Lin Jingshen pinched his lips shut and thought to himself, Fine, blame me. As long as it makes my uncle feel better, so be it.

Everyone in the household was already up—except for the two new brides. Gu Jinfeng sat in the kitchen with her mother, Zhong Meixian. One tended the fire in the stove while the other busied herself at the counter.  

As she worked, Gu Jinfeng couldn’t help but grumble, “They say a daughter-in-law suffers until she becomes a mother-in-law and finally gets to enjoy life. So why are we still the ones cooking?”  

Zhong Meixian thought for a moment. “It’s normal for newlyweds to sleep in a little.”  

“From now on, let them handle the chores. We’ll sit together and chat.”  

“You know,” Zhong Meixian mused, “this whole thing was a happy accident. At least it resolved your brother’s situation—finally lifted the weight off my heart.”  

But… She paused, then pursed her lips. “Honestly, though, I’m not satisfied with that girl.”  

“If your brother hadn’t insisted, saying people already saw them together and it’d ruin her reputation, I’d never have agreed.”  

“She’s not a decent sort.”  

Gu Jinfeng nodded. What decent girl would crawl into a man’s bed?  

Still, she tried to console her mother. “Well, she’s part of the family now. As long as she settles down, works hard, and gives you two or three grandsons, that’ll be enough.”  

At the mention of grandsons, Zhong Meixian’s face brightened. “You’re right. If she really gives me three grandsons, I’ll make sure she gets sugar-water eggs every day during her confinement.”  

“The Gu family has had three generations of single heirs. By the time your brother came along, we’d already had three girls—then your younger sister after him. The Gu line has always been short on men.”  

As they talked, the youngest Gu sister, Gu Shuhe, shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. “Mom, Sis, is breakfast ready?”  

“I’m starving. I didn’t even eat my fill yesterday.”  

Zhong Meixian immediately scolded her. “You couldn’t even eat your fill at your own family’s banquet? Who’s to blame for that?”  

“Did someone tie your arms and legs?”  

Gu Shuhe: “……”  

How could she admit it was because her brother’s army buddies had shown up in droves, calling her “little sister” so boldly that she’d blushed like a ripe persimmon and hidden in her room, too embarrassed to come out?  

Gu Shuhe had just ducked into the kitchen when Lin Jiaojiao bounded in, her two braids swinging. Peering around, she asked eagerly, “Mom, Grandma, why are you two cooking? Where are my sister-in-law and aunt?”  

“Don’t tell me my sister-in-law isn’t up yet?”  

Gu Jinfeng frowned. “Did you see her up when you passed by?”  

Lin Jiaojiao shook her head instantly.  

Gu Jinfeng’s lips curled in displeasure. “She used to be so diligent at home. Now that she’s married into our family, she’s turned lazy.”  

“If word gets out that we’ve brought in a lazy daughter-in-law, we’ll be the laughingstock of the village.”  

At sixteen, Lin Jiaojiao hadn’t yet blossomed into self-awareness and remained a chatterbox. Hearing her mother’s words, she immediately chimed in, words tumbling out: “Yeah! Sister-in-law from the Lin family is super hardworking. Auntie Lin says she handles everything inside and outside the house.”  

“And remember Sixth Uncle’s wife? She was so diligent too!”  

“The day after the wedding, she’d already tidied the whole house.”  

The more Lin Jiaojiao talked, the angrier Gu Jinfeng grew.  

Finally, Gu Jinfeng snapped, “Go set the table. It’s time to eat. Stop sitting there like a guest.”  

Lin Jiaojiao clammed up.  

Seeing her cousin put to work, Gu Shuhe also hurried to help with the bowls and chopsticks.  

Gu Jinfeng and Zhong Meixian exchanged a glance, both silently agreeing: they’d ended up with a lazy daughter-in-law.  

What kind of person was this? The food was on the table, and she still hadn’t gotten up!  

Gu Jinfeng ordered Lin Jingshen, “Go wake her. The whole family’s waiting!”  

Lin Jingshen actually stood up to obey.  

Meanwhile, Gu Yanli took a clean bowl, picked up a steamed bun, and added some side dishes to it.  

Zhong Meixian watched his movements, furious. “Are you planning to serve her food too?”  

Gu Yanli wasn’t one to mince words. His face darkened as he retorted, “She’s not even up. Who exactly would I be serving?”

Gu Yanli thought to himself, I’d love to serve her—if only I had the chance!

Zhong Meixian pointed at the food in his hands.  

Gu Yanli turned away from the table. “I’ll keep it warm in the pot. She can eat when she gets up—it’s not like she can have your leftovers.”  

Zhong Meixian: “……”  

Lin Jingshen, who had already stepped out, quickly scurried back. He might be a bit slow, but he wasn’t stupid.  

If his uncle was saving food for his wife, he’d do the same. Otherwise, he’d feel guilty toward his own bride.  

Seeing Lin Jingshen also grabbing a bowl, Gu Jinfeng’s eyes nearly bulged out. “What are you doing?”  

“Oh, just leaving some food for Xiaoyue too.”  

Gu Jinfeng: “……”  

She exchanged a look with her mother, silently communicating: Not only did we end up with lazy daughters-in-law, but our sons are also prioritizing their wives over their own mothers?

Zhong Meixian could only wail, “What sin have we committed?!”  

Gu Yanli finished his meal and left. His bed was broken, so he needed to make a new one—sturdier this time—and had to go scout for materials.  

Gu Shuhe also left after eating. She worked at the town’s supply and marketing cooperative and had taken leave yesterday to come home.  

Lin Jiaojiao slung her schoolbag over her shoulder and headed out too. She was still in junior high and had also taken time off to help, though she hadn’t been of much use. Still, she couldn’t miss her brother’s wedding.  

Lin Jingshen returned to his room to grade his students’ homework while stealing glances at his wife.  

This made it impossible for Gu Jinfeng to go in and wake the girl up. After pacing outside a few times, she sighed and left to work in the fields with the other laborers.  

Over at the Gu household, even after Gu Yanli left, Zhong Meixian still didn’t dare barge in.  

Gu Yanli wasn’t an easy man to reason with. Zhong Meixian had long ago dubbed him a “stubborn mule” and a “stone-faced demon.”  

If he decided something was right, no amount of arguing would change his mind. Push him too hard, and he would snap.  

So Zhong Meixian could only pace circles outside her son’s bedroom door, round and round.  

By the time the sun was high in the sky and there was still no movement from inside, she stomped her foot again. “Such sin! Such sin!”  

When Wen Tang finally woke up, it was past ten. Gu Yanli had already returned from his errand.  

Zhong Meixian was complaining to him, “See? What did I tell you?”  

“I said she wasn’t marriage material, that she didn’t seem like a decent girl, but you wouldn’t listen!” She threw her hands up. “Just look—what kind of daughter-in-law sleeps this late?”  

“Are you counting on her to work in the fields and support the family?” Gu Yanli asked, wiping his hands.  

Zhong Meixian: “……”  

“Even if she’s not working, the house still needs tidying.”  

“Which chore hasn’t been done?”  

Zhong Meixian: “……”  

Fuming, she jabbed a finger in his direction. “You—you just have to have the last word, don’t you?”  

As they argued, Wen Tang emerged, rubbing her eyes.  

Gu Yanli immediately set down the towel and walked over. “You’re up. The food’s in the pot—I’ll heat it up for you.”  

Zhong Meixian: “……”  

Such sin!

Wen Tang lowered her hands, catching her mother-in-law’s resentful glare, but chose to ignore it. Instead, she smiled sweetly. “Thank you, gege!”  

Zhong Meixian muttered, “Shameless.”  

She didn’t say it quietly, but before Wen Tang could react, Gu Yanli shot his mother a warning look.  

The old woman pressed her lips together and fell silent.  

Wen Tang didn’t bother engaging. Instead, she peeked toward the neighboring courtyard, wondering if her best friend was up yet.  

She considered calling out over the wall but worried Lin Jingshen might still be inside.  

As it turned out, he was.  

Chi Yue was awake now, talking softly with him.