Ma Chunhua saw both of the Xiang sisters looking at her expectantly. She glanced at Third Sister-in-law before speaking.
“Actually, Zhao Xiufang and Yu Zhaodi didn’t used to be on such bad terms.
It started about three years ago. Back then Zhao Xiufang’s daughter was seventeen—old enough for marriage talks. Apparently she had her eye on Song Lao Wu.
Zhao Xiufang asked a matchmaker to sound things out. But Yu Zhaodi refused. She didn’t think much of Zhao Xiufang’s daughter.
First, Zhao Xiufang had publicly said her daughter’s bride price would be twenty yuan and a sewing machine.
Second, Yu Zhaodi hadn’t planned for Lao Wu to marry so early. If he married and started his own little family, she was afraid his focus would shift away from the big family.
She wanted him contributing more to everyone instead.
Yu Zhaodi wanted a daughter-in-law who didn’t ask for bride price and was hardworking. Zhao’s daughter didn’t meet those standards.
That girl didn’t do much work at home either.
Later, somehow the rumor spread that the Song and Li families were about to form a marriage alliance.
Yu Zhaodi denied it, saying she wanted a hardworking wife for Lao Wu and didn’t think much of that girl.
Eventually the words reached Zhao Xiufang. Furious, she went to confront Yu Zhaodi.
Yu Zhaodi said those were just facts!
After that, Zhao Xiufang asked a cousin who had married into the commune to arrange a match for Li Fenglan.
Not long after, Li Fenglan actually married into the commune.
Since then, Zhao Xiufang would needle Yu Zhaodi whenever she got the chance, and Yu Zhaodi would use her daughter’s situation to jab back. That’s how it’s been these past few years.”
The Xiang sisters suddenly understood.
“Ohhh, so that’s what happened,” Xiang Wenhui nodded. “No wonder… last time…”
“Last time what?” Ma Chunhua pressed.
Wenhui explained simply, “Last time I heard Aunt Zhao mention Song Lao Wu marrying in.”
Ma Chunhua didn’t ask further. The whole brigade already knew about that.
Curious, she turned to Third Sister-in-law. “So, is Song Lao Wu really going to be a live-in son-in-law?”
Third Sister-in-law rolled her eyes. “Him? Who would want him?
All lazy and carefree, no proper attitude. Just daydreaming nonsense. And you all actually believe him.”
Ma Chunhua realized she probably shouldn’t have asked. “He’s not that useless. As his sister-in-law, you shouldn’t talk about him like that.”
“He is useless. Who else can say it if not me?”
Seeing it was pointless, Ma Chunhua changed the topic and started gossiping with someone else.
The Xiang sisters listened to chatter all the way to the commune.
When they arrived, Zhao Dazhu parked the ox cart.
Knowing it was their first time coming, Ma Chunhua reminded them, “Buy what you need quickly. We’re heading back at 10:30. Meet here—don’t get lost.”
“Okay, thank you, Auntie,” Wenhui said.
Before she finished speaking, Ma Chunhua had already dashed off.
Xiang Wenshan tugged her stunned sister along and headed to the post office first.
The commune wasn’t large, but it was much better than the countryside—at least most buildings were single-story brick houses.
After mailing the letter, Wenshan looked at the stamps.
In the future, weren’t some of these worth quite a bit?
She picked one she liked and bought an entire sheet.
She didn’t really understand stamp collecting, so who knew which ones would be valuable.
When the clerk looked puzzled, she casually explained that she had many relatives and needed multiple letters at once.
Outside, Wenhui asked curiously, “Sis, why’d you buy that?” She clearly didn’t believe the excuse.
“Don’t you think it’s pretty?” Wenshan showed her briefly before slipping it into her large pocket.
Wenhui glanced at the Jinggangshan stamp. “It is pretty. But it’s expensive—one yuan twenty!”
“It’s fine. Come on, let’s get big meat buns at the state-run restaurant. I haven’t had meat in ages.”
Wenhui’s lips curved. “Let’s go!”
The restaurant was nearly empty. They each bought one large bun.
Back then, buns were huge. Since Wenshan had eaten breakfast, she was full after half and had to force down the rest.
Wenhui finished hers easily. She’d skipped her coarse bun that morning—kept it in her pocket—to save room for this.
After eating, they wandered through the supply and marketing cooperative. When they came out, each carried a bundle.
“Sis, hold this.”
Wenshan took it. Wenhui then unbuttoned her coat slightly and pulled out a crossbody bag from inside her collar.
Wenshan’s mouth twitched. “When did you get that?”
Wenhui grinned. “When you were washing dishes. I figured if the brigade leader agreed, we’d need it. Didn’t want him thinking we acted first and reported later.”
Wenshan nodded. “Smart.”
An elderly woman passed by just then. Seeing Wenhui adjusting her clothes, she spat near her.
“Shameless girl! So young and already indecent. Unbuttoning clothes in public—no virtue, no shame. Trying to seduce men? Letting everyone see your body!”
Wenshan frowned sharply. Where did this lunatic crawl out from?
Wenhui’s face darkened instantly. Hands on hips, she shot back:
“You’re the one with virtue? Old hag, are you bored out of your mind? What’s it to you? Mouth running nonstop like a toad croaking at anyone you see!
You talk about shame—”
“…And you still dare to come out like that? Aren’t you afraid some man will see your face?
Shameless! Why come out at all? Out here for men to look at?
Binding feet must’ve bound your brain too.
Bah! You old hag, you wicked crone—did a donkey kick you in the head?”
The old woman was so furious at Xiang Wenhui’s words that her eyes bulged wide. With her reed-thin frame, she looked especially frightening.
But Xiang Wenhui didn’t bother with her and continued, “It’s not like I’m not wearing clothes underneath. I just unbuttoned one button—like I committed some terrible crime.
If you’ve got the nerve, why don’t you unbutton yours?
Why are you wearing your coat open? Showing it off for men?
With your old, shriveled figure, men would have their eyes burned just looking at you.”
The old woman’s brows shot upward in rage. She glared at Xiang Wenhui as if she wanted to drink her blood, her face twisted as she pointed at her. “You—you—”
“You what? Not allowed to speak now? You’re the one who can’t argue back, so you’re glaring like you’re about to explode.
Oh~
I get it now. You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Picking a fight so I’ll scold you, then you fall to the ground and frame me for compensation?”
Xiang Wenhui covered her mouth and widened her eyes dramatically. “No way? No way?”
Xiang Wenshan frowned and stared straight at the old woman. “What if my sister’s right?
You’re not trying to scam us, are you?
Pretend we knocked you over, make us carry you home, then sell us off?”
Xiang Wenhui chimed in, “You’re not a trafficker, are you?
You saw that my sister and I are pretty and look like weak girls with no strength, so you deliberately targeted us.
Otherwise, so many people here have unbuttoned their clothes—why are you only picking on me?”
As soon as she said that, everyone felt it made perfect sense.
The weather had grown warmer. It was cool in the morning, but by noon people were already unbuttoning their shirts, some even taking off their outer jackets.
The girl had only undone one button—why did the old woman single her out?
Seeing the strange looks from the crowd, the old woman felt like her lungs were about to explode. Her face turned ashen. “You—you’re the traffickers!”
She threw out that last line and ran off, her legs moving so fast it was as if something were chasing her.
Once the old woman fled, the crowd gradually dispersed.
“Let’s go. We should head back too.”
Taking the opportunity, Xiang Wenshan slipped the items she had bought into her crossbody bag.
Ma Chunhua walked over with a grin and gave Xiang Wenhui a thumbs-up. “Little Xiang, you’re really sharp-tongued.”
Xiang Wenhui laughed. “Oh no, Auntie, you flatter me.
Did you come to buy something?”
“Already did. Bought a pillowcase—my niece from my maiden family is getting married in a couple of days.
You two finished shopping? If so, let’s head back together.”
Xiang Wenhui glanced at Xiang Wenshan. “Sis?”
Xiang Wenshan smiled. “We’re done. Let’s go back together, Auntie.”
The three of them walked toward the ox cart.
All along the way, Ma Chunhua kept praising Xiang Wenhui for her quick tongue.
To be honest, even Xiang Wenshan hadn’t expected it. Her little sister, who looked soft and sweet, turned out to be surprisingly fierce when scolding someone.