Zhong Meixian’s raised chin dropped slightly as she reflexively replied, “They were-they had just finished eating. Your dad and the others hadn’t headed to the fields yet either.”

Gu Yinfeng clicked her tongue. “Isn’t sister-in-law’s remark a bit provocative?”  

“And Mom, you too. If you wanted to give something privately, you could’ve just done it quietly.”  

“But you gave it right in front of your granddaughter-in-law. Won’t she resent her mother-in-law for that?”  

Zhong Meixian grew displeased again. “I’ll give it whenever I want. It’s not like I stopped her from giving anything.”  

“Besides, how is that provocative?”  

“And your sister-in-law wasn’t wrong either. Since she married into our family, she’s naturally better off than that little Chi girl who married into the Lin family.”  

Gu Yinfeng threw up her hands. “No wonder Big Sis is mad at you—I’d be mad too!”  

Zhong Meixian huffed. “Let her be mad if she wants. I’m the one who’s angry!”  

“Your sister-in-law praised me as a good mother-in-law, and your sister couldn’t stand it, so she rushed off to stuff fifty yuan into her daughter-in-law’s hands, acting all high and mighty, saying, ‘Oh, buy whatever you want.’”  

“Hah! As if she was saying that for my benefit!”  

“Well, I won’t take that kind of talk, and your sister-in-law shouldn’t have to put up with her daughter-in-law’s nonsense either. I’ll give too!” The old lady lifted her chin proudly again.  

Gu Yinfeng: “…”  

Her head was about to explode. She felt like there was no reasoning with her mother at all!  

How could she even mediate this?  

From now on, the two families would be caught in endless competition—whose daughter-in-law was more hardworking, who would have a child first, who would have a son first…  

Suddenly, a thought struck Gu Yinfeng. “Mom, don’t you think you and Big Sis are both being led around by the noses by these two new daughters-in-law?”  

Zhong Meixian touched her nose, disagreeing. “What do you mean ‘led by the nose’? I’m not some old ox.”  

Gu Yinfeng: Giving away a hundred yuan and even tossing in a pair of silver bracelets on the first day of marriage—that’s even harder working than an old ox!

So she said, “How is it not?”  

“In other families, mothers-in-law compete over whose daughter-in-law is more diligent, capable, or filial. But the two of you? On the very second day the new daughters-in-law arrive, you’re already competing to empty your family savings.”  

As she spoke, she pointed outside. “I’ve been here for so long and still haven’t heard a peep from the new daughter-in-law. Is she still not up yet?”  

At this remark, Zhong Meixian—who had held her head high the entire time since Gu Yinfeng arrived—finally lowered it slightly.  

No matter what, there was no defending a new daughter-in-law who slept in.  

Gu Yinfeng pressed on. “You’re the mother-in-law. You should scold her! You can’t let her be this lazy!”  

Hearing this, Zhong Meixian grew upset again. “Well, it’s not just your sister-in-law who’s lazy. That niece-in-law of yours is just as bad. If your sister-in-law isn’t up, you think she is?”  

Zhong Meixian’s mindset was simple: no matter how flawed her own family was, it was still her family’s business. Outsiders had no right to criticize—even if that outsider was her own daughter.  

Gu Yinfeng slapped her thigh. “You two!”  

“And Big Sis is no better. Instead of lecturing her own daughter-in-law, why is she taking it out on you?”  

With that, she stood up. “Wait here. I’m going to talk to Big Sis right now.”  

As Gu Yinfeng reached the side gate, Gu Xiaohua happened to arrive at the same time.  

The sisters met, and with just one look, they instantly understood each other’s situation. Then, they huddled by the small gate, exchanging information and venting.  

“Can you believe it? Mom and Big Sis are letting themselves get played like this!” Gu Yinfeng sighed.  

Gu Xiaohua was just as baffled. “I saw both new daughters-in-law on the wedding day. They seemed so meek!”  

“Well… our sister-in-law did seem a bit sharper, but…” But isn’t this too sharp?

Gu Yinfeng added, “I came over to talk some sense into Big Sis. This isn’t right. She and Mom need to stand united, not let those two daughters-in-law lead them by the nose.”

Gu Xiaohua also nodded. “I was going to talk to Mom too. She can’t keep fighting with Big Sis like this, or else neither of them will have any say in this family anymore!”  

“Alright, you handle Mom, and I’ll talk to Big Sis.”  

“Let’s get them to stop this feud.”  

“Deal!”  

With that, the two sisters swapped targets and launched into another round of persuasion. Eventually, Gu Jinfeng and Zhong Meixian both stepped out of their rooms.  

By now, it was already nine in the morning, and Wen Tang and Chi Yue still showed no signs of waking up—both were sound asleep in their rooms.  

Over at Gu Yanli’s place, he had already finished washing the clothes. Now, he sat inside, flipping through a book, occasionally glancing at the person still sleeping on the bed, utterly relaxed.  

He looked at his wife so often that, after sitting there for a while, he hadn’t even turned a single page.  

Seeing that his wife wasn’t waking up, Lin Jingshen decided to follow his uncle’s example and washed the clothes his wife had changed out of.  

Just as Gu Yinfeng and Gu Xiaohua managed to coax Gu Jinfeng and Zhong Meixian out of their rooms, Lin Jingshen was squatting by the well in the Gu family’s yard, vigorously scrubbing clothes—women’s clothes, no less.  

Gu Yinfeng asked, “Jingshen, are you washing clothes for your wife?”  

Lin Jingshen nodded. “Yeah, Second Aunt. Xiao Yue hasn’t gotten up yet, so I figured I’d wash them first.”  

After all, that’s exactly what his uncle had done.  

Gu Yinfeng pointed at the sun high in the sky. “Kid, look what time it is! If she’s not up, can’t you just wake her?”  

Lin Jingshen, still focused on his task, replied matter-of-factly, “But Uncle didn’t wake Auntie up either!”  

Gu Yinfeng: “…”  

She gave up on her nephew and instead turned to her mother and older sister, stomping her foot in frustration. “Have you all been drugged or something?”  

Gu Xiaohua nodded in agreement.  

“Instead of sulking at each other, you two should be teaching your new daughters-in-law some discipline.”  

Gu Jinfeng and Zhong Meixian exchanged glances, both still simmering with resentment, neither willing to speak.  

Gu Yinfeng and Gu Xiaohua shared a look before declaring, “Fine. Since you’re both new mothers-in-law and don’t want to be too harsh, Third Sister and I will handle it. Third Sister will wake Jingshen’s wife, and I’ll wake Yanli’s wife. There’s no way they can be this lazy!”  

Neither Gu Jinfeng nor Zhong Meixian objected—both agreed that Wen Tang and Chi Yue were far too lazy.  

Gu Xiaohua headed toward the Lin family’s yard just as Lin Jingshen finished washing the clothes. Carrying the basin, he followed her back into the Lin family’s courtyard.  

Gu Xiaohua marched straight toward the house and went to push open the door to Lin Jingshen’s newlywed room.  

Lin Jingshen finally realized what was happening, quickly set down the basin, and rushed to stop her.  

Meanwhile, Gu Yinfeng had already pushed open the door to Gu Yanli’s newlywed room—only for Gu Yanli to firmly shut it in her face.  

Blocking his second sister outside, Gu Yanli frowned and asked, “What do you want?”  

Gu Yinfeng, undeterred, peered past him at the door. “Second Sister didn’t come for you. I just happened to be back and wanted to chat with your wife!”  

As she spoke, she tried to step around Gu Yanli to push the door open again, but he blocked her every move.  

“She’ll talk to you when she wakes up,” he said.  

Gu Yinfeng forced a laugh. “I know she’s still asleep—that’s why I’m here to wake her!”  

Gu Yanli raised an eyebrow. “Why wake her? Does Second Sister’s family need help with work?”  

Gu Yinfeng: “…”