“Is Sister-in-law at home?” Wang Yuhong’s voice sounded at the door again.

A hint of impatience flashed in Ning Shu’s eyes, but she got up and walked out: “Yes, what’s the matter?”

She stepped out of the dining room into the courtyard, looking at Wang Yuhong by the door.

Wang Yuhong was adept at reading people’s expressions and feelings, and she could sense that Ning Shu wasn’t as polite as she was earlier that afternoon.

It surprised her a bit, wondering what had happened.

Still, she smiled and asked, “Sister-in-law, I’m sorry to disturb your dinner. I just wanted to ask if Captain Lin has returned?”

“He has. We went to your house just now with a bucket and tub, called out several times but got no response. I’ll fetch them for you now,” Ning Shu replied.

“Thank you, Sister-in-law, that would be great. Earlier, I was at Sister Tu’s house over there. She helped me clean this afternoon and knowing I had nothing here, invited me for dinner. Sister Tu is really warm-hearted,” Wang Yuhong praised.

Her praise was genuine.

Though she liked to take advantage and gauge people’s hearts, she wasn’t someone who would ignore kindness received.

At least she would acknowledge someone’s kindness openly.

However, there was also another layer to her words: this afternoon, your kids didn’t actually help me clean.

“The kids are young and they got tired halfway through. Plus, they couldn’t wake you up. They did their best. But you must have had a good sleep. I couldn’t, as I wake up at the slightest noise,” Ning Shu responded calmly.

She didn’t like to gossip behind people’s backs, especially with those she wasn’t close to.

If she said something today, it might get around tomorrow, causing unnecessary trouble.

But since it was brought up in front of her, she wouldn’t hold back either.

Of course, in such a large community of families, she had to consider Lin Guodong’s reputation.

Currently, she was only somewhat familiar with Mrs. He Jiaxing, Mrs. Yang Wenjie, and Mrs. Cheng Yingyong because their children got along well.

However, even with these three mothers, she didn’t talk much about others, and besides, she didn’t chat with them regularly.

In these times without entertainment, gossiping didn’t motivate her as much as making money in the back hills.

Having implied this, Ning Shu then shouted loudly inside, “Comrade Lin Guodong, could you bring over the water bucket and tub that were bought this afternoon for the neighbor from the Moon Bay Production Brigade? I can’t carry them.”

Lin Guodong had already recognized it was the voice of the neighbor’s Vice Captain Li’s family.

He hadn’t gone out when Ning Shu didn’t call him, as he knew she was mad at the neighbor, and wouldn’t go up on her own initiative.

At this moment, as soon as she shouted, he immediately put down his chopsticks and went out.

“Coming.” However, he was also puzzled as to why she was shouting so loudly.

Ning Shu then turned to Wang Yuhong and asked, “Comrade, you mentioned earlier that you’d pay for the bucket and tub once your husband got home, right?”

Wang Yuhong was initially taken aback by Ning Shu’s ambiguous remarks, then bewildered by her loud voice, and now, upon hearing her question,

She instinctively nodded, “Uh, yeah.”

After all, she wasn’t willing to use her own money, preferring to wait for her husband to return and repay with his money.

Ning Shu said, “Let me write an IOU for you to look over. We should keep things clear between close relatives. Otherwise, it might become unclear later on. Just wait a moment.”

Without giving Wang Yuhong a chance to refuse, she walked towards the room.

This shocked Wang Yuhong.

What?

An IOU? Is this really necessary?

Even in the countryside, people don’t write IOUs for a few buckets and tubs.

In this military family compound, everyone cares about their reputation. Why go to such lengths?

Is she afraid I won’t pay?

How much could these two buckets and two tubs possibly cost? One yuan each?

Moreover, her husband and this man are comrades. Is it necessary for comrades to write IOUs for two buckets and two tubs?

Wang Yuhong has spent her entire life upholding her reputation, but today it seems she’s losing it all.

Before marriage, she would say pleasant things and please her brothers and parents, being the best-treated sister among all her sisters in her family.

After marriage, even though her mother-in-law was in charge at home, she managed well.

Her husband treated her well, even though she used the same methods as in her family in front of her mother-in-law.

Whether in her family or her husband’s family, everyone respected her.

But now, this family isn’t showing her any respect at all.

At this moment, Wang Yuhong really wanted to say, “I’ll pay right away.”

But she had already given the excuse of not having money earlier.

If she pays now, she would be humiliating herself.

For the time being, Wang Yuhong can only swallow her bitterness.

Little did she know, the bitterness Ning Shu caused her went beyond this.

Wang Yuhong saw Lin Guodong waiting beside the water buckets and turned to him, saying, “Comrade, your sister-in-law is really meticulous. She even insists on writing IOUs for two water buckets and two wooden basins. She must be careful about everything, right? You’re really fortunate.”

She wanted to convey that living with someone who counts every penny must be very painful.

“Yeah, she’s good,” Lin Guodong never let his guard down in front of others, and he didn’t think a man had to assert superiority over a woman for the sake of his own pride.

He was even willing to humiliate himself to protect her dignity.

Besides, he truly believed that Ning Shu was good, really good.

Wang Yuhong: “…”

Ning Shu was oblivious to the outside world, having finished writing the IOU in the room.

It stated the amount owed for two water buckets and two wooden basins purchased on behalf of Yuhong.

However, the money would only be paid after Lieutenant Li was discharged from the hospital.

Borrower: Ning Shu

Lender:

Witness:

After completing the IOU, Ning Shu took it out and handed it to Wang Yuhong. “Comrade, have you studied before? Can you read? If you can’t, I can find someone to read it to you, and you can press your fingerprint where you need to sign.”

Wang Yuhong: “…I’ve studied.”

She had finished elementary school, which was considered quite educated among the girls in her hometown.

If Ning Shu hadn’t looked so serious, she might have thought she was being mocked.

But she hadn’t offended Ning Shu, so she probably wasn’t being mocked.

Wang Yuhong took the IOU, glanced at it, and being from the countryside herself, she understood the prices of water buckets and wooden basins.

Therefore, she wasn’t surprised by the amount on the IOU.

It was when she saw the section for witnesses that she paused. “Sister-in-law, what does ‘witness’ mean?”

Ning Shu smiled faintly, “Well, you see, the prices of these water buckets and wooden basins aren’t set by me arbitrarily.

They’re standardized by the Moon Bay Production Brigade.

Many families in our compound trade there.

I’ll find someone who’s done transactions there to be a witness, proving that this is a fair price without any extra costs.

Please don’t think too much.

I’m just worried someone might think Guodong and I are making a profit.

It’s really tough for him to ride his bike to Moon Bay in this heat to make these deals.

If misunderstood, it would be thankless. Just wait here, I’ll be back soon.”

Without waiting for Wang Yuhong’s response, Ning Shu dashed out of the courtyard, moving so swiftly that she didn’t seem like someone who had collapsed that afternoon.

Wang Yuhong realized and called out, “Sister-in-law… Sister-in-law…”

She wanted to say she trusted her and there was no need for a witness.

If they sought a witness, how would she save face?

But Ning Shu pretended not to hear and went to the neighboring Yang family.

“Auntie Yang… Auntie Yang…”

It was lunchtime at Yang’s, and Auntie Yang heard Ning Shu’s voice.

“Ning girl, I’m inside, come in.”

Ning Shu entered without delay and quickly explained the matter of the IOU, skipping any mention of cleaning chores. Cleaning could wait.

Upon hearing Ning’s explanation, Auntie Yang was astonished.

Did Vice Captain Li’s wife really come to the army without a few coins in her pocket?

When away from home, one surely carries money; it’s common sense, especially for a pregnant woman.

Who was Auntie Yang? A dominant figure in the village, she knew exactly what every little gesture meant.

So, she immediately understood, “That young girl must be trying to get an advantage.”

Ning Shu smiled without denying or agreeing, “Probably not. After all, she’s the lieutenant’s wife. Surely she’s not that superficial.”

Auntie Yang said, “Ning girl, you’re young and inexperienced. I’m older and have met more people.

You should trust me.

But… I’m illiterate, I can’t sign.”

Then, she looked at the people in her house and said to her daughter-in-law Zhao Huan, “You come and sign.”

Zhao Huan hadn’t been to school, but she wasn’t illiterate.

Yang’s husband had attended school before joining the army, going as far as junior high.

During breaks or holidays, he had taught Zhao Huan to read.

Auntie Yang didn’t oppose it; she understood the hardship of illiteracy, but they couldn’t afford to send Zhao Huan to school.

If her son could teach her, she wouldn’t object.

Besides, she had another concern at the time: she worried that if Zhao Huan made too many friends after going to school, she might leave with them, and then the foster daughter-in-law she found for her son would be gone.

“Oh,” Zhao Huan hesitated when it came time to sign. “Mom, am I supposed to write your name or mine?”

Auntie Yang gave her daughter-in-law a wry look. “You’re signing on my behalf, so it’s my name.”

Zhao Huan smiled, acting as a submissive daughter-in-law in front of Auntie Yang. “Oh.” But privately, they got along well.

After Zhao Huan signed as Yang Cuijuan, Ning Shu took the IOU and left.

As Ning Shu left, Auntie Yang commented, “That neighbor of Ning girl’s may seem ignorant, but trying to take advantage of Ning girl is out of the question.”

Zhao Huan asked, “Mom, haven’t you always liked Comrade Ning? Why say that?” Apart from Ning Shu, she hadn’t seen any young person get along so well with their mother-in-law.

Seeing how well her mother-in-law and Ning Shu got along still surprised her to this day!