Chapter 31: Gao’s Sister-in-law

Ever since Jiang Pan Yu gave Tan Yanlu that reminder, she had been extra cautious, making sure she was never alone, no matter what she was doing.

This left the Jin Brothers, who had taken two pieces of Dried Sweet Potato from Jin Bei as a deposit, extremely frustrated. They had promised Jin Bei to teach Tan Yanlu a lesson, but after several days of lurking around, they still couldn’t find an opportunity!

The two were utterly disheartened but dared not give up. Jin Bei was watching closely, and if they didn’t follow through, they might never get to eat Dried Sweet Potato again.

So, they had no choice but to patiently wait for Tan Yanlu to be alone.

Before they knew it, it was already the end of July, and the weather in the northern province was gradually turning cooler.

When going out, one had to wear long sleeves and pants, and in the morning and evening, an extra layer was necessary.

Jiang Pan Yu had received accurate information from the Gossip Sisters Squad that Gao Shaolin would be returning tomorrow.

Lin Wumei had arranged a blind date for him, and whether he liked it or not, Gao Shaolin had to come back.

In Tan Yanlu’s memory, it was on this day that Gao Shaolin returned home for the blind date, only to have Gao’s Sister-in-law cause a scene, claiming that she and Gao Shaolin had already had two children together. Now that Gao’s Sister-in-law was widowed and Gao Shaolin was single, she insisted they should get married.

Gao’s Sister-in-law shamelessly chased the matchmaker out, throwing the Gao family into chaos. In a fit of anger, Gao Shaolin stormed off and ended up running into Tan Yanlu, who had traveled all the way to the countryside.

Upon hearing the commotion at the Gao household, Tan Yanlu realized what kind of person Gao Shaolin was and wanted to break up with him. Their tussle was witnessed by Jin Bei.

Seeing this, Jin Bei thought she had finally gotten some dirt on Tan Yanlu and was overjoyed, believing that if Lian Xiuran found out, he would surely stop liking Tan Yanlu.

That day, while working, Tan Yanlu was distracted and was ambushed by the Jin Brothers, who pushed her into the river. She was nearly swept away by the current but was saved by Gao Shaolin, who jumped in to rescue her.

After that, rumors about Tan Yanlu and Gao Shaolin began to spread. However, at this point, Tan Yanlu and Gao Shaolin were not close, and they had not secretly pledged their lives to each other in the city. Thus, there was no scene of Tan Yanlu accusing Gao Shaolin of deceitfully marrying her and then cutting ties with him.

Would there still be rumors about Tan Yanlu?

Thinking about the results that would be revealed tomorrow, Jiang Pan Yu felt a bit nervous and couldn’t sleep well that night.

The next day, Jiang Pan Yu kept pulling Tan Yanlu aside, repeatedly warning her to be careful.

Tan Yanlu was puzzled: “Pan Yu, what’s going on? You’ve said this more than once. Did something happen?”

Jiang Pan Yu naturally couldn’t tell her the truth, so she lied without batting an eye: “Last night, I dreamed that you fell into the river and were almost swept away.”

“Oh, it was just a dream! Don’t worry, dreams are the opposite of reality. I’ll be fine, and I’ll definitely be careful. I won’t let myself fall into the river.”

Tan Yanlu knew Jiang Pan Yu meant well and promised to be cautious.

But Jiang Pan Yu still wasn’t entirely reassured: “You really need to be careful. My dreams are usually very accurate.”

Moreover, today it’s the turn of teams six, seven, eight, nine, and ten to fetch water from the river. Perhaps my dream will come true here!”

Tan Yanlu had to repeatedly assure Jiang Pan Yu that she would be extremely careful before they parted ways, with Tan heading to team six.

Jiang Pan Yu had considered that the first meeting between the male and female leads was facilitated by the Jin brothers pushing the female lead into the river.

So, could she find these two boys and intercept their attempt to harm Tan Yanlu?

However, the Gossip System stopped her because Jin Bei’s harassment was also a trial for Tan Yanlu, which she had to face on her own. Even without the Jin brothers, there would be others, and Tan Yanlu would always have to confront these challenges herself.

This was Tan Yanlu’s fate, and only she herself could resist it. External help was actually quite minimal.

Jiang Pan Yu was distracted all day while working, even when she overheard the aunties enthusiastically discussing a new piece of gossip from the neighboring village.

It was about two brothers who were so poor they couldn’t afford to build a second house. After getting married, both couples had to sleep on the same heated brick bed.

One day, the brothers went to a wedding banquet and returned home in a daze.

As a result, both brothers ended up sleeping in the wrong places. Now, both wives are pregnant, and no one knows whether the child belongs to the husband or the brother-in-law.

Because of this, the brothers fought like dogs and are now in the process of dividing the family.

Normally, Jiang Pan Yu could chat with the aunties about such juicy gossip all day long.

But now, while working, she kept half her attention on Tan Yanlu from the neighboring team, hoping that Tan would successfully overcome this trial.

The morning passed without incident, but just before the end of the workday, the sound of a bicycle bell came from the dirt road at the village entrance.

In this era, bicycles were quite rare. Hearing the bell, many people turned to look.

Jiang Pan Yu was no exception. She looked up and saw Gao Shaolin returning. Last time in the city, she hadn’t paid much attention, but this time she took a closer look. Gao Shaolin had a decent appearance, no stubble, his clothes were clean and without patches, and his bicycle was polished to a shine.

Compared to the farmers who were working in the fields with their pants rolled up, covered in sweat and mud, Gao Shaolin did have a bit of a tall, rich, and handsome vibe.

But to say he was particularly dashing would be an exaggeration—he couldn’t even compare to Lian Xiuran!

Jiang Pan Yu didn’t know what type of man Tan Yanlu liked, but if she wasn’t moved by Lian Xiuran’s beauty, how could she possibly be interested in Gao Shaolin?

Yet, the so-called psychological suggestion effect had somehow blinded Tan Yanlu, making her give up the much better Lian Xiuran and choose Gao Shaolin instead.

Thinking about Gao Shaolin’s later actions towards Tan Yanlu was truly disgusting. How could such a sinister person become the male lead?

Gao Shaolin rode his bicycle towards his home and soon disappeared at the village entrance.

Jiang Pan Yu’s heart was even more on edge, and she kept a close eye on Tan Yanlu’s every move.

Fortunately, Tan Yanlu was someone who listened to advice and was very cautious. She never went anywhere alone and was extremely careful when fetching water from the river.

From the moment Gao Shaolin appeared until he rode his bicycle out of sight, nothing happened. Perhaps it was because Tan Yanlu didn’t see Gao Shaolin passing by, so neither of them noticed the other’s presence.

Jiang Pan Yu breathed a slight sigh of relief. After finishing work at noon, she had her meal and rested before continuing her work in the afternoon. The entire day passed without incident.

Meanwhile, Gao Shaolin, the male lead whom Jiang Pan Yu was concerned about, was sitting in his house listening to the matchmaker’s enthusiastic talk. Gao Shaolin appeared distracted and couldn’t muster any interest in meeting the woman the matchmaker was talking about.

Just look at the kind of women the matchmaker was introducing to him!

He had a decent job in town, yet they were suggesting a divorced woman with two children. So what if she owned two houses in town?

But she couldn’t compare to Butcher Li’s youngest daughter. For one thing, Butcher Li’s daughter was a pure, unmarried maiden.

She would have a job in the future, and Butcher Li’s house wasn’t bad either. So what if it was a matrilocal marriage? So what if the children didn’t take his surname? It was just a matter of people talking, but the benefits were real.

Once Butcher Li passed away, he could always change the children’s surnames. The woman would be his, the Li family’s house would be his, and the Li family’s job position would be his too. What a great deal!

His mother was really something, causing a scene at the hospital, letting the cooked duck fly away right before their eyes.

A divorced woman had been with another man, and Gao Shaolin found that very distasteful.

Thinking about the women he had encountered, like that beautiful girl in Hongcheng, if only he hadn’t been so pressed for time and had more opportunities to meet her, he might have been able to win her over.

Butcher Li’s daughter was a different story; her conditions were top-notch. Gao Shaolin felt he shouldn’t have to settle for a divorced woman.

But Lin Wumei had her own reasoning: “So what if she’s divorced? So what if she has two children? None of that matters. What matters is that she owns two houses in town.

Once you two get married and have a son, those houses will be yours.

Then our whole family can move to town and live with you in one house, while renting out the other. With the rent and your salary, we can enjoy city life.

As for those two children, they’re just girls. Keep them at home to do chores. When they grow up, we can get a hefty dowry for them. It’s a win-win situation.

I regret it now, letting your father throw away your sisters back then. Otherwise, we could have gotten a big dowry for them too.”

Gao Shaolin felt like Lin Wumei was selling him by the pound. He was about to refuse when suddenly there was a loud clatter in the yard. Gao’s Sister-in-law stormed into the room in a rage. Seeing the matchmaker, she immediately rushed forward and shoved her: “Get out of my house, leave!”

“Hey, hey, what are you pushing for?!” The matchmaker dodged Gao’s Sister-in-law’s hands, bewildered.

Seeing her daughter-in-law like this, Lin Wumei’s heart skipped a beat: “What are you doing, daughter-in-law? Why are you causing a scene? Go back to your room.”

Gao Shaolin also stood up and reached out to pull Gao’s Sister-in-law outside, but she dodged his grasp and slapped him across the face: “Gao Shaolin, you shameless man! After sleeping with me, you still have your eyes on other women.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell into complete silence. The matchmaker’s mouth hung open in shock. What had she just heard? Could she have misheard?

Both Lin Wumei and Gao Shaolin’s expressions changed drastically. They rushed forward, one trying to cover her mouth and the other attempting to grab her, creating a chaotic scene.

Gao’s Sister-in-law, however, let out a piercing scream: “Gao Shaolin, you bastard! I gave you my pure body, bore you a son and a daughter, and now you want to marry another woman? Why did you crawl into my bed after Gao the Eldest died, you ungrateful scoundrel? I’m telling you, if you dare to touch another woman after defiling me, I’ll report you for rape!”

Although many people were out in the fields during the Gao family’s commotion, not everyone had left their homes. Some elderly or children who had difficulty moving around heard Gao’s Sister-in-law’s cries and came running to see the spectacle. Some even went to the fields to spread the news, and many people abandoned their work to join the crowd at the Gao household.

Jiang Pan Yu watched as Yang Guiying and Chen Lamei excitedly ran towards the Gao family. She turned to look for Tan Yanlu, only to see her face filled with regret, likely reminiscing about her decision to sign up for the rural assignment.

During her time in the countryside, working under the sun in the fields, Tan Yanlu had not gone a single day without regret. Yet, whenever such thoughts arose, a voice in her heart told her she shouldn’t regret it—that Gao Shaolin was her destined person. After hearing this voice repeatedly, Tan Yanlu began to grow suspicious. Was this voice truly her own, or was it influenced by something else? Why did it always contradict her own thoughts?

Tan Yanlu’s growing doubts suggested that her self-awareness was not far off.

The Gao household was particularly lively at this moment. Gao’s Sister-in-law, disregarding all propriety, tearfully recounted to the onlookers the unavoidable affairs between her and Gao Shaolin.

Between her words, Gao’s Sister-in-law implied that she had been deceived into marriage, only to discover that Gao the Eldest was impotent. The Gao family knew of his condition, but Lin Wumei had called Gao’s Sister-in-law a barren hen, nearly driving her to her death.

The incidents with Gao Shaolin were not of her own volition either. Gao Shaolin, taking advantage of his drunkenness, had climbed into her bed, making her a proper bride. She then bore him a son and a daughter.

Originally, Gao’s Sister-in-law had intended to take this secret to her grave. But when Gao the Eldest suddenly died, and Gao Shaolin’s wife drowned in the river, Gao Shaolin, lonely and restless, slipped back into her bed. From then on, Gao’s Sister-in-law considered him her possession, especially since they already had children together.

Yet, Gao Shaolin was now planning to become a live-in son-in-law in town, and upon returning to the village, Lin Wumei had arranged a matchmaking session for him. What was Gao’s Sister-in-law to do?

She had given her pure body to Gao Shaolin, but what did he take her for? A bedmate who could be summoned and dismissed at will?

Gao’s Sister-in-law was not willing to suffer this loss. Gao Shaolin had to marry her. After all, she had nothing to lose, and if Gao Shaolin wasn’t afraid of losing his job, then he could go ahead and marry someone else.

The commotion at the Gao household lasted the entire afternoon, and it was only when Gao Shaolin finally agreed to marry Gao’s Sister-in-law that the farce came to an end.

While working, Jiang Pan Yu watched the live broadcast through the Gossip System as Gao Shaolin, with a dark expression, cleared out the onlookers and then packed his belongings to leave the house. He clearly didn’t want to stay at home and seemed ready to leave immediately.

Gao’s Sister-in-law chased after him: “Gao Shaolin, even if it’s not for my sake, think about the two children. They are your own flesh and blood. If you marry someone else, what will happen to the three of us?”

Gao Shaolin turned his head and saw the two children in the yard looking at him eagerly. His anger subsided a little.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small packet of rock sugar: “Xiao Hu, Xiao Yu, come here. You can each have half of this sugar, but only one piece a day, don’t eat too much.”

The children’s eyes lit up, and they eagerly ran over to take the packet of sugar.

Gao Shaolin patted the children’s heads. After all, they were his own flesh and blood. How could he not care for them?

He was just angry that his mother liked to make decisions on her own and that Gao’s Sister-in-law didn’t understand him. They didn’t think about how, if he didn’t make something of himself, the family’s life wouldn’t improve. They were all just holding him back.

After giving the children the sugar, Gao Shaolin got on his bicycle and left.

Jiang Pan Yu watched as Gao Shaolin rode his bicycle out of the village.

As the sky darkened and it was almost time to finish work, Tan Yanlu’s side remained calm.

Jiang Pan Yu asked the Gossip System: “Gossip, do you think Tan Yanlu has avoided this hurdle?”

The Gossip System checked the task progress bar, but there was no change: “Host, as long as today isn’t over, an accident could happen to Tan Yanlu at any time.

Host, you’ve already done enough for Tan Yanlu, and you’ve helped as much as you can.

Now it’s up to Tan Yanlu herself to see if she can change her own destiny. We can only be bystanders and see how far she can go.”

Jiang Pan Yu understood this rationally, but emotionally, she couldn’t help but want to help Tan Yanlu more. Her heart was in turmoil, and she couldn’t find peace.

When it was time to finish work in the evening, the teams lined up to return their tools.

With so many people and everyone eager to finish work, the scene was inevitably a bit chaotic.