Sun Xiaohong, on the Lu family’s turf, saw the tall Fang Dihua and Sister-in-law Lu Da and didn’t dare to say anything bad about her sister-in-law.

She was afraid of getting beaten up.

In the afternoon, they cut down another tree.

Afterward, the Lu family could slowly trim the branches and dig out the stump themselves.

They also needed to plant new saplings in the old tree pits.

Farmers are very meticulous about every inch of land.

Many people plant trees around their houses as soon as they start building, planning to use the wood for furniture when their children grow up and get married.

The Lu family was no exception.

In the past, business people followed superstitions about not planting mulberry trees in front or willow trees behind the house to avoid bad luck.

But after the public-private partnership, business was no longer an option.

Timber became more important than superstitions, so they planted whatever trees they needed for wood.

At this moment, the Lu family even had a cypress tree. Its dense wood was useful, and during the Qingming Festival, people would come to clip branches to wear.

In the evening, Fang Dihua called Sun Xiaohong and Lin Yue together.

No matter how arrogant Sun Xiaohong was in the Lin family, she had to sit obediently like a primary school student in front of Fang Dihua.

Lin Yue, even more nervous, was trembling slightly.

Fang Dihua’s commanding presence was natural, unlike Lin Shu, who had to force it by watching movies.

Fang Dihua asked, “Are you arguing over the sewing machine?”

Lin Yue shook his head vigorously, “No, no.”

Sun Xiaohong pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Fang Dihua continued, “I don’t care what you say. That sewing machine was a gift for my daughter-in-law. She was kind enough to lend it to her brother for two years, and now it’s time to return it.”

Lin Yue nodded repeatedly, “Of course, of course.”

Fang Dihua glanced at Sun Xiaohong.

She had no obligation to discipline someone else’s daughter-in-law, but she wouldn’t allow anyone to harm her own.

Sun Xiaohong pursed her lips.

She couldn’t show her resentment towards her sister-in-law in front of Fang Dihua. Feeling indignant, she said, “My father promised to buy a sewing machine!”

She said it proudly.

Fang Dihua raised an eyebrow, “Oh, your father finally understands.”

Sun Xiaohong felt even more frustrated and angry.

Fang Dihua, not wanting to waste time chatting, asked Lin Shu and Sister-in-law LuDa to pack a small basket of peaches and pushed it toward Sun Xiaohong, “Take this back for your parents to taste.”

Lin Yue said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Fang Dihua said, “Alright, hurry up and eat dinner. After that, head home early.”

She knew that her daughter-in-law wanted her younger brother to stay a few more days, but now that his wife had come to fetch him, he had to go back.

After lunch, Lin Yue reluctantly said goodbye to Lin Shu.

Lin Shu, annoyed, said, “What’s with this sudden sibling affection? Stop pretending!”

She then told Lin Yue, “In a few days, the commune will be selecting tractor drivers. You and Dad should both sign up to give it a try.”

Lin Yue asked, “Dad too?”

Lin Shu responded, “Why not? Even my sister-in-law is going. Are you saying he, a grown man, can’t do it? Tell him it’s a chance to earn some respect, get a better reputation, and maybe even get praised by the leaders. If people see that he’s doing well, they won’t dare to mess with him. I’m sure he’ll go.”

Their father actually learned things quickly but lacked confidence and was afraid of failure, so he often gave up after just trying something once, later regretting it. To him, learning something once meant he could do it, and he would then boast about it.

Lin Yue agreed, “Okay.”

Sun Xiaohong sneered, thinking, “The old man, learning to drive a tractor? He’s dreaming!”

Lin Yue and Sun Xiaohong left the Lu family village and headed home.

As they walked, the more Sun Xiaohong thought about it, the more upset she became, and she started to cry. “Lin Yue, you’re a jerk! You’re a jerk!”

She reached out to twist his ear and pinched his arms and the flesh on his waist.

At first, Lin Yue tolerated it, but when the pain became too much, he tried to move away.

Sun Xiaohong shouted, “Lin Yue, stop right there!”

Lin Yue warned, “If you keep hitting me, I’ll…”

Sun Xiaohong, stubborn as ever, asked, “What will you do?”

Lin Yue didn’t dare say he’d divorce her, so in frustration, he blurted, “I’ll tell my third sister’s mother-in-law.”

Sun Xiaohong wanted him to go with her to her parents’ house to deliver peaches, but Lin Yue insisted on going home first to check on his parents.

He didn’t dare ask what Sun Xiaohong had done last night.

His sister had scolded him that morning, saying he slept like a log, snoring away like a pig, without any concern for their parents.

But since Sun Xiaohong hadn’t thrown a tantrum and Old Man Sun had agreed to buy the sewing machine, maybe nothing was wrong.

Sun Xiaohong was very dissatisfied.

This man said he would do whatever she wanted, but in reality?

When his third sister came back, he abandoned her to go see his sister.

He even gave away her sewing machine to his third sister.

Now she wanted him to accompany her to her parents’ house, but he insisted on visiting his parents first.

Men’s words are all lies!

She realized she could never let her guard down around him—she had to keep him under her control at all times.

Even though her mother-in-law was still on an IV drip, Sun Xiaohong wasn’t afraid of what Lin Yue might do.

She wasn’t afraid of him at all.

Maybe it was because she had taken the initiative in their relationship from the start.

She held the upper hand and had Lin Yue under her thumb.

She knew what he looked like when he was in a difficult situation and knew his most hidden secrets.

This gave her a sense of complete…

She had complete control over Lin Yue, more than he had with his parents or his sister.

She felt confident that they were closer than anyone else in his life.

Her secret weapon was manipulating Lin Yue at key moments, making him beg and promise to listen to her. If he didn’t, she would refuse to satisfy him.

This was something her mother had taught her, and it had always worked.

So no matter how much trouble she caused, she wasn’t afraid of Lin Yue.

After all, he had a good temper and would never hit her.

When she insisted that Lin Yue accompany her back to her parents’ house, he suddenly ran off, leaving behind the basket of peaches.

When Lin Yue got home, he ran into Aunt Zhou at the entrance.

Aunt Zhou clicked her tongue and said, “Lin Yue, you hid away, and your wife beat your mother. She hit her so hard that her head is bleeding, and she’s on an IV drip now. Your wife even brought her father back to cause more trouble. Did your wife find you and bring you back?”

Lin Yue’s mind went blank.

Sun Xiaohong beat his mother?

She made her head bleed?

All this just because of his third sister’s sewing machine?

His third sister, even at her angriest, would only hit his legs with a fire poker—never his head or face.

But Sun Xiaohong had actually hit his mother in the face!

Lin Yue suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, like someone had torn it open.

He remembered what his grandmother used to say to him.

“Lin Yue, you’re a son of the Lin family. You’re a man. You have to stand tall. If you don’t stand up, your sister, your parents—they’ll all suffer.”

When the Sun family forced him into marriage, his grandmother was furious and scolded him, saying, “You coward! Are you even a man? How is she controlling you? Speak up! The Sun family might not care about their reputation, but why should you? What are you afraid of? It’s not like you’re going to lose a limb. Even if she attacks you, the commune won’t just take her word and shoot you. And if they do, I’ll take the bullet for you.”

What had he been thinking back then?

He was afraid of getting beaten up by Sun Xiaohong’s second brother—it hurt a lot.

And he liked how Sun Xiaohong treated him… she was really good at it.

She coaxed him, and he thought marrying her wasn’t such a bad idea.

His grandmother had scolded him even on her deathbed, saying, “You spineless fool. You’ll suffer for this. You’ll spend your life being controlled, with no backbone.”

By the time he got home, he was crying uncontrollably. “Dad, Mom.”

He knelt by the bed, looking at his mother’s swollen head, the bandages, and the IV drip.

Crying, he slapped himself in the face.

“Dad, Mom, it’s all my fault. I let her bully you and let others laugh at you. I’m going to divorce her!”

Meanwhile, Lin Shu was at home trying to convince her sister-in-law to take action.

The commune had announced the selection of tractor drivers, and in those days, no one had much experience with machinery.

Being selected meant being a fast learner, someone who could think on their feet.

The young men in Lu family village were excited and eager to sign up. Big Brother Lu Dage, Second Brother Lu Erge, Lu Changfu(Old Lu), and even the brothers from the Chang family and others from the village had all signed up to take the test at the commune in a few days.

When Lin Shu suggested that her sister-in-law Lu Da sign up too, she was shocked. “Me? Drive a tractor?”

Lin Shu responded, “Why not? Of course, you can do it. Do you doubt someone who’s been praised by the police and the commune director? Didn’t you see that the commune reporters even came to interview me?”