When Aunt Wang heard what it was about, she patted Yang Qingqiu’s arm and smiled to ease the tension. “Oh, Sister Yang, I thought it was something serious. So that’s what happened.”
“I understand you, I really do. Kids nowadays are different from how we were back then. They all talk about freedom in marriage.”
“Don’t be upset. Don’t ruin your health over this.”
Yang Qingqiu nodded. “Mm, thank you for your concern, Sister Wang. I still have laundry to do, so I’ll get going.”
“Alright, go on then. It’s getting late. Don’t delay making lunch.”
Yang Qingqiu carried her basin away, quietly letting out a breath of relief. The matter of being sent to the countryside absolutely could not leak out.
In this crowded alley, news traveled fast. If people found out, it wouldn’t even take a day before the whole neighborhood knew.
By then, things would blow up, and Zijin would have no choice but to go.
After all, Lin Jianguo was Zijin’s stepfather. A stepfather was just a stepfather—if something happened, he would never truly put in real effort.
If her daughter really ended up being sent away, then all the years of effort she had painstakingly invested would be for nothing.
Thinking of this, she felt she had to hurry. She needed to quickly find someone to introduce a suitable match for her daughter. If she delayed any longer, something would go wrong.
While washing clothes, she saw several women from the alley squatting by the water tap. She walked over to Hu Cuihua, who she got along with the best.
Just as she set her basin down, Hu Cuihua looked up and smiled. “Qingqiu, why are you so late today?”
“We’re almost done washing already.”
Yang Qingqiu sighed. “Don’t even mention it.”
“I got angry at that unruly girl at home.” She leaned closer to Hu Cuihua and lowered her voice. “Cuihua, since we’re so close, I want to ask you something…”
Hu Cuihua saw her serious expression and thought it must be something important. She put down the clothes in her hands, glanced around, and also lowered her voice. “What is it? Just say it. We don’t have to be so formal.”
“Cuihua, I want to ask… do you know any suitable young men?”
“I want to start looking for a match for my Zijin. You know she’s already eighteen this year.”
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She’s not young anymore. If she doesn’t start now, it’ll only get harder to find a good match in a couple of years.”
Hu Cuihua nodded. “You’re right.”
“It’s better for girls to settle early. If it’s too late, the good men will already be taken.”
“Alright, I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
“Zijin is pretty and well-behaved too. She won’t have trouble finding a good family.”
Nearby, Xu CuiCui watched the two of them whispering and had no idea what they were saying. She leaned forward, straining to listen—and actually managed to catch it.
“Oh, Jiancheng’s wife, you’re trying to find a match for your Zijin?”
“You should’ve thought about this earlier. I told you before, girls should plan ahead. You’re a bit late now.”
“I was actually planning to introduce Zijin to my nephew, but he already has a child now.”
Yang Qingqiu rolled her eyes, cursing inwardly.
Out of everyone in the alley, the person she disliked the most was this woman. Not only did she have a big mouth, she also loved exaggerating things and spreading rumors.
When Zijin was sixteen, this woman had come to her house trying to set her up with her nephew. She had refused.
Her nephew was five years older than Zijin, a temporary worker at the coal plant, full of big talk, and a heavy drinker. Most of his earnings were spent on alcohol.
Suppressing her disgust, Yang Qingqiu forced a smile and squeezed out a few words through her teeth. “Mm, congratulations!”
Hu Cuihua knew about their situation and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Oh, Sister Xu, you’re well-informed. If you know any good young men, introduce them to our alley.”
“There are still several unmarried girls here.”
Xu CuiCui lifted her chin proudly. “Of course. No one in this area is better informed than me.”
“I’ll definitely keep an eye out for the girls in our alley.”
“…That is…”
She sized up Yang Qingqiu.
“It’s just that… Jiancheng’s wife, your Zi Jin’s situation… sigh…”
She shook her head.
“Anyway… I’ll just put in some effort and ask around.”
Her words made Yang Qingqiu quite angry. Clenching her teeth, she scrubbed the clothes harder. She would endure it for now. Once her daughter got married, she would definitely settle the score with that big-mouthed woman.
After finishing the laundry, she went home.
When she saw her four-year-old son playing with ants at the entrance of the Wang family’s house next door, her vision darkened. She forced down her anger and called out, “Lin Ziyou, come home.”
Lin Ziyou could tell his mother was angry. He obediently patted the dust off his body, stood up, and followed Yang Qingqiu home.
After hanging the laundry at home, she glared at her son. “Go to your sister’s room and see what she’s doing.”
Lin Ziyou blinked his big round eyes and looked up at her. “Mom, which sister?”
Yang Qingqiu gritted her teeth and said word by word, “W-h-i-c-h s-i-s-t-e-r d-o y-o-u t-h-i-n-k?”
“Oh oh, I know!” Lin Ziyou immediately ran toward Lin Zijin’s room.
Reaching the door, he saw a small crack in it. He pushed it open slightly and poked his head inside, showing his little teeth in a grin.
“Big sister~”
“Big sister, what are you doing?”
“Mom told me to check on you.”
Lin Zijin sat up from the bed and let out a hopeless sigh.
“I’m just spacing out, Little Youyou. Come here.”
“Okay~” Lin Ziyou obediently walked over.
Lin Zijin pulled him to her side and gently rubbed his soft, chubby little face.
Lin Ziyou puffed his cheeks and asked vaguely, “Big sister, are you unhappy?”
“You can rub my face as much as you want today. After you’re done, you’ll feel better.”
Lin Zijin couldn’t help but laugh at that. She pulled her hands away from his face.
“I’m not unhappy. Whose little brother is this? Why is he so cute~”
“Yours. Big sister’s~” the little boy answered.
Looking at her younger brother—whom she had practically raised since he was small—so innocent and pure, she suddenly regretted it.
She shouldn’t have told her mother about her plan to go down to the countryside.
After hearing Yang Qingqiu’s words earlier, she thought about it carefully and felt they made a lot of sense. She couldn’t endure the hardship of the countryside.
But as for marriage… she had never even thought about it.
Seeing that his sister was just staring at him without speaking, Lin Ziyou tugged at her clothes. “Big sister, is Mom angry today?”
Lin Zijin patted his hair gently.
“It’s okay. Mom will calm down soon.”
“Are you afraid when Mom gets angry?”
Lin Ziyou nodded hard, pressing his lips together. “Mm. Mom is scary when she’s angry.”
Lin Zijin gently pinched his cheek.
“Mom isn’t angry at you. It’s me who made her angry.”
“I’ll go apologize to her later, and she won’t be angry anymore. Don’t worry.”
Lin Ziyou nodded and leaned into his sister’s arms.
Actually, she had seen Yang Qingqiu lose her temper before—much worse than today.
That was when she was six years old. Her biological father had just passed away, and her grandfather’s family, seeing a widow and her children, tried to take back their house.
Her mother had shouted at them furiously and even swung a knife at them. After that, they never came to cause trouble again.
A month later, Yang Qingqiu took her into the city. Only then did she realize her mother had found her a stepfather.
After arriving at the Lin family, she never saw her mother lose her temper again—until today.