Chapter 23.1

“Look at her. She came out of her in-laws’ home alone, fixed up her shed, and lived on her own. Now she’s married well, and if she has a child, everyone will envy her life.”

“But I heard her husband has health issues and can’t have children. Otherwise, why would he come to the countryside to find a wife?”

“Really?”

“That’s what I heard, but you wouldn’t notice anything wrong by looking at him.”

People are always enthusiastic about gossip, especially negative rumors. Their own good news makes them happy, but others’ scars bring a certain schadenfreude^[1]enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others. Jealousy distorts people, and this woman, upon hearing the news, ran to the Wang’s family house that night.

During this period, there were no computers or the internet. Transferring household registration within the same city was very simple. With the migration certificate, the local authority immediately stamped it. After the registration transfer, she received the various ration coupons for the month.

“Oh, I’ll be on government ration now.”

“You go home first. I have things to do at work and will try to come back early tonight.”

Luo Lan waved her hand, “Go ahead, don’t worry about me.”

With the household registration transferred and a job in sight, the family was filled with joy. On her way home, she bought a bag of cabbage. Last time, two heads were not enough for pickling, this time, she planned to pickle more.

“Oh, Mrs. Zhou’s daughter-in-law is back? Shouldn’t you be at work? Why are you back at this time?”

“Not working today.”

With just four simple words, she dismissed the nosy neighbor. Pushing her bike to her door, her mother-in-law came out upon hearing the noise.

“Are you pickling vegetables?”

“Yes, I’ll pickle them with you. My pickled vegetables are always good and never spoil.”

“I’ll help you then.”

Mother and daughter-in-law worked together to pickle the vegetables. Without greenhouses, winter was mostly radishes and cabbage. These had to be pickled to last through the winter. Whole or halved cabbages were pickled, and mustard greens were pickled whole, to be cut when needed.

“Mom, your pickled spicy radishes are delicious too.”

“I pickled a lot, it should be enough to last through the New Year.”

They were busy pickling vegetables and had a simple lunch. In the evening, Luo Lan cooked dinner. Zhou Junhui came in and saw her in the kitchen, poking her head in to talk.

“Sister-in-law, what’s for dinner?”

“Porridge, corn buns, and spicy and sour cabbage.”

“Is it ready? I’ll help serve.”

“The cabbage is almost done.”

Zhou Junhui helped serve the food, and Luo Lan brought the finished cabbage into the dining room. At the table, her mother-in-law ate absent-mindedly, prompting Luo Lan to ask with concern.

“Mom, are you feeling unwell? Or did the pickling tire you out?”

The woman raised her head, her expression shifting from confusion to reassurance. “No, I’m just a bit groggy. It might be a side effect of the medicine.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingshan also looked at his mother. “Has this happened before? You never mentioned it.”

“Sometimes it happens,” she said with a comforting smile, trying to ease their worries. “It’s nothing serious. I just don’t have an appetite. You all eat, I’ll eat later when I’m hungry.”

She was very thin, only about eighty pounds at five foot three, which was extremely underweight. She already ate little, and now she had no appetite at all. How could she sustain herself?

The old woman left the table and went to her room. Luo Lan turned to her husband and asked quietly, “Has her appetite always been poor, or did this start after taking the medicine?”

Zhou Junhui replied, “She ate little before, but not this little. There was a period when she hardly ate at all. After seeing a doctor and taking medicine, she had some appetite.”

“Maybe we should take her to the hospital again.”

Zhou Qingshan nodded silently. “There’s still about ten days of medicine left. I’ll try to take her to the hospital as soon as possible.”

The city hospital couldn’t treat her. They needed to go to a specialized hospital in the provincial capital. Though they spoke in hushed tones, Zhou Junfang, who was at the same table, still heard them. She usually spoke little, even more so since Luo Lan became her new sister-in-law. But now, Zhou Junhui noticed something off and nudged her arm.

“Ah,” she exclaimed, jumping up from her stool at the simple touch.

“What’s wrong with you? You seem out of it.”

“I, I…”

Zhou Junfang, who was in her third year of high school, clearly panicked under everyone’s gaze. “I’m full, you all eat.”

It was obvious she was avoiding the topic, and Zhou Junhui didn’t ask anything in front of her brother and sister-in-law. After dinner, once everything was cleaned up and they were getting ready for bed, the two sisters were alone in the room, and Zhou Junhui finally spoke up.

“Come on, what’s going on?”

“I…” Zhou Junfang looked like she had done something wrong. When she saw their mother approaching, she quickly sought help with her eyes. “Mom…”

Mother Zhou looked at her two daughters. “Don’t say anything, just go to sleep quickly.”

Zhou Junhui asked, “Mom, what’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Seeing her eldest daughter’s stubborn expression, she added, “Just some idle gossip. Don’t take it to heart, and don’t tell your brother and sister-in-law.”

“Oh, that’s all? Let them talk. When my sister-in-law hears it, they won’t dare say anything.”

“Alright, sleep quickly.”

The next morning, Luo Lan got up early to cook. As she entered the kitchen, her mother-in-law followed her in. Just as they were about to greet each other about waking up early, her sister-in-law Zhou Junhui appeared at the door. With three women in the kitchen so early in the morning, it should have been a joyful scene, and all three of them couldn’t help but laugh.

Luo Lan spoke first, “You all go back and get some more sleep. I’ll make breakfast today.”

Zhou Junhui countered, “No, let me do it. I have to take food to work at noon.”

Her mother-in-law chimed in, “I’m older and need less sleep, you two go back and rest. I’ll make breakfast.”

The three of them vied for the task, looking at each other, and then burst into laughter. After some debate, Zhou Junhui ended up making breakfast, while Luo Lan, without any desire to go back to sleep, decided to wash her clothes in the yard.

Zhou Junfang had early study classes, and when she returned after class, she saw many clothes hanging out to dry. She turned to her sister-in-law, wanting to praise her for being capable, but the words stuck in her throat. She wasn’t very familiar with Luo Lan and felt timid around strangers.

“Is Junfang back?” Luo Lan smoothed out a freshly hung bedsheet and addressed her. “Do you have any clothes to wash? Bring them out, and I’ll wash them for you.”

“No, I don’t.” She answered obediently and was about to leave when she turned back and said, “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

“We’re family, so don’t be polite. You didn’t even let me help you wash them. If you have any, just bring them out quickly.”

“Really, I don’t have any.”

The girl said this while biting her lip shyly and ran back into the house. Luo Lan shook her head and laughed behind her. This girl was so timid, like a little rabbit, which was quite adorable and made her heart ache.

Zhou Junhui came out from the kitchen with the prepared meal. She glanced at the two sisters. The elder was fiery in temperament, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, exuding confidence. The younger one was shorter and had a more delicate appearance, speaking timidly.

“Truly, every dragon has its own unique offspring.”

She muttered to herself, washed her hands after pouring out the water, and entered the kitchen. When she checked the lunch box that Zhou Junhui had prepared, she noticed it wasn’t covered properly. Looking inside, she saw the food: millet rice stir-fried with eggs, golden yellow grains mixed with bright yellow eggs, decorated with green leeks. The dish looked beautiful and smelled fragrant.

“Is she making a special meal for herself or is there something going on outside?” As the sister-in-law, she wouldn’t fight over food with her sister-in-law since they usually brought the same. But her woman’s intuition told her that things weren’t that simple. Her sister-in-law was eager to cook, and it couldn’t just be about hunger.

System: There’s something going on. Hey, hey, you can’t fall behind in the front line of eating melons.

Luo Lan: As long as there are points, it’s all good.

System: You’re the most mercenary host I’ve ever seen.

Luo Lan: How many hosts have you seen?

System: …

Luo Lan: Lost your voice?

System: Eat melons, eat melons, and earn points.

Luo Lan quietly covered the lunch box and went to eat with the others, saying nothing. After finishing the meal, Zhou Junhui left for work, and Zhou Qingshan was inside polishing his shoes. Seeing her about to leave, he offered to walk her.

“Wait a minute, I’ll be ready right away.”

Zhou Junhui clearly panicked for a moment but quickly replied, “No need. You do your thing, I’ll be fine. I’m used to walking, and it’s not far.”

Luo Lan had to find the leader about her job next Monday, so for now, she was temporarily staying at home. Seeing the situation, she generously suggested, “Why don’t you ride my bike? I have nothing to do these days, I won’t need it.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m used to walking.” She refused again and quickly left with her lunch box.

Zhou Qingshan didn’t think much of it. Since his sister didn’t need him to see her off, he finished getting ready and rode his bike to work. Luo Lan was urged by the system to leave, fearing she would miss some important gossip.

System: Hurry up! Don’t dawdle!

Luo Lan: Zhou Qingshan hasn’t left yet. if I follow her now, won’t that raise suspicions?

System: You can follow now, just hurry up and leave.

The system was impatiently pushing her like it was on fire. Luo Lan didn’t bother cleaning up the kitchen. As soon as Zhou Qingshan left, she followed him out, taking the same route as her sister-in-law. Along the way, many people were heading to work, but she didn’t see her sister-in-law anywhere.

System: You dawdled too long and lost her, didn’t you?

Luo Lan: Don’t rush me. She must walk for at least twenty minutes. If I don’t see her along the way, then it means there’s nothing going on.

System: If they only meet at work, you won’t be able to follow them in there, right?

Luo Lan: You just thought of that?

System: Don’t blame me, you’re the same!

Luo Lan: Fine, if I end up wasting my time, I won’t be so eager next time.

System: Are you threatening me?

Luo Lan: You’re being paranoid.

Unintentionally, she found herself bickering with the system. What had initially felt like a tiring walk suddenly became more enjoyable with this quirky companion by her side.