Everyone was working as usual. When people saw Song Zhaohua, they advised him not to daydream anymore.
After hearing it so many times, he couldn’t even be bothered to respond. He simply walked past them indifferently.
At noon, back at the table, Song Lao Liu mocked him, “Fifth Brother, you’re famous in our brigade now! Everyone says you’ve gone crazy, spouting nothing but nonsense.”
Song Lao Wu glanced at her coolly. “Even if I’m famous, I’m not as famous as you.
What eighteen-year-old girl is so lazy she has her niece wash her underclothes? The whole brigade is talking—saying the Song family’s lazy daughter won’t even pick up an oil bottle if it tips over.
Who would dare marry such a lazy girl? You’ll probably end up an old maid.”
Song Lao Liu exploded. “You’re the lazy one! You’re the old man! I’m going to marry someone from the city. They’re just jealous, that’s why they slander me!”
“Slander? Since when are people not allowed to tell the truth?”
Song Dashan slammed the table. “Enough! You two are grown adults, still bickering? Old Fifth, look at the mess you’ve made of this family!”
Song Lao Wu muttered—quietly in his own mind, but loud enough for everyone to hear, “How’s this my fault? Who started it?”
Expressions around the table shifted.
Song Dashan’s face turned complicated. He shot Old Fifth a glare, then looked at Lao Liu. “Sit down and eat.”
Third Sister-in-law curled her lip. The old man was too biased.
After they were nearly done eating, Yu Zhaodi spoke up. “Old Fifth, work properly these next few days. I’ll ask around—your aunts and the older women will keep an eye out. If there’s a suitable girl, we’ll arrange a meeting. It’s time to settle your marriage.”
“Meeting? What meeting? I’ve already said I’m marrying in. Besides, if I get married here, is there even room for me in this house?”
Yu Zhaodi flared up. “Watch your mouth! Marry in, marry in—you don’t even have a woman lined up yet and you’re talking about marrying in. What kind of embarrassing daydream is that?
What do you mean there’s no room for you? When the time comes, you and your wife can stay in Lao Liu’s room. Lao Liu can share with Lao Qi, put up a straw mat between you.”
“What?”
“Mom, what are you saying?”
Both Lao Liu and Lao Qi objected immediately.
Lao Liu was so angry she slammed her chopsticks down and stood up. “Why? Why does he get my room if he gets married? I won’t allow it. No one’s taking my room!”
Yu Zhaodi frowned. “Daughter, listen to your mother—”
“I won’t! No one is taking my room!” She kicked her stool aside and stormed back to her room, locking the door from inside.
Yu Zhaodi opened her mouth to call her back but couldn’t get the words out.
After Lao Liu left, Lao Qi spoke up too. “Dad, Mom, that won’t work. I’m a grown man—sharing a room with my sister? Won’t people laugh themselves to death?
Besides, I don’t even wear clothes in the room sometimes. If she sees that, what then? How am I supposed to marry a wife later?”
Song Dashan set his bowl down heavily. “This won’t work, that won’t work—what do you all want?”
Song Lao San cautiously suggested, “Dad, what if we build two more rooms?”
Song Dashan shot him a sharp look. “Easy for you to say. Build with what?”
It wasn’t just one room. If the idea of building started, all the brothers would make demands.
Song Lao San instantly fell silent.
Song Lao Wu leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs lazily, and drawled, “See? I told you I should marry in, but you wouldn’t agree. Looks like that’s the only way to solve this family’s problems.”
Song Dashan muttered coldly, “Useless.”
He stood to leave, then paused, bent down, and quickly finished his coarse corn porridge in two gulps before walking out without another word.
Yu Zhaodi’s eyes darted around as she pretended to sound casual. “Old Fifth… how certain are you about this marrying-in thing?”
Everyone at the table turned to look at her in disbelief.
Song Lao Wu raised a brow, lips curling slightly. “Eight or nine out of ten.”
Yu Zhaodi rolled her eyes instantly, the thought gone. She’d nearly been stupid enough to believe him.
Song Lao San snorted. “Old Fifth, can you stop bragging? Why not be realistic?”
“When I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. What can I do?” He shrugged and spread his hands.
Lao Qi’s eyes shone with excitement. “Fifth Brother, is it really happening?”
Song Lao Wu gave a faint smile and nodded.
“That’s great! Does that mean you’ll be moving out soon? The room will be mine alone?”
“Soon, soon. Once I get married—no, once I marry in—I’ll move out.”
A few snickers floated around the table.
Third Sister-in-law laughed, clutching her stomach. “Lao Qi, how can you believe his nonsense? Aren’t you supposed to be educated? He’s gone crazy again and you’re playing along. How ridiculous.”
Lao Qi frowned. “Why are you laughing? What’s so funny? If Fifth Brother really marries in, what will you say then?”
She smirked confidently. “If he succeeds, I’ll do whatever you say. But if he doesn’t, you’ll go work in the fields with everyone else.”
Finally, she’d found her chance. Why should this little brother-in-law do nothing all day?
And the sister too—both women, yet one lived like a princess…
No work to do, good food to eat, and even a room of his own.
Song Laoqi’s eyes widened. He knew it—he knew his third sister-in-law had ulterior motives. So this was what she had been waiting for.
Song Laowu grabbed Song Laoqi by the collar and pulled him over, whispering a few words into his ear. No one heard what was said, but they saw Song Laoqi break into a grin and nod.
Then he said loudly, “Alright. I’ll do as Third Sister-in-law suggested. If my Fifth Brother doesn’t marry into another family, I’ll go work in the fields with everyone.
But if he does, then Third Sister-in-law has to take care of all the household chores for a month. No more rotating duties during that time.”
Third Brother’s wife beamed from ear to ear. “Deal. A promise is a promise.”
“No!” Yu Zhaodi panicked when she saw they were taking it seriously. “Son, you’re going to be a city man in the future—you can’t go work in the fields!
This doesn’t count.” As she spoke, she shot Third Brother’s wife a vicious glare.
Then she turned to scold Song Laowu. “It’s all your fault, you troublemaker! Is this family too peaceful for you? Always stirring things up!”
Song Laowu let out a long sigh. “Sigh… Seems like I’m just extra in this family. Whether I speak or stay quiet, I still get scolded.
How pitiful. Father doesn’t care, Mother doesn’t love me. Sigh!”
Yu Zhaodi grew even angrier at his dramatic tone. “What kind of nonsense are you saying? Have I ever denied you food or drink?
I raised you from diapers, wiping your mess and bringing you up all these years, and you—”
Song Laowu couldn’t be bothered to listen anymore. He stood up and walked out.
Yu Zhaodi was in the middle of her tirade when she realized he’d already left. She planted a hand on her hip and shouted after him,
“Go then, go! Always storming off the moment someone says something! If you’ve got the guts, don’t come back!
Weren’t you acting all tough? Then what are you coming back for?!”