In less than half a day, the entire Luohe Village learned that both the First and Second Branches of the Song family were lazy good-for-nothings.
So lazy that even Zhao Guifang and Liu Zhaodi’s underwear had to be washed by their sister-in-law, Shen Xiuzhen.
“Pah! How shameless can they be? They can’t even wash their own underwear.”
“Exactly. Still, Guifang and Zhaodi are lucky. Even though they married useless men, at least their sister-in-law is decent.”
“If you ask me, Xiuzhen is just too soft-hearted. If I were in her shoes, I’d hang their underwear right on a tree. If they’re not ashamed, why should I be?”
“…”
Just as the villagers at the village entrance were gossiping animatedly, they spotted Song Dalin and Zhao Guifang returning.
Everyone tactfully stopped the conversation and greeted the couple with smiles.
“Dalin and Guifang are back.”
The couple nodded in acknowledgment.
“Did something happen? You two don’t look too happy,” a villager asked.
Zhao Guifang frowned. How could they be happy when they couldn’t borrow any money?
“It’s nothing.”
After brushing off the question, the couple quickened their pace, intending to ask Old Mrs. Wang for help.
“What can I do?” Old Mrs. Wang was nearly at her wit’s end.
Earlier that morning, the Second Branch had come to complain, saying they couldn’t come up with the hundred-yuan dowry.
Now the First Branch was here asking for help. What money did an old woman like her have?
Even if she did have money, she couldn’t give it to them—it was her burial fund.
“Mother, why don’t you go talk to the third son? Dalin and I really have no other options. We’ve borrowed from everyone we can, and we’re still three hundred and eighty yuan short.”
Zhao Guifang sighed. “Or maybe you could talk to the Second Branch and see if they can delay the payment?”
Liu Zhaodi, who had been eavesdropping from her own room, couldn’t sit still any longer. She immediately got up and went to Old Mrs. Wang’s room.
“Sister-in-law, this can’t be delayed! If you really can’t come up with the money, then this marriage should just be called off.
Hongxia doesn’t want to marry anyway. If it weren’t for the thousand yuan dangling in front of her, she’d have probably thrown a fit long ago.”
Unable to borrow money and with no room for delay, Zhao Guifang could only look pleadingly at Old Mrs. Wang.
“Fine, I’ll go talk to the third son.”
With that, Old Mrs. Wang nervously got out of bed and went to find Song Shulin.
To be honest, she had been somewhat intimidated by her third son these past few days. She didn’t know what had gotten into him, but he kept talking about “dividing the family.”
Song Shulin was sitting at his doorstep, shelling sunflower seeds.
Song Sihai loved sunflower seeds, but Shen Xiuzhen was worried that eating too many raw ones would give him worms, so she asked Song Shulin to shell more seeds. She planned to roast them later as snacks for Sihai.
“Shulin…”
Before Old Mrs. Wang could finish, Song Shulin said:
“I have no money. If there’s really no other way, why don’t you go ask around and see if anyone needs a farmhand? You could sell me off—that should fetch some money.”
Old Mrs. Wang was left speechless for a long moment before she finally said:
“Shulin, I’m not here to ask for money. It’s so hot that the ground is parched. Do you think we should water the crops?
Also, the pig in the backyard can’t keep eating dishwater. It’s lost weight these past few days.
I was thinking, since the kids have nothing to do, maybe they could go out and cut some pigweed?”
Song Shulin didn’t even glance at her. “Mother, I’m not feeling well. Let my eldest and second brothers take care of the work in the fields.”
The children have also been feeling unwell these past few days. I see Yaozhong, Dabao, Hongxia, and Xiaoxia are all idle too. Let’s leave the task of cutting pigweed to them.”
Upon hearing this, Song Yaozhong and the others protested. They all rushed out, one complaining of leg pain, another of stomachache.
Song Shulin sneered and said to Old Mrs. Wang:
“Mother, since that’s the case, why don’t you go out and cut some pigweed? You seem to be walking briskly, so this little task shouldn’t be too difficult for you.”
Old Mrs. Wang rubbed her temples, “What’s going on? My head suddenly hurts terribly.”
As she spoke, she headed back to her room.
Just then, Song Erlin entered the courtyard with a dark expression. Seeing Liu Zhaodi leaning against the doorframe cracking melon seeds, he instantly felt a surge of anger.
“From now on, wash your own clothes!”
“Why should I?” Liu Zhaodi threw away the melon seed shells in her hand and frowned in annoyance.
Shen Xiuzhen was still at home, so why should she have to wash her own clothes?
“You ask why?”
Recalling the villagers’ pointing and gossiping earlier, Song Erlin felt deeply ashamed. He grabbed Liu Zhaodi’s arm and dragged her back to their room.
“Song Erlin, let go of me! What’s wrong with you? Why are you losing your temper again for no reason?”
Song Erlin’s face was dark and terrifying. In a low voice, he recounted to Liu Zhaodi what the villagers had been saying.
Furious, Liu Zhaodi’s temples throbbed with anger. “Which gossipmonger is spreading such nonsense behind my back? I’ll go settle the score with them!”
“Stop right there! Don’t you know whether it’s nonsense or not?” Song Erlin’s brows were tightly knitted.
Liu Zhaodi was indignant. “They’re just meddling in other people’s business. It’s just a matter of washing a pair of underpants. Shen Xiuzhen didn’t even say anything, yet these gossipmongers are getting all worked up. If they have the guts, they should ask Shen Xiuzhen to wash their clothes too!”
“Shut up!” Song Erlin snapped.
“Don’t you think about it? If the Wu Family finds out Hongxia has such a lazy mother, will they still agree to let Wu Dawei marry her?”
Liu Zhaodi shrank her neck. “Husband, what should we do now?”
They had finally managed to secure a wealthy in-law, and they couldn’t let this ruin it.
Their daughter was fair-skinned but had little else to offer. Worried that delays might lead to trouble, Song Erlin said:
“Hurry up and marry Hongxia off. We can’t delay this.”
After all, the Wu Family’s conditions were clear. Who knew if they might find a more suitable bride for their son in a couple of days?
“Oh, then I’ll go urge Sister-in-law to gather the bride price money as soon as possible.”
After saying this, Liu Zhaodi went to the First Branch’s room to find Zhao Guifang.
She was eager to marry off her daughter, and Zhao Guifang was equally eager to bring a daughter-in-law into the family. The problem was, they simply couldn’t gather enough money for the bride price.
“Sister-in-law, why don’t you listen to the Third Branch and go sell blood?”
Liu Zhaodi gave Zhao Guifang a terrible idea.
“No, Weimin said selling blood is bad for your health.” Zhao Guifang valued her life.
“Then what should we do?” Liu Zhaodi grew anxious. “Aren’t you afraid the daughter-in-law you’ve almost secured will slip away?”
Of course she was afraid.
Zhao Guifang gritted her teeth. “Tomorrow, I’ll go visit my eldest and second sisters again. If I really can’t borrow the money, then I’ll go sell blood.”
“Alright, tomorrow I’ll also go back to my parents’ home and try to gather the dowry money.” Liu Zhaodi agreed.
After the two sisters-in-law finished discussing the important matters, they looked at the sky and realized it was time to start preparing dinner again.
“Sister-in-law, I made dinner last night, and I also made breakfast and lunch today. By any rotation, it should be your turn tonight, shouldn’t it?”
Mentioning this made Liu Zhaodi wish she could give Song Dabao a good beating.
That kid was a little glutton, always crying about being hungry as soon as mealtime came around, leaving her no choice but to cook.