Third Aunt Zhang was also envious. Wuni was a capable person in the village, with prestige among the young people. Marrying her would mean bringing someone into the family who could hold things together: “Who wouldn’t want a capable daughter-in-law? Even Captain Sun has his eye on her. Your Qian Jin is truly blessed.”
Qian Laoshi’s Wife: “Yes, but is Captain Sun’s daughter easy to deal with? When these two daughters-in-law clash, I… just thinking about it makes me worry.”
Third Aunt Zhang empathized: “Having one is already a blessing from our ancestors. Having two really isn’t easy to handle. Qian family, if you have something to say, just say it directly.”
Qian Laoshi’s Wife: “Third Aunt, it’s about Wuni’s betrothal gifts. I’d like to ask you to help keep it a secret.”
Third Aunt Zhang leaned in close to Qian Laoshi’s Wife: “Do you think Captain Sun is easy to fool, or do you think the Sun family’s daughter is easy to marry? Qian family, I’m reminding you out of goodwill. If you think about it a little more, you shouldn’t have taken out so much money today just for the sake of face. After all, the Ma family didn’t even ask for a bride price.”
Qian Laoshi’s Wife slapped her thigh, pouring out her grievances: “Third Aunt, how would you know? I’m willing, of course I’m willing to give it. If I had the final say, I’d give each of the two children two hundred and fifty, and I wouldn’t keep a single cent for myself.”
Third Aunt Zhang: “Ahem, that’s not necessary either. That number doesn’t sound good when spoken aloud.”
Qian Laoshi’s Wife: “Third Aunt, you’re not an outsider, so I dare to tell you the truth. In a farming family, making ends meet all year round, who can save up that much money? To put it bluntly, it all came from Qian Jin. When Wuni married Qian Jin, she said right in front of the villagers that from now on, everything in our family would be decided by Wuni. How could I dare not take it out?”
Third Aunt Zhang hadn’t expected that Wuni’s casual remark would be taken so seriously by this couple: “You’re still too honest. If you didn’t take it out, how would Wuni know?”
Qian Laoshi’s Wife nearly fainted from frustration. If it weren’t for that troublesome Qian Cheng at home, who wanted to run off with Wuni and take the money, how could they hide it from Wuni? Who could she even talk to about this?
In the end, Qian Laoshi’s Wife said helplessly: “We two don’t have the cunning to deceive Wuni. If Wuni took it all, that would be fine. But with two hundred left, if word gets out, I don’t know what to do. If I give it to Qian Cheng’s wife, Wuni will definitely not agree. If I don’t give it, I don’t dare either.”
She continued: “Second Aunt, as you said, the Sun family isn’t easy to deal with either. It’s worrying me to death.”
Third Aunt Zhang felt sympathy for this honest woman from the Qian family. Having to deal with two formidable in-laws wasn’t something that could be easily resolved.
Third Aunt Zhang: “I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll keep this to myself for a few days.”
Qian Laoshi’s Wife thought to herself, what kind of talk is this? Sooner or later, it’ll spread and cause trouble: “Third Aunt, can you…”
Third Aunt Zhang waved her hand, looking very serious: “Qian Laoshi’s Wife, don’t say any more. Really, I can only keep it to myself for a few days. If I promise you more, it’ll be a lie. My mouth is famously unable to keep secrets. But I don’t lie.”
Only Third Aunt Zhang could make gossip sound so righteous and solemn.
Qian Laoshi’s Wife thought to herself, once Qian Cheng’s engagement is settled, they’d deal with the future later: “Thank you, Third Aunt. Only you can understand me.” They’d take it one step at a time.
Qian Jin had gone straight home with Ma Jiye. Ma Wuni teased Qian Jin, saying, “If people didn’t know better, they’d think you were the one being taken in as a son-in-law today.”
Qian Jin: “Don’t you go spreading nonsense and ruining my relationship with my second brother-in-law. I’ve never had my eye on his family’s wealth.”
Ma Wuju’s husband chuckled sheepishly: “That’s certainly true. I don’t have the financial means that my fifth brother-in-law has.”
After all, that was a three-hundred-yuan betrothal gift. Back when his family had thirty yuan for him to marry a wife, he wouldn’t have had to be taken in as a son-in-law.
Wu Chunmei directly took out fifty yuan and stuffed it into Ma Wuni’s hand: “Alright, you two go to town and buy some things. Get Qian Jin a set of clothes. The engagement was rushed, and we didn’t have time to prepare.”
Having these two hovering around in front of her was irritating. Sending them far away would be more peaceful.
Qian Jin was truly quite pleased: “Mom, we’ll come back for dinner tonight.”
Wu Chunmei felt a wave of comfort in her heart at being called ‘Mom.’
No wonder the old man had been so elated when called that. Wu Chunmei immediately said: “Is there anything you’d like to eat? Mom can make you some cornbread pancakes. Fish stew with cornbread pancakes—Mom remembers you love that.”
Qian Jin knew his mother-in-law liked sweet talkers: “Mom, no need to go to so much trouble. We’re family; whatever you have is fine.”
Wu Chunmei stuffed a bit more money into Ma Wuni’s hand: “Buy what Qian Jin likes.” The two were pushed out the door.
Ma Wuju’s husband watched, dumbfounded. Mother-in-law was not easy to please, yet she had been won over just like that: “It’s a good thing this guy isn’t usually at home, or else I’d be trampled under his feet.”
Ma Wuju also took a sharp breath. Who could deny it? “Back when this guy used to hang around our house, all us sisters ranked behind him, let alone you. If it weren’t for Wuni being blind and insisting on liking Qian Cheng, you wouldn’t even have had the chance to become the live-in son-in-law.”
Ma Wuju’s husband felt the precarious status of the taken-in son-in-law: “What do you mean?”
Ma Wuju: “I mean, if Wuni had gotten engaged to Qian Jin back then, Dad would have followed Wuni and married off all the rest of us.”
Ma Wuju’s husband finally understood the status of brothers-in-law in the Ma family: “So, I’m not even worth a side dish.”
Ma Wuyi kicked Ma Wuju. Why did she have to say everything out loud? “Don’t listen to Second Sister’s nonsense all day.”
Ma Wuju: “Am I talking nonsense? Ask Ma Wuni herself if that’s not how it was.”
Over there, Wu Chunmei had already picked up her tools and called for her second son-in-law to go catch fish with her. She had to entertain the new son-in-law.
Ma Wuju’s husband, after holding back for a long time: “Mom, I can go by myself.” His face flushed red as he forced out the word ‘Mom.’ If he hadn’t heard Qian Jin calling her ‘Mom’ so freely, he would have been too embarrassed to say it.
Wu Chunmei glanced at her second son-in-law, thinking to herself that the family needed a good son-in-law like Qian Jin to set an example. Look, even the second son-in-law knew to call her ‘Mom’ now: “I’ll go with you. Let’s pick a fat one.”
Over there, Ma Wuyi’s husband was also watching, thinking to himself that things were really about to change. This treatment truly made the two sons-in-law living at home jealous.
Even someone as wise as Mother-in-law seemed a bit carried away.
Qian Jin took Ma Wuni with him, and the two walked to the town cooperative. For most people, it would take over half an hour, but with their fast pace, they could make it in twenty minutes.
But today, Qian Jin was walking slowly. Ma Wuni spoke in a way that wasn’t very endearing: “You’re all bark and no bite. Why are you so weak now?”
Qian Jin had never seen a girl so outspoken, daring to speak to her newly engaged man like this: “Have you tried it?”
After speaking, she blushed, regretting that she had spoken without thinking. She glanced repeatedly at Ma Wuni, afraid that Wuni would be annoyed.
Ma Wuni genuinely didn’t understand: “Huh?” How could this be tested?
Qian Jin looked at Ma Wuni’s bewildered expression, her lips almost curling into a grin. Not understanding was rather endearing.
She grabbed Ma Wuni by the arm: “You said you disliked walking slowly, right? Come on, hurry up.”