Song Zhaohua had already run far away and didn’t hear the last of Yu Zhaodi’s scolding. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have cared.
He’d been cursed at almost every day of his life. He was used to it.
After Yu Zhaodi finished ranting, Third Brother’s wife looked at Song Lao Qi and said, “Old Seven, you’d better mean what you just said! Aren’t you educated people always talking about keeping your word? You’ve already said it out loud—don’t go back on it.”
Yu Zhaodi was already annoyed with this daughter-in-law and shot her a glare. But Third Brother’s wife pretended not to see it and stared straight at Lao Qi.
Song Lao Qi nodded. “Don’t worry, Third Sister-in-law. I keep my word. Everyone here’s a witness—I can’t deny it even if I wanted to.”
Anyway, his Fifth Brother had just told him that if he lost the bet, Fifth Brother would cover all his farm work. No loss for him. Since Fifth Brother dared to say that, he must have some confidence.
What he was really curious about was—who exactly was the woman?
What kind of poor judgment did she have to take a fancy to his Fifth Brother?
Before, his Fifth Brother had only focused on working. He probably hadn’t had time to like anyone. But now… who knew?
Yu Zhaodi couldn’t bear the thought of her precious son going to work in the fields. She wanted to persuade him again, but Lao Qi spoke first.
“Mom, just watch from the side. Let’s see who wins and who loses.”
“Third Sister-in-law, don’t go back on your word if you lose!”
Third Brother’s wife lifted her chin smugly. “Who’s going back on their word? I’m definitely winning this. Old Seven, when the time comes, even calling for Mom won’t help you. Everyone’s watching. You don’t want to be someone who breaks promises, do you?”
Yu Zhaodi frowned deeply, teeth clenched, glancing at Third Brother’s wife. The outcome was obvious—Old Seven would definitely lose.
Song Lao San, who had just been stepped on by his wife as a signal, finally spoke. “Mom, don’t interfere. Words spoken are like water spilled—can’t be taken back. This is between the younger ones. Let them handle it.”
The usually quiet Fourth Brother’s wife chimed in too. “Yes, Mom, just leave it.”
No matter who won, she’d benefit.
Third Brother’s wife shot her a sideways look. Typical—only speaking up when there was something to gain.
Yu Zhaodi waved her hand impatiently. “Do whatever you want.” With that, she walked outside.
In her heart, she thought: fine. Worst case, she’d just make her youngest son deny it. If that didn’t work, she still ruled this household. She’d give the final word and see who dared object. Anyone who complained could get out.
None of this reached Xiang Wenshan.
At that moment, she was by the river with the other female educated youths, washing clothes.
They started work early and finished late. After dinner and washing up, it was already pitch dark. Who still had the energy to wash clothes? But there they were—five of them—by the quiet riverside.
The silence felt too heavy, so the older educated youth, Song Tao, broke it.
“Hey, have you heard about Song Lao Wu’s gossip these past two days?”
Wenhui’s eyes lit up instantly. She dropped her clothes into the wooden basin and turned. “You mean the thing about him becoming a live-in son-in-law? Of course we’ve heard! Everyone in the brigade knows. A perfectly fine man going to marry into someone else’s family—doesn’t he care what people say?”
Wenshan kept washing clothes, her eyes lifting slightly. Listening to gossip about herself felt… weirdly uncomfortable.
“Yes, that’s the one. But do you know why they’re taking him in as a live-in son-in-law?”
Everyone except Wenshan shook their heads eagerly. “Why?”
Song Tao glanced around, then lowered her voice. “I’m telling you this—don’t spread it. I heard it from one of the village aunties.”
Now even Wenshan grew curious. What exactly had this “village auntie” said?
“We won’t spread it,” Wenhui promised quickly. “Tell us.”
Song Tao’s voice dropped even further. “I heard… the woman he’s marrying is divorced and has two kids.”
“What?!”
“No way!”
Song Tao nodded solemnly. “That’s not all. They say she’s very ugly. And really fat. The kind who’s out of breath after walking a few steps. Her kids are ugly too—that’s why her ex-husband didn’t even want them. And her father is big and burly, a pig butcher. He wants to recruit a live-in son-in-law to protect his daughter so she won’t be bullied again.”
Wenshan’s mind felt scrambled.
What on earth was this version of events?
Who started this rumor? And why did it sound so detailed?
“That’s ridiculous,” she blurted. “Who said that? How could it be that outrageous?”
Wenhui looked at her sister. “Sis, what’s outrageous about it? Song Tao described it in such detail—it must be true. Otherwise why would someone recruit a live-in son-in-law?”
Cao Yu nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that makes sense.”
Song Tao replied, “It was Aunt Xiufang from the brigade. I worked near her this morning, and she told me.”
Wenshan thought for a moment. She didn’t know this Aunt Xiufang at all.
Then she said calmly, “Am I ugly?”
Everyone froze, confused by the sudden question.
Wenhui immediately shook her head and began praising her with every idiom she knew. “My sister is stunning—radiant as a flower, bright-eyed and white-toothed, skin like jade, so beautiful fish would sink and birds would fall from the sky, the moon would hide in shame—”
“Okay, okay, that’s enough,” Wenshan cut her off quickly. “Finish washing.”
Cao Yu looked at Wenshan’s exquisite, breathtakingly beautiful face and couldn’t understand why she’d suddenly ask such a thing.
If she were considered ugly, then how would the rest of them even go on living?
Song Tao didn’t react at first. Sun Lijuan turned her head thoughtfully to glance at Xiang Wenshan, then quickly shook her own head. She felt she was overthinking it.
How could that be possible? Those two had never even crossed paths.
After finishing the laundry, everyone carried their wooden basins back. Once the clothes were hung out to dry, they hurried off toward the work site in a flurry.