Hearing that voice, Li Shulan’s foot slipped and she dragged a sharp line across the floor with the sewing machine.
Her good eldest sister-in-law, Niu Maizi!
In her previous life, it was this wretched woman who brought that scum Zhang Youliang into her house!
Back then, right after the wheat harvest, Niu Maizi came over pretending to deliver “good news”—she said a commune announcer in town wanted to find a wife, handsome, upright, good conditions, owned a house in town, blah blah blah…
In reality, she was trying to coax her into remarriage.
Because once she remarried, she would no longer be able to keep these two rows of houses nor the courtyard. And since her two sons were away from home, the house would naturally fall to her sons’ uncle’s family.
Even if they didn’t take everything, getting at least one row of houses would already be a huge gain.
After all, whether it was the eldest brother Qin Dazhu or the younger Qin Sanzhu, each had eight or nine people squeezed into two or three small rooms. How could they compare with her?
She alone lived with two sons—one room each—and even had a whole west room as a sewing workshop.
Niu Maizi had been coveting this house for years.
Ever since the old lady passed away and the younger siblings divided the family property, she had been drooling over it.
But in her past life, Niu Maizi’s scheme failed.
After all, although Li Shulan had been vicious and unreasonable, she still held old-fashioned values: marry a chicken, follow a chicken; marry a dog, follow a dog.
She never once considered remarriage.
If she had such thoughts, she would’ve remarried back when the old lady tormented her, not now.
That time, Niu Maizi had been beaten out of the house with a broom, cursed all the way, and was unable to work for two or three days.
What she didn’t expect was that although Niu Maizi gave up, the middleman had praised her so highly that Zhang Youliang’s interest was stirred.
He later asked around town and learned that Li Shulan’s conditions might even be better than described.
That was why he staged that “bicycle chain falling off” incident.
This lifetime, she would indeed take revenge on Zhang Youliang—but definitely not by harming her own reputation.
What a joke.
Her eldest son was a key talent at a major city factory; her younger son was a rising star in the military. How could she ruin her reputation and affect their future?
Impossible!
Revenge must be carried out quietly.
She would make sure Zhang Youliang ended up with nothing, destitute, and he still wouldn’t know whom he had offended!
Although the later events weren’t Niu Maizi’s fault, she was the one who brought that wolf to the door. She wasn’t going to escape responsibility!
So today, not only would she kick her out like last time—this time she’d be even harsher.
Last time, Niu Maizi couldn’t work for two or three days. This time, Li Shulan wanted her laid up on the kang for an entire month!
With that thought, Li Shulan looked around for a weapon but found nothing handy. So she went to the kitchen, grabbed the fire tongs, and placed them beside the sewing machine.
Just then, Niu Maizi stepped into the courtyard.
Seeing the clean yard, the brick well, and the newly built flush toilet in the corner, her eyes filled with jealousy and greedy determination.
“Little sister-in-law, come out, I have good news to tell you!”
Li Shulan took a deep breath and sneered. “Ha! The sun must’ve risen from the west today. You—of all people—actually have good news for me?”
Niu Maizi’s smile stiffened, but she quickly recovered and sat right down on a stool near the west room without waiting to be invited.
“Little sister-in-law, this time it really is good news. You know the Jingtian Commune near town, right? There’s an announcer there—tall, proper, handsome. He’s been a broadcaster for five or six years, hardworking, well-liked by the commune leaders. I heard he might even get promoted to deputy director in a couple of years.”
“I don’t care if he becomes deputy director or commune secretary. Niu Maizi, are you so full you’ve gone crazy? Skipping work to gossip with me? Are we close? Get lost! Don’t delay my work!”
Niu Maizi knew Li Shulan was fierce, so she wasn’t offended. She simply leaned closer.
“Who said I’m here to gossip? I’m bringing you good news. That announcer I mentioned—you know he’s thirty-eight, right? Still single. His wife died in childbirth years ago. That man is loyal—she’s been gone five or six years and he still didn’t want to remarry.
“His children feel sorry for him and kept urging him to find someone to accompany him in old age.
“After they persuaded him again and again, he finally agreed. But he had one condition—he wanted someone of his own liking. The commune introduced several women, but he didn’t like any. I happened to hear about it from my mother’s neighbor’s son-in-law’s sister-in-law, and guess what? I thought of you right away!”
Li Shulan finally paused her work and tilted her head toward Niu Maizi.
Thinking she was tempted, Niu Maizi sneered in her heart. As expected, an old flirt. Already at this age and still thinking of men.
But thinking of the house, the courtyard, the sewing machine, she swallowed the contempt and smiled even wider.
“Of course, I wouldn’t matchmake blindly. Didn’t your mother take a family photo before? I showed it to the matchmaker and introduced your situation. And guess what?”
Li Shulan asked calmly, “What?”
With a slap on the table, Niu Maizi grinned. “The very next afternoon, the matchmaker came to me and said the announcer took one look at your photo—and he liked you!”
“Oh? Really? And then?”
“Of course I was thrilled!”
Remembering something, she forced herself to sound more calm. “After all, we’ve been sisters-in-law for years. In my heart you’re like my own sister. So before believing the matchmaker, I went to Jingtian Commune to ask around. Guess what people said about him?
“Everyone I asked praised him. Helpful, good salary, doesn’t smoke or drink, saves all his money.
“And the matchmaker said Zhang Youliang even promised that if you agree, he’ll give three hundred yuan as bride price. After marriage, he’ll hand over all his wages and savings for you to manage. Little sister-in-law, isn’t he wonderful?”
At this point, Niu Maizi even felt a little upset.
These days, even young brides in their first marriage rarely got one hundred yuan of bride price. Yet this old temptress Li Shulan was getting offered three hundred? The more she thought, the angrier she got.
But remembering that once this old woman remarried, this whole house would be hers, she calmed down.
Li Shulan’s right hand slowly rested on the fire tongs as she smiled at her.
“Big sister-in-law, are you finished talking?”