Chapter 28.1

Zhou Junhui really did plan to live at home after marriage, which she revealed after being scolded by her mother. Mother Zhou was torn, unable to sleep well that night and waking up with dark circles to make breakfast.

Luo Lan noticed her mother-in-law’s distress and tried to comfort her. “Mom, everything will work out. We’re here to help. Take care of yourself and don’t worry too much. There’s no obstacle we can’t overcome together.”

Mother Zhou looked at her daughter-in-law, her furrowed brows easing significantly. “Our Zhou family is so blessed to have a good daughter-in-law like you.”

“That’s what you think. People outside say I’m useless because I can’t have children.”

“That’s nonsense,” Mother Zhou said firmly. “There’s much more to life than having children. I know you’ve silently done a lot for this household during these chaotic times. And these two girls… they’re even more worrisome than the boys.”

Mother Zhou shook her head, troubled by her daughters. The eldest insisted on marrying a man Mother Zhou found unreliable, and the youngest was as docile as a little white rabbit. In these turbulent times, she needed a dependable protector, or she’d be swallowed by wolves.

Luo Lan knew that people of this era still valued a woman’s ability to bear children. Her mother-in-law’s understanding was a great comfort. She was fortunate to have such a supportive mother-in-law. If she really couldn’t have children, they could always adopt.

“Don’t take what others say too seriously. We live our own lives. As long as we feel it’s good, it is good.” Mother Zhou comforted her, “If things remain the same in a few years, we can look for a family with too many children and adopt one. Raising them from a young age is just the same.”

“Three years. If things are still the same in three years, we’ll talk.”

“Alright, I’ll follow your lead. Whether born or adopted, I’ll help take care of them so you can focus on your work.”

With her mother-in-law’s support, Luo Lan felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She decided not to dwell on this issue anymore. After washing up, she began to communicate with the system.

Luo Lan: System, do you have an identical piece of fabric? I’d like to exchange for it.

System: That’s easy. Here, look, isn’t this the same?

Luo Lan: Wow, it really is! It looks just like the one I have, but it’s finer, shinier.

System: Of course. This is high-quality fabric with advanced technology. It won’t deform, shrink, or fade.

Luo Lan: Exchange six feet.

System: Waking me up early just for six feet?

Luo Lan: Fine, exchange twelve feet. I’ll make one for myself too.

System: And you call me stingy?

Luo Lan: That’s why we make a good team.

System: What’s your plan for your sister-in-law?

Luo Lan: You’ll see.

The system fell silent, but Luo Lan didn’t hear the prompt: “A hidden task has been triggered. Successfully completing it will earn you a time-crossing reward.”

Exchanging twelve feet of fabric, Luo Lan didn’t need her mother-in-law’s help. She could cut it herself. She had previously exchanged for a sewing book from the system and now looked for a suitable pattern.

It was autumn, warm enough for a shirt at noon but needing extra layers in the morning and evening. She chose a ruffled blouse, perfect for Junfang.

Taking a plastic ruler from the drawer, she went to the living room to measure Junfang. At 1.6 meters tall and with a slender waist, Junfang had a delicate frame, not bony but with rounded arms.

“Sister-in-law, are you making me new clothes?”

“Yes, new clothes for you.”

“So soon? Are you using that fabric?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just get ready to wear your new clothes.”

“Okay.”

Luo Lan planned to make a piece for each sister-in-law. For Junhui, who was making a fuss about marrying her boyfriend, she’d add a pair of pants if the marriage went through.

With these plans in mind, Luo Lan noted Junfang’s measurements and returned to cut the fabric. Zhou Qingshan saw her working but didn’t ask questions. He trusted her plan to lure out the schemer, though he wondered where the fabric came from.

After breakfast, he went to work. Monday mornings were for meetings, now filled with revolutionary fervor.

The meeting dragged on until eleven, with Director Liu’s endless talking making everyone drowsy. After the meeting, Luo Lan went to his office to ask a question.

“Director, can I apply for housing?”

Director Liu looked up. “Aren’t you married with housing?”

“There are difficulties at home. I want to move out to make space.”

“There’s housing, but it’s just a dormitory bed. Eight people in a room. If you want to stay, submit a request.”

Eight in a room, could she manage that?

Director Liu smiled warmly. “These are things men should handle. Don’t strain yourself.”

“Director, you know women hold up half the sky. It’s not just an empty slogan. Times have changed, and so should our thinking.”

“Yes, yes,” he quickly agreed. “I should learn from Comrade Luo Lan.”

Without fieldwork on Mondays, she thought about Junfang’s situation. She recalled the man with the whip, young and around twenty, with a good appearance but a chilling demeanor.

“Hey, what are you thinking about?” Sister Liu tapped her.

“Nothing. Are you going home for lunch or staying here?”

“Stay here. If I weren’t in the Women’s Federation, I’d seek their help myself.”

“What’s wrong? Tell me your story.”

“My mother-in-law told my son I don’t love him because I didn’t let him touch a boiling kettle yesterday. He cried, and she called me heartless.”

Sister Liu was seething. “The worst part is my son joined in, calling me a bad mom and saying he never wanted me anymore, that he wanted dad to find him a new mom.”

“How old is your son?”

“Four. I have two older daughters, and he was my third child.”

“A four-year-old said that?”

“It must have been my mother-in-law’s doing. That’s why I’m so angry. How could she turn my child against me? How am I supposed to educate him properly now?”

“Has she always been like this?”

“Yes,” Sister Liu said, deflated. “My husband is an only son, born after four daughters. My mother-in-law has always spoiled him. Since I got married, she’s been in charge. My husband gives his salary to her, and anything we want to do has to go through her.”

“You can spend your own money. Let her be in charge of the household if she wants. It’s not like there’s much to manage with our small salaries.”

“Don’t get me started. She doesn’t care about the girls’ clothes, saying they can make do. I have to make clothes for my daughters because they can’t go to school with their bellies showing. And I have to take care of my own needs too. Oh, and last month, she borrowed twenty yuan.”

“Have you considered splitting the household?”

“My father-in-law passed away early, and splitting the family isn’t feasible. I can’t send my mother-in-law away; people would gossip. My husband wouldn’t agree either. It would lead to a huge fight.”

“Then take back control of the finances.”

“Easier said than done.”

“Sister, you’re in the Women’s Federation. You talk so wisely about others, but why are you so muddled when it comes to your own life?”

Today they’re teaching your son to hate you. Tomorrow they’ll tell him you favor his sisters, making him resent you even more. It’s because of them that you have to pay more attention to the girls, but in the end, you’ll be the one blamed for not caring about your son.

Luo Lan didn’t spell it out, but she hoped Sister Liu understood. Sister Liu nodded quietly. She knew the truth but was either unwilling or afraid to disrupt the current peace. However, this fragile peace wouldn’t last forever.

“Find an opportunity.”

Such personal matters could only be hinted at by outsiders. Having said enough, Luo Lan didn’t push further. After work, she cycled home. She hadn’t known before that lunch breaks were two and a half hours long. Naturally, she’d prefer to eat at home, where someone cooked for her.

At home, she found a delicious cornmeal flatbread made by her mother-in-law. After lunch, she returned to her room to work on the clothes. By the end of her break, she had cut everything to size and took it to the living room.

“Mom, I want to use the sewing machine to make some clothes, but I’ve never used one before.”

With summer over, her mother-in-law wasn’t napping today. She was fond of the soft pink fabric Luo Lan had chosen. Although pink didn’t suit her as well as sky blue, she didn’t voice this and led Luo Lan to the sewing machine.

Removing the cover, she set up the machine and found some pink thread. Hearing the commotion, Junfang emerged from her room, her eyes widening at the sight of the fabric Luo Lan had cut.

“Sister-in-law, is this for me?”

“Yes, it’s for you. Just wait, it won’t take long with the sewing machine.”

Mother Zhou turned around. “Is it for Junfang?”

“Yes. This soft pink doesn’t suit me. If I bought it for myself, it would be bright red or blue.”

“You should make something for yourself. You need to look presentable for work. Junfang can make do.”

Junfang’s clothes had been patched at the elbows and looked old. But Zhou Mama had turned the patches into little rabbits, making the worn clothes still look cute on her.

“Junfang is a young woman now. I bought this fabric when we got married but never got around to making something for her. I also have some for Junhui, but her style will be different.”

“Thank your sister-in-law,” Mother Zhou chided her daughter. Junfang happily hugged Luo Lan’s arm, thanking her.

“You focus on your work. I’ll make the clothes.”

Since the pieces were already cut, it didn’t matter who sewed them. Luo Lan explained the details to her mother-in-law and then cycled to work, dropping Junfang off at school on the way.

“If anything happens, tell me right away.”

The girl nodded obediently, clutching a book as she said goodbye. “Goodbye, sister-in-law.”