Chapter 25: I Won’t Watch, I Won’t Speak, Don’t Go Looking for Them

The words that Song Guimiao said, aside from not offending Tian Zhixiang, ended up offending everyone else present.

Before Shen Xuezhu could speak, Aunt Yao, who was usually very good-natured, spoke up. “Aunt Song, what are you talking about? Why does it sound so awkward to me?”

“Think about it yourself, why would Xiao Mountain’s daughter-in-law rather call us for help instead of asking Xiao He’s daughter-in-law?”

Song Guimiao was stumped by the question. Even Aunt Yao, who usually spoke little, was saying such things.

Zhang Lao Er’s daughter-in-law spoke, “Aunt Song, that’s not how the matter should be put.”

Song Guimiao suddenly became agitated. “If that’s not how it is, then how should it be said? She doesn’t even acknowledge me as a mother-in-law or my second daughter-in-law. Can’t I say something about it?”

Shen Xuezhu rolled her eyes in secret.
What a sharp-tongued old woman.

“Isn’t it because, in your eyes, you don’t have me as a daughter-in-law, or you don’t see me as the big sister-in-law?”

Song Guimiao raised her voice. “Who doesn’t see you as a daughter-in-law?”

“If I didn’t see you as a daughter-in-law, then when we split up the household, why would I have divided the land, the grain, and even chickens to you?”

Shen Xuezhu remained calm. She spoke slowly, “You can only say this in front of Aunt Yao and Zhang Er’s wife.”

“They have no idea how I ended up with those things.”

“Now, with your words, you’re implying that you gave everything to me!”

“In reality, you didn’t want to give me land, but I fought for it myself.”

“You didn’t want to give me money, so I said I’d use grain to pay instead. The mountain land was given to me by my father, and the hens were also given by my father.”

Seeing she couldn’t argue with Shen Xuezhu anymore, Song Guimiao didn’t want to continue discussing the division of the family.

“I came here today to tell you to have your second daughter-in-law come and help you make cured meat, not to listen to you talk about family matters.”

“I didn’t want to talk about this either. You’re the one who brought up the division of the family,” Shen Xuezhu replied.

“Also, I’m telling you now, I won’t let your second daughter-in-law come and help. Someone who tried to lock me in the woodshed a few days ago, how could I ask her for help?”

“Unless I have no backbone and forget the pain after the wound heals.”

Tian Zhixiang couldn’t argue with Shen Xuezhu, nor could she dare to fight her, and so she left angrily after hearing Shen Xuezhu’s words.

…

After dinner, Shen Xuezhu, Aunt Yao, and Zhang Lao Er’s daughter-in-law went back to making cured meat.

There were still thirty pounds of pork left to be processed.

Shen Xuezhu noticed that Zhang Lao Er’s daughter-in-law was looking at her differently.

Suddenly, Zhang Lao Er’s daughter-in-law said, “Xiao Mountain’s daughter-in-law, I have something to tell you.”

“I heard from my mother that you were seen walking with a man in the town.”

“Did I?” Shen Xuezhu casually replied.

Then she immediately realized, “Are you implying that I’m out there having an affair?”

“I didn’t mean that. It’s just what my mother heard from someone else.”

“I know you’re not that kind of person.”

Shen Xuezhu looked at them both and said, “Of course I’m not.”

Aunt Yao, who noticed that Shen Xuezhu wasn’t defending herself, began to worry for her. “I’ve also heard the rumors.”

“By now, they must be spreading all over the village.”

“But you seem like it doesn’t bother you at all.”

Shen Xuezhu replied, “If I haven’t done anything, I’m not afraid of what people say.”

“But if I hear anyone spreading such rumors about me, I won’t let them off easily!”

…

The next morning.

Shen Xuezhu had packed the cured meat into two large bamboo baskets, planning to send them to Xuan Yun Restaurant that morning.

After breakfast, she went to the Zhao family, hoping that Zhao Lao Er could help her drive the ox cart.

When she arrived at the Zhao family, she saw Zhao Lao Er’s wife.

“Zhao Da Sao, I came to ask Zhao Er Ge to help me drive the ox cart.”

Zhao Lao Er’s wife sized Shen Xuezhu up from head to toe.

With a face that could lure men, how shameless.