. Turning the corner, she walked through another narrow passage and entered the innermost courtyard. There she saw Zhou Qingshan’s mother, stitching a shoe sole, looking somewhat dazed.

“Auntie,” she called out.

The woman looked up at the sound, her eyes slowly focusing. She soon recognized Luo Lan. “I know you. You’re the girl who came for the match.”

Luo Lan smiled and nodded, “Yes. Auntie, how have you been?”

“Good, good,” the woman replied, standing up with the shoe sole in her hand and gesturing towards the house. “Come in, come in.”

Inviting her in, offering tea, and chatting seemed very normal. Based on what she had heard and observed, Luo Lan felt positive about this match.

“I brought some peaches from the mountains. They’re very sweet. Please try one.”

“Oh, you didn’t need to bring anything,” the woman said politely, though she was visibly surprised by the large peaches. “My goodness, I’ve never seen peaches this big before. They’re so beautiful, all rosy and juicy. I’ve never seen such good peaches.”

Complimenting the gift rather than dismissing it as inferior was another positive sign. Luo Lan chatted with her politely, washed a peach, and they shared it.

The woman kept praising the peaches, saying how juicy, tender, and sweet they were. Naturally, she insisted Luo Lan stay for dinner. Luo Lan had made up her mind to meet Zhou Qingshan on this visit. Summer was a time of plenty for vegetables, and when the woman wanted to cut some meat, Luo Lan stopped her, saying she preferred vegetarian food. Meat wasn’t plentiful in the city, so there was no need to be extravagant.

The two of them cooked together in the kitchen, giving Luo Lan a chance to observe her closely. She noticed that the woman was extremely organized and clear-headed when she was normal.

They made simple yet delightful dishes: stir-fried bok choy, home-style tofu, tomatoes with sugar, lard-fried noodles, and egg drop soup. The four dishes and one soup looked fresh and appealing. When they were placed on the table, Zhou Qingshan arrived.