Chapter 23

Tang Wan curiously watched as Li Cuihua spread the bedding. The festive colors were so cheerful that they instantly lifted one’s spirits.

She couldn’t help but think about tonight, when she and Lu Huaijing would be on this very bed…

The more she thought about it, the redder her face became. Fortunately, everyone else was too busy to notice her discomfort.

“Sprinkle these on too,” Wang Dani said, pulling out a bag of peanuts, sunflower seeds, longan, and red dates she had prepared earlier. She added, “Say some auspicious words.”

“Mother, it’s not my first time making a bed. I know what to do,” Li Cuihua replied smugly, tossing the peanuts and sunflower seeds onto the celebratory bed.

“One sprinkle for children in pairs,
Two sprinkles for good fortune,
Three sprinkles for health and longevity,
Four sprinkles for many children and blessings.”

Though Wang Shuhua maintained a stern face, Tang Wan noticed a hint of envy in her eyes.

In these times, having a son was considered extremely important.

“Alright, let’s decorate the room a bit,” Wang Dani said, pulling out several pre-cut “double happiness” characters to paste on the walls.

Just as they were all busy with their tasks, a loud voice suddenly rang out from outside.

“Eldest sister-in-law, where are you?!”

Upon hearing this, Wang Dani’s face instantly changed. She quickly instructed everyone:

“Quick, go outside, close the door, and stop anyone from entering the third son’s new room.”

Tang Wan followed them out of the new room, feeling vaguely that the voice sounded familiar.

As they exited the house, she saw a woman with short hair, smiling, but there was something unsettling about her smile.

“Eldest sister-in-law, Mother sent me to help. After all, we’re one family, and the Lu family isn’t that complicated.”

This woman was Liu Lanhua, Lu Huaijing’s paternal aunt.

“No need,” Wang Dani replied coldly, her tone sharp despite the joyful occasion. “There are enough people in our family to handle everything.”

“Eldest sister-in-law, are you still holding onto old grudges? Our parents just couldn’t bear losing their son before. It’s been so many years; you should let go of these resentments and look ahead!”

Liu Lanhua’s words seemed to strike a nerve with Wang Dani. Enraged, she grabbed a broom, no longer holding back.

“Liu Lanhua, stop pretending! When Jianguo passed away, what did those two old fools say? They said Jianguo was unfilial and that the twins I was carrying weren’t his!

Since they’ve already kicked us out, don’t come now pretending like you want to reconcile. Dream on!”

The argument helped Tang Wan piece together the truth of the past.

When Lu Huaijing’s father died, his grandparents had driven their family out. Now, perhaps seeing Lu Huaijing’s success, they were trying to get back into his good graces.

“Eldest sister-in-law, our parents are elders. Is this how you treat elders? If Big Brother were still here, he would have beaten you!”

Liu Lanhua’s face darkened. “Your first and second brothers didn’t invite our parents to their weddings, and now, with the third son’s wedding, you’re still doing this? What will the village think of our family?”

“The villagers are clear-eyed. They know it wasn’t easy for me to raise so many children!”

Wang Dani spat, “Liu Lanhua, you’re living off Jianguo’s pension, and now you want to cling to my third son? Dream on!”

When her husband passed, the two old fools, in order to please the youngest son, took advantage of the situation.

They not only kicked them out but also took most of her husband’s pension. If it weren’t for Jianguo’s brothers secretly holding back part of the pension and giving it to them, how could she have raised all these children?

Now, seeing the third son is doing well, they come crawling back. Dream on!

“I’m not going to argue with you.”

Liu Lanhua avoided the spit Wang Dani had flung at her and turned her gaze, with feigned kindness, towards Tang Wan.

“You must be the third son’s wife. You look so fair and clean, clearly someone from the city.

You educated people care deeply about filial piety. I believe you’re different from your mother, so you should have the third son invite his grandparents to the wedding.”

These words made Wang Dani’s heart skip a beat.

It wasn’t that she was afraid Tang Wan wouldn’t listen, but because the third son’s wife didn’t know about the past, and might soften up.

“Third sister-in-law, don’t make a mistake!”

Li Cuihua raised her voice. The people in the old house were like vampires; she didn’t want to help those old fools!

Although she liked to take advantage and stir things up at home, she was still united when dealing with outsiders.

“You don’t have a say in this!”

Liu Lanhua glared fiercely at Li Cuihua. The two of them were cut from the same cloth and naturally looked down on each other.

Tang Wan smiled gracefully, “Comrade, since I’ve married into the Lu family, I follow my husband, whether it’s a chicken or a dog.

I listen to Huaijing, and since he’s not home, I naturally listen to my mother-in-law.”

Her words were flawless, which greatly pleased Wang Dani. She raised her chin and snapped at the flustered Liu Lanhua:

“Did you hear that? Go back to where you came from!”

She felt a sense of satisfaction.

“You, a new bride, should at least serve tea to your grandparents!”

Liu Lanhua was still not giving up. Tang Wan calmly deflected, “My family is led by Huaijing.

He’s a soldier, and I believe he knows right from wrong, with a high sense of awareness.

The elders he respects are respected, and those he doesn’t, are likely those who don’t respect their old age.”

Liu Lanhua: !!!

She stared in shock as Tang Wan calmly said these infuriating words. Just as she was about to point her finger at Tang Wan and scold her,

A tall figure stepped in front of Tang Wan. It was Lu Huaijing, who had gone early to borrow tables and chairs from the village.

He had a cold expression and a stern tone as he said, “Try pointing at my wife again!”

Lu Huaijing and Lu Jianguo looked very similar, both were military men with an imposing presence.

When he stood there, Liu Lanhua almost thought she was seeing her deceased brother-in-law.

“You… you all just wait, wait for the village to talk behind your backs!”

“Even though they’ve been talking behind our backs for so many years, we’re still going strong. I stand tall and unafraid!”

Wang Dani spat at Liu Lanhua’s back. Liu Lanhua staggered and almost fell.

“Go ahead and enjoy yourself, just be careful that the third son doesn’t end up like his elder brother—short-lived!”

“Liu Lanhua!”

Wang Dani shouted angrily and rushed forward, holding the broom. Her children were her soft spot.

She fiercely climbed on top of Liu Lanhua and started hitting her, furiously beating her. Tang Wan and the others didn’t stop her.

“Ah! Wang Dani, you’re crazy, let go of me!”

“Crazy woman, I’m not done with you!”

It wasn’t until Liu Lanhua could no longer scream that Li Cuihua and Tang Wan stepped forward to pull Wang Dani away.

“Mom, Huaijing is very capable; he’ll be just fine.”

Li Cuihua also reminded her, “Mom, today is the third son’s big day. Let’s just ignore what she said.”

Wang Dani finally got off Liu Lanhua. She patted her clothes, glaring at Liu Lanhua, and said:

“If I hear you curse the third son again, I’ll strangle your son!”

“Wang Dani, I’m going to the commune to report you, I’ll report you for beating me!”

Liu Lanhua felt a sharp pain in her chest, and her hands lacked strength, as if she had broken a bone.

The Lu family members’ expressions changed. Tang Wan spoke calmly, “If you want to report it, go ahead.

When the time comes, we’ll talk to the commune about what kind of crime it is to insult revolutionary martyrs.”

Liu Lanhua: !!!