The two nodded. They were currently staying at the village party secretary’s house, so naturally, they would be eating at the Xie family.
On the way back, Xie Jingzhou quietly explained the family situation to her.
“Mom, Dad, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Eldest Sister-in-law are all easy to get along with. It’s just that Second Sister-in-law is a bit nitpicky. If she says anything unpleasant, just curse her back.”
“If we can get along, we’ll get along. If not, we won’t. At worst, we can move out and live separately. Mom and Dad have long had the idea of splitting up the family.”
Song Siyi listened attentively. She had heard quite a bit about this Second Sister-in-law.
After all, in her previous life, the ones who argued the most fiercely were her and Song Sijia.
The two fought almost every day, and this was no secret in the production team.
At the Xie household.
Wang Guihua looked up and saw that there was no movement at all in Song Siyi and Xie Jingzhou’s room.
She curled her lip. Seeing Dabao and Erbao returning from outside, she waved them over.
As soon as Dabao and Erbao saw Wang Guihua, the two little ones immediately suppressed their smiles.
They obediently walked over. Xiaobao even instinctively tightened his grip on his pocket. He couldn’t bear to eat all the candy his aunt had given him at once—he had to eat one piece a day.
Goudan and the others were so envious when they heard he had White Rabbit Creamy Candy, but he only shared a little bit with them.
His own mother would only snatch things away to give to his cousin, and he wasn’t happy about it.
Wang Guihua pointed at Xie Jingzhou’s room. “Haven’t your Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt returned yet?”
Dabao: “Sister Fangfang fell into the water. Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt are by the river.”
Hearing this, Wang Guihua was displeased. They had worked all day and still had to rush back to cook, while those two had time to go watch the commotion.
Wang Guihua waved her hand, and Dabao and Erbao immediately held hands and went off to play.
When Wang Guihua arrived in the kitchen, Zhao Meixia and Zhang Xiuying were cooking.
Wang Guihua stepped forward to help pick vegetables, but her hands couldn’t help but use a bit more force while doing so.
Seeing her sour expression, Zhang Xiuying knew she was acting up again.
Zhang Xiuying slapped her. “Who are you making that sour face for? I ask you to pick vegetables, and you cut corners. What, are you waiting for me to serve you?”
Wang Guihua looked at her with an accusing expression. “Mom, why did you hit me again?”
“Fourth Sister-in-law just got married and doesn’t cook or go to work. Why don’t you say anything to her?”
Zhang Xiuying suddenly understood. Zhao Meixia shook her head upon hearing this.
Zhang Xiuying slapped her again. “I think your skin is itching. Which family makes their new daughter-in-law work and cook as soon as she enters the door?”
“I recall I didn’t make you do these things when you first married into the family. You couldn’t even do it yourself, yet you’re making demands of others.”
Wang Guihua was unconvinced. “But Eldest Sister-in-law and I helped with cooking back then. Fourth Sister-in-law, on the other hand, ran off to the river to watch the commotion. What kind of new daughter-in-law acts like that?”
“Fourth Sister-in-law was so capable and hardworking in her maiden family. There’s no reason for her to slack off and be lazy at her in-laws’.”
Zhang Xiuying’s face completely darkened. “Shut your mouth!”
Wang Guihua was startled by her sudden shout.
“Wang Guihua, I’m telling you, you’d better be saying this for the first time. My son married a wife to live a life together, not to serve you.”
“Her being capable doesn’t mean she has to do more. If she were married just to work, why would she even agree to marry?”
“I think I’ve been too good to you. You have too little work to do, giving you time to gossip nonsense here.”
Zhang Xiuying pointed at the stove. “Go cook.”
Wang Guihua couldn’t believe it. “Mom!”
Zhang Xiuying stared at her intently. "You know I'm your mother, and this family isn't yours to run. Go make dinner now—the guests will be here soon. If you dare mess this up, I won't let you off easy."
Zhang Xiuying turned and called to Zhao Meixia, "Meixia, come with me. Let her do it alone."
Zhao Meixia didn't dare disobey Zhang Xiuying, so she could only set down her work.
After the two left, Wang Guihua stomped her feet in anger but had no choice but to get to work.
When Song Siyi and Xie Jingzhou returned, Zhao Meixia was sweeping the courtyard.
Seeing them, she greeted with a smile, "Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law, you're back."
Song Siyi called out obediently, "Eldest Sister-in-law."
Xie Jingzhou nodded. "Eldest Sister-in-law."
Zhao Meixia nodded back. "Hurry inside, dinner will be ready soon."
Song Siyi stepped forward. "Eldest Sister-in-law, let me help you."
Zhao Meixia avoided her outstretched hand. "No need, it'll be done soon."
Hearing the commotion, Zhang Xiuying emerged from the main room, her loud voice ringing out. "You're back."
Song Siyi switched naturally. "Mom."
Zhang Xiuying laughed, her face crinkling with wrinkles. "Yes."
She naturally stepped forward and took Song Siyi's hand, her tone affectionate. "Did you get the marriage certificate?"
Xie Jingzhou took the marriage certificate out of his bag, and Zhang Xiuying accepted it. She looked delighted. "Good, you've got the certificate. You two are husband and wife now, so you must live well together from now on."
She took Song Siyi's hand again. "If he ever dares bully you, just tell me, and I'll deal with him."
Song Siyi smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Then she looked at Xie Jingzhou and joked, "I have someone to back me up now."
The corners of Xie Jingzhou's mouth lifted slightly. "Yes, yes, I wouldn't dare bully you."
Hearing this, everyone laughed, and Zhang Xiuying grew fonder of Song Siyi the more she looked at her.
She held onto Song Siyi's hand, reluctant to let go, and simply led her into the main room.
Song Siyi didn't feel awkward either, as Zhang Xiuying was the women's director, and she had grown up calling her Aunt Zhang.
Soon, the brigade leader and the two older brothers also returned.
Song Siyi greeted each of them in turn. The brigade leader's expression softened slightly. "Don't be too formal at home. If there's anything you need, just speak up. Let Jingzhou handle it for you, and if he can't, there's always me, the brigade leader."
"I understand, Dad."
As the brigade leader, Xie Yongsheng was well aware of the Song family's affairs. Although he was the brigade leader, he couldn't always interfere in other people's family matters.
Fortunately, this girl had now stood on her own and married into their family.
Xie Yongsheng wasn't a man of many words, so after giving this instruction, he took his pipe and went off to smoke.
At the dinner table, Song Siyi also greeted Wang Guihua, but Wang Guihua's attitude was lukewarm.
Zhang Xiuying was fuming at the sight, but with Zhou Xun and Shen Zhiheng present, she held her tongue.
Instead, Wang Guihua kept asking Zhou Xun and Shen Zhiheng whether they were single or not.
She even mentioned that her family had a younger sister who was beautiful and outstanding in every way.
This frightened Zhou Xun and Shen Zhiheng so much that they finished their meal quickly and hurriedly excused themselves.
For this, Zhang Xiuying scolded Wang Guihua again.
In the evening, after the two returned to their room, Xie Jingzhou went to heat bathwater for her.
Song Siyi secretly added a few drops of Spirit Spring Water to Xie Jingzhou's water bottle.
When Xie Jingzhou returned, Song Siyi was already sitting back in her chair as if nothing had happened.
Xie Jingzhou naturally sat down close to her. "Wife, are you… still feeling unwell?"
Song Siyi immediately thought of last night. At the moment, Xie Jingzhou was only wearing a tank top, and she could vaguely see the bite marks she had left on him the previous night.
Originally, after drinking the Spirit Spring Water, she had already felt nothing, but thinking of Xie Jingzhou from last night, her eyes flickered slightly. She cleared her throat and said, "Just a little."