Chapter 23.2

System: Hey, is that Zhou Junhui up ahead?

Luo Lan: It is. Who’s with her? It looks like a man.

System: Of course it’s a man. He’s wearing men’s clothes, so he definitely isn’t a woman. This isn’t a time when gender-neutral fashion was a thing.

The man was riding a bike, and Luo Lan had already been walking briskly. Now she felt like she was flying as she sped up to get a closer look at the two from the side.

System: You should be riding your bike too.

Luo Lan: This is all your fault for pushing me. I won’t take the blame.

System: But you’re moving pretty fast. The road isn’t good, and they aren’t riding fast either. Hey, hey, we’re catching up! I can see the man’s face!

On a two-eighty bike, the man was riding with Zhou Junhui behind him holding a lunch box. The woman, who had seemed worried at home, now wore a bright smile as she looked at the man in front of her with gentle eyes. She leaned closer and whispered something to him before he stopped a short distance from the workplace.

Zhou Junhui got off the bike. The man smiled at her and rode away first. She waved goodbye and walked behind him with her lunch box. The breeze tousled her hair, and she tucked it back in a way that showcased a charm she hadn’t displayed before.

System: Why did they separate just before the workplace?

Luo Lan: Good question.

System: So, do you know?

Luo Lan: What do you think?

System: Hey, hey, host, you’ve been a bit cheeky lately. You keep using rhetorical questions against me!

Luo Lan: So what?

System: Ah, ah, wow…

Luo Lan: Stop shouting, it’s annoying.

System: Watch out or I’ll deduct your points.

Luo Lan: Then you won’t get to eat any more melons.

Alright, with that simple comeback, the system sulked in a corner, pouting. Watching its mouth form a little pout made Luo Lan chuckle. This system was quite an amusing little thing, behaving like a child.

After rushing to follow Zhou Junhui, she returned home at a leisurely pace. Looking up at the roadside trees that were beginning to shed their leaves, she noticed a maple tree with fiery red leaves. A flock of geese flew south above her, and for the first time on this cool autumn day, she felt like appreciating the scenery.

System: Aren’t you curious why Zhou Junhui is hiding this from everyone?

Luo Lan: There must be a reason for her secrecy.

System: What do you think it is?

Luo Lan: How would I know?

System: With your leisurely attitude, I thought you had it all figured out.

Luo Lan: Don’t rush me. Eating melon is about savoring it slowly. Stuffing it all in at once will make you choke.

The system sighed.

System: Fine, you make a good point.

While enjoying the autumn scenery, Luo Lan returned home to find her mother-in-law had already tidied up the kitchen and was now outside drying the bedding. The weather was nice, perfect for airing out the dampness of the blankets, making them more comfortable for winter use.

Her mother-in-law held a broom, sweeping and gently patting the cotton to make it fluffier and warmer. Just then, a woman from the south house, who had been avoiding her after a previous conflict, walked over with a cheeky attitude.

“Have you eaten yet, sister-in-law?”

“Yes.”

“Has your daughter-in-law’s job been confirmed?” After noticing her mother-in-law’s lack of response, she moved closer and continued, “Sister-in-law, it’s not that I’m being nosy. I’m just looking out for you. Your daughter-in-law has been married for four years and hasn’t seemed happy. She doesn’t seem like someone who can bear children, you’ve been fooled.”

The mother-in-law, known for her gentle nature, was furious but didn’t know how to retort. While she was still trying to find the right words, the woman spoke again.

“Wasn’t your son Zhou Qingshan’s injury serious? It doesn’t look like anything from the outside, but is that why he settled for a rural second marriage woman who can’t have children?”

“It’s not like that.” The mother-in-law was getting anxious; such idle gossip had reached her ears, and she had to express her stance. “My son is fine, and my daughter-in-law is too. Don’t listen to their nonsense.”

“Don’t try to hide it. It’s already all over the neighborhood. When Zhou Qingshan was on a blind date, the woman didn’t like him, and that was why. Your daughter-in-law, a rural second marriage who can’t have children, so he didn’t care about her. Well, at least they got together. Are you hoping to adopt a boy or a girl? I can help you with that.”

“No, that’s not…”

“Come on, we’re neighbors. Why keep secrets from me? It’s really a shame for Zhou Qingshan. He was promoted, but he’s still stuck with such a big issue… but it’s not all bad. He’s married now, which is good. Such a pity…”

“Every time you say ‘what a pity’ and sigh, anyone would think our family has suffered a great disaster.”

Just as they were chatting, several neighbors from the outside came over. As Luo Lan entered the yard, everyone’s attention shifted from her mother-in-law to her. Her mother-in-law looked a bit flustered, and Luo Lan offered her a comforting smile.

“Zhou family’s daughter-in-law, we’re not gossiping about your family. Don’t take it the wrong way.”

“Yes, we don’t mean any harm. Don’t be upset. It’s important for a new daughter-in-law to get along with everyone.”

“Oh, really? You’re all just here to see the show, aren’t you?” She smiled coldly, her tone unkind. “I know what you all say outside, so don’t pretend to be nice in front of me.”

She first unleashed her retort, not caring whether she offended the neighbors. She knew these people were bullies who picked on her mother-in-law’s good nature, and as the new daughter-in-law of the Zhou family, she needed to stand her ground this first time. Otherwise, they would have plenty of opportunities to bully her in the future.

“We’ve only been married for less than a month, and everyone is already saying there’s something wrong with us. Whatever you hear, you believe, even though we’re neighbors living so close. If anyone has heard gossip at night, there’s no reason to believe those lies.”

Initially, the crowd was angry, but her words caught their attention, and they turned to listen. This young bride had some nerve to say such things.

“Does this mean that Qingshan isn’t injured at all?” asked a woman from the south wing, and everyone looked at her. Luo Lan rolled her eyes, giving her a “that question is ridiculous” look.

The women didn’t take offense. Instead, they shared knowing glances. It was clear to them that the rumors were false. “I said all along that it couldn’t be true. Qingshan looks perfectly fine. Such a good match—what a shame for someone else to take advantage of that.”

The woman from the south wing, known for her sharp tongue, was still undeterred. “So when are you planning to adopt a child?”

Luo Lan turned to her, pointing directly. “You’re asking about that right after we got married? You’re crossing the line! Let’s go, do you want to fight? I’ll take you on one-on-one today and show you what’s what.”

She rolled up her sleeves and approached, intimidating the woman from the south wing, who immediately took a few steps back. Luo Lan’s mother-in-law sensed the situation escalating and wanted to intervene but decided to let her daughter-in-law handle it.

“What are you doing, Zhou family’s daughter-in-law?” the woman asked, turning her face to the side while slowly retreating. “I mean well, don’t misunderstand.”

“‘Mean well’ my foot.” Luo Lan shot back, “I’ve already reserved a spot at the crematorium for you—don’t want you to die and miss your turn! Shouldn’t you be grateful?”

Her words left the woman pale and out of breath. “How can you speak to me like that?”

“Don’t you know how inappropriate this is? You come here asking me about adopting kids right after we get married. That’s just as good as insulting me! If it weren’t for your age, I’d take you down right here!”

“W-What…”

“Get lost!” Luo Lan shouted, pointing her finger at the woman’s nose. “If you dare come here again to bully me, I’ll kick you to the ground! Who do you think you’re messing with? You’d better ask around in the village and find out who I am before coming back. Otherwise, if you get hurt, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”

The other women were stunned by her rapid-fire retorts, instinctively taking a few steps back. They had thought Zhou Junhui was fierce, but this new daughter-in-law was even tougher. They realized they would have to be cautious when dealing with the Zhou family from now on—getting scolded by this young bride would be too embarrassing.

“You…” The woman from the south wing was usually quite confrontational, but Luo Lan’s intensity left her speechless. She didn’t have any of her children around to back her up and felt a bit intimidated. Fearful of getting hit but also embarrassed to back down, she stammered, “You’re just being tough. If you can get pregnant, I’ll give you some new fabric to make a little blanket!”

“Pfft.” Luo Lan retorted, “Who the hell would want your fabric? I can have my own kids without your charity!”

Her confident comeback left the woman speechless. Every tactic she tried—sarcasm, provocation, and manipulation—failed against this new daughter-in-law, who stood her ground without resorting to violence or falling for any bait.

“Is that why you’re so arrogant? Can you really have kids?” she continued with her mockery.

Those words struck a nerve, and the onlookers gasped. Would Luo Lan actually lose her temper? After all, the woman from the south wing was known for her many faults—wouldn’t she take advantage of the situation? Everyone watched, including the system, which was keen on how things would unfold.

“Do your children arrive just a month after you get married?”

That retort lit up the crowd’s faces. She had countered expertly, cutting off the woman’s trap without falling for it or giving her a chance to claim victimhood.

“Speak up, big auntie! Did your kids come along just a month after you got married?” a daughter-in-law from the east wing piped up, eager to join the fray.

“Ha! Now that’s something rare. Did you give birth to a ball after three years of pregnancy? What would that even be—an egg or something?” another woman from the west wing chimed in, making light of the situation.

“Ha ha…”

The mood shifted entirely as the focus turned from Luo Lan to the woman from the south wing, who now stood alone in her shame, the laughter of the crowd ringing in her ears. Luo Lan saw that the tension had shifted, so after giving her a final retort, she took her mother-in-law and left. The crowd soon dispersed, losing interest in the woman now left alone to wallow in her embarrassment.

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