The middle-aged woman stood with her hands on her hips, and the flesh around her waist completely blocked her hands.
She actually felt quite warm and pressed her hands further in.
Just standing there, she was like a mountain, nearly taking up the entire entrance hall.
Clearing her throat, she said, “I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Xiaoyu’s mom. My daughter is Jiang Xiaoyu—you remember her, right?”
“What do you mean ‘Beizhen’s mom’? I have a name! I’m Fang Shuqin,” Fang Shuqin said, clearly displeased.
She was proud of that brat, yes, but that didn’t mean she could only ever be called Beizhen’s mom.
Her surname is Fang, her name is Shuqin!
Still, she did have a vague impression of Jiang Xiaoyu. She had heard Zhou Yi mention her before.
Apparently, Jiang Xiaoyu was quite pretty and, at a young age, had already become a team leader in the engineering corps. She had some interest in Lu Beizhen too. Fang Shuqin had even once fantasized about the two of them being together.
But that was before.
The day Lu Beizhen unexpectedly became a vegetative patient, Jiang Xiaoyu immediately applied to study abroad.
Before leaving, Zhou Yi asked her to go visit Lu Beizhen, but she refused, saying she needed to pack her luggage.
Fang Shuqin immediately saw through her.
Although Fang Shuqin felt uneasy, she maintained her politeness on the surface.
“So, what exactly do you want?”
Xiaoyu’s mom said, “My nephew in the army told me that Beizhen has recovered, so I came to take a look and also to discuss him and Xiaoyu. The two of them aren’t children anymore; the marriage should be arranged soon, right?”
Fang Shuqin nearly laughed with anger.
When they heard Lu Beizhen had become a vegetative patient, the mother-daughter duo hadn’t even so much as farted, keeping their distance.
Now, hearing that he had recovered, they thought he was a good man and suddenly wanted to marry Jiang Xiaoyu off to him?
They only enjoyed the good times, never the hard ones.
How could they think so naively?
Lu Beizhen would remain single his whole life, maybe even become a monk—there was no way she would agree to Jiang Xiaoyu marrying him.
Not to mention—
Fang Shuqin pointed to Song Tian, lying on the sofa due to menstrual pain.
“How can you even say that? Xiao Tiancai is right here—she is…”
She is Lu Beizhen’s wife!
Before she could finish, Xiaoyu’s mom interrupted, “You don’t need to introduce her; I know who she is.”
Earlier that morning, she had come out to do some laundry and saw Lu Beizhen’s jeep parked at the small courtyard. She immediately called her nephew in the army to ask about him.
After he told her, he mentioned that a girl named Tiancai was now living at the Lu household—a distant relative of Fang Shuqin—and had come to the army yesterday.
“Anyway, Xiao Tiancai won’t stay at your house long. No worries, I’ll tell Xiaoyu; she won’t mind!”
Xiaoyu’s mom was full of confidence.
Just a distant relative—her daughter Xiaoyu wouldn’t be jealous over this.
Fang Shuqin froze for a moment, then her anger flared uncontrollably.
Her head felt like it was about to smoke!
Was this brat sick in the head, telling Xiaoyu’s mom about the divorce he would apply for six months later?
Ignoring such a good daughter-in-law, planning to marry Jiang Xiaoyu instead?
She wanted to pry open his head and see what kind of garbage was stuffed inside!
Song Tian on the sofa was equally shocked.
She thought to herself:
No wonder Lu Beizhen hated her so much as soon as he woke up, insisting on a divorce.
Turns out, he already had someone in his heart.
He could tolerate her for half a year only because the organization wouldn’t allow otherwise.
Lu Beizhen had truly suffered!
Xiaoyu’s mom continued, “Beizhen seems alright to me, but if my Xiaoyu comes over, there are some things to arrange. Oh, by the way, don’t get a radio; we already have one. Just buy a black-and-white TV. TVs are hard to come by—you need a ration ticket. I heard there’s a competition in the army next month; first place wins a ticket. Make sure Beizhen participates and gets first place!”
Smack!
A crisp sound echoed near Xiaoyu’s mom’s cheek, nearly making her fall.
She angrily glared at Fang Shuqin, “Why did you clap suddenly?”
Fang Shuqin remained calm, “Oh, I just saw a mosquito buzzing. Continue, don’t mind me.”
Although puzzled, Xiaoyu’s mom didn’t think much of it.
She went on, “Otherwise, there’s nothing else. Once married, they’ll live in the family compound. Oh, and the bride price—try to get a hundred yuan and let me keep it. Don’t worry, I won’t touch their money, just hold it to prevent them from spending recklessly. After we’re gone, the money will still be theirs…”
Smack!
Another clap resounded near her mouth.
Fang Shuqin smiled, “Oh dear, another mosquito buzzing.”
Being repeatedly interrupted, Xiaoyu’s mom finally erupted, “You’re doing it on purpose! It’s only May—where are so many mosquitoes coming from?”
“Exactly, where are these mosquitoes buzzing and daydreaming about sucking blood? So shameless!”
“Who are you talking about?”
Fang Shuqin looked innocent, “I said the mosquitoes, who else?”
“…” Xiaoyu’s mom was furious, “You’re clearly speaking metaphorically!”
“Don’t say that. If this idiom knew it was being used for this, it would probably wish it was never created.”
Fang Shuqin’s words were sincere but each one stabbed like a knife into Xiaoyu’s mom’s heart.
Xiaoyu’s mom was left speechless.
“Ugh, there’s some dirt in the house today. I need to clean it quickly to avoid bad luck.”
Seeing that she still lingered, Fang Shuqin grabbed the broom at the entrance and started swinging it at her.
Xiaoyu’s mom scrambled out, cursing.
Outside the Lu courtyard, she continued shouting, “These days, it’s all about love freely chosen; your opposition is useless!”
Hmph! When Xiaoyu marries in, Lu Beizhen will protect her in everything—what can Fang Shuqin do then!
Puffed up like a mountain, Xiaoyu’s mom finally moved away from the Lu courtyard.
Inside the house, Fang Shuqin spat thrice toward the entrance, dropped the broom, and hurried over to Song Tian.
The woman who had just handled Xiaoyu’s mom so fiercely now clutched her clothes nervously, looking guilty and anxious.
“Xiao Tiancai, don’t listen to that woman. In the Lu family, I only recognize you as the daughter-in-law!”
Fang Shuqin was genuinely afraid.
She feared Song Tian would hear this and refuse to reconcile with Lu Beizhen.
Losing such a good daughter-in-law—who would make up for that?
“That brat, I’ll handle him. He’s been a vegetative patient for so long that his brain must be overgrown with weeds to have such nonsense ideas.”
True to her energetic style, Fang Shuqin immediately called the army.
But Zhou Yi answered the phone.
“Where’s Lu Beizhen? Let him take the call!” Fang Shuqin demanded angrily.
Zhou Yi said, “Aunt Fang, why didn’t you call sooner? Beizhen has already…”