Chapter 19: Erect a Chastity Memorial Arch for Her

Chen Aihong escorted the relatives out to catch their ride.

Only after all the relatives had been seen off did she return with a gentle expression and ask Su Luyun: “Did you go collect Changdong’s subsidy for this month, Yun Yun?”

“Not yet. I was thinking I’d wait a couple of days until things settle down.”

She still had some money in hand, so it wasn’t urgent.

“Then should Mom go collect it for you?”

“Sure.” Since her mother-in-law was willing to run the errand, Su Luyun naturally had no objections.

Chen Aihong went to collect the living allowance.

It wasn’t far—she just needed to go to the local street office to get it.

When Director Wang Shuimiao saw Chen Aihong arrive, she said: “Aihong, here to collect Changdong’s subsidy?”

“Yes.” Chen Aihong nodded. “Is now a good time?”

“Of course. Everything’s ready. Just waiting for you.” Director Wang responded without hesitation.

This was because the higher-ups had already given instructions, and also because Wang Shuimiao and Chen Aihong were well acquainted.

They had been neighbors for over ten or twenty years.

So it was all easy—just sign a name and it was done.

Chen Aihong received the thirty yuan subsidy but didn’t rush home. Director Wang held her back for a chat, asking about how Changdong was doing, and of course, also about her daughter-in-law Su Luyun.

The heart-wrenching scene Su Luyun had acted out yesterday had already spread across the neighborhood after a night of emotional fermentation.

The street office was well-informed, and the story had circulated early in the morning.

People’s impressions of Su Luyun used to be quite mediocre—they thought she was just a beautiful but useless woman who squandered money.

But after something like this happened, not only did she not leave, she even insisted on staying to take care of him.

That made everyone look at her in a new light.

Especially one of the neighborhood gossip aunties, who teared up as she repeated Su Luyun’s exact words: “In life, I am a member of the Zhou Family; in death, I will be its soul.”

The elderly couldn’t bear this kind of tragic tale.

Such a loyal and devoted young wife who wouldn’t abandon her husband—this image deeply touched their emotional cores.

They couldn’t handle it. Simply couldn’t handle it.

So, during the… well, not gossiping, but let’s say “spreading the story.” quite a bit of embellishment naturally got added.

Even Director Wang’s tone was gentle when she brought it up.

Chen Aihong also felt great sympathy for her third daughter-in-law, and as she talked to Director Wang, her face was full of emotion. “How could I bear to keep Yun Yun here? She’s only twenty-two! Her whole life is ahead of her. Keeping her here—wouldn’t that be a sin? I told her this morning that the old Zhou family would never force her to stay. But as soon as I said that, her tears started falling, and she begged me through her sobs not to make her leave. She wanted to stay and take care of Changdong…”

As she spoke, Chen Aihong’s own eyes reddened.

Director Wang, who had a reputation as a tough woman at the street office, was also moved. Listening to Chen Aihong, she couldn’t help the sour feeling in her chest and praised: “She’s a good child. Truly a good child!”

Her husband had ended up like this, and she still didn’t leave. That kind of character was beyond reproach!

After a brief emotional pause, Director Wang added: “I heard she gave you the three thousand yuan that belonged to Changdong too?”

“Yes! She didn’t keep a single cent. Today, when Changdong’s cousins, uncle, and aunt came over, they also tried to give her money, but she refused all of it…” Chen Aihong shared how her daughter-in-law had turned down everyone’s red envelopes earlier that day.

She was afraid people outside might think her daughter-in-law stayed for money. Her daughter-in-law’s sincerity absolutely could not be slandered!

Director Wang went on and on praising how lucky Changdong was to have married such a good wife—what a pity…

Chen Aihong stayed for a little while longer before heading home.

But even though she returned, the story about Su Luyun once again spread like wildfire.

Previously, it had all been hearsay from others—but this time, it came from Chen Aihong herself, the mother-in-law. How could that not be moving?

The women were full of sympathy, admiration, and emotion.

The men, on the other hand, were a little jealous. Some with sharper tongues even sourly asked their wives or girlfriends: “If I ended up like that, would you still stay with me and never leave?”

To which the women immediately retorted: “Could you be like Zhou Changdong—hand over your savings account the moment you get married and let me spend as I please?”

Back then, Su Luyun could buy an entire courtyard house without even blinking!

Did they have the financial means, and more importantly, the backbone to let their wives spend freely like that?

If they did, the women said, they too could remain loyal and never abandon their man!

With such a slap of logic, those sharp-tongued men were immediately left speechless and embarrassed.

But the whole matter eventually reached the ears of Zhao Yuzhu.

After hearing it, she let out a cold laugh.

This was nothing short of a joke—an enormous joke!

Su Luyun, being praised for loyalty and chastity?

Other people might not know what kind of person she was, but she knew very well!

If it hadn’t been for the binding effect of a military marriage, Su Luyun would’ve already been coaxed into bed by Sun Congxing!

And even if she hadn’t gone that far, she had held hands with him!

She still remembered how Su Luyun came back after Sun Congxing held her hand, sharing the giddy thrill she felt.

She had said that when Sun Congxing held her hand, it felt like electricity running through her!

Even now, Zhao Yuzhu could vividly remember the springtime bliss on Su Luyun’s face back then. Just look at her—how flirty and wanton had she become?

And now everyone was praising her as infatuated and steadfast?

One particularly over-the-top auntie even said that if this were the olden days, they’d have to erect a chastity memorial arch in her honor!

When these words reached Zhao Yuzhu, she was so enraged she laughed.

She couldn’t hold it in. She immediately came over to confront Su Luyun.

It was just one street over—very close.

By the time she arrived, Chen Aihong had already returned home after handing over the living subsidy to Su Luyun.

So only Su Luyun was at home. She was boiling rice gruel for Zhou Changdong and didn’t ask Zhao Yuzhu to leave, because she loved watching Zhao Yuzhu come over even though she clearly despised her. She found it amusing—the way Zhao Yuzhu had to pretend and fake civility.

When Zhao Yuzhu met those cat-playing-with-mouse eyes of hers, although she couldn’t quite tell what they meant, she instinctively felt a little uncomfortable.

She forced a smile and said: “Cousin, are you making porridge?”

“Yes, boiling some rice gruel for Changdong to drink. Aren’t you busy? What brings you over?” Su Luyun replied casually.

“Busy? Not really…”

Hearing that, Su Luyun acted as if she had just remembered something and smiled. “Look at me, I forgot you guys moved out. I still thought you were back at the Ancestral House, washing clothes for the whole family and cooking for everyone.”

Back then, this younger cousin had probably been eaten up with jealousy, right?

They had married around the same time, yet led completely different lives afterward.

One lived freely and comfortably at her in-laws’, sleeping until she naturally woke up.

The other had to get up earlier than the chickens and sleep later than the dogs, eat worse than pigs, and work harder than oxen.

They were both human beings, but the contrast in treatment after marriage was so stark. With her cousin’s personality, her mindset must’ve exploded a long time ago, right?

Zhao Yuzhu’s expression almost cracked.

This idiot—was she mocking her?

But seeing Su Luyun’s nonchalant demeanor, she doubted herself. Su Luyun didn’t seem like someone who could be sarcastic like this.

She always spoke her mind directly!

So Zhao Yuzhu could only swallow it down herself, though she wasn’t composed enough to fully hide her discomfort. Her expression was a little stiff as she said: “That’s all in the past now. Besides, we’re all family. So what if I did a bit more back then?”