The two of them blamed each other. Even Qiao Xingjia, who used to speak up for his younger sister, squatted by the well, looking resentfully at her. He also harbored grievances—such a good family like the Lu family, yet she insisted on getting involved with Yang Huaiyuan.
What was so good about the Yang family? A house full of women—if she married there, she would suffer.
But Qiao Shanshan didn’t think so. Her mind was filled with the image from her previous life—Yang Huaiyuan in a sharp suit, surrounded by people. In the future, he would be her husband, and the Qiao family would rely on her to live well.
She wouldn’t allow anyone to speak ill of Yang Huaiyuan. Hands on her hips, she argued fiercely with her sister-in-law.
The second daughter-in-law of the Qiao family wasn’t one to back down. The two went back and forth until tempers flared, and they started fighting. Women’s fights were nothing more than kicking, pulling hair, and slapping. Qiao Shanshan, already swollen like a pig’s head, was no match. The second sister-in-law, used to farm work, fought with both hands and feet, yanking Qiao Shanshan’s hair and even tearing her clothes apart.
“Stop it, both of you!”
Qiao Sheng, squatting at the doorway, spoke up to stop them.
Qiao Shanshan and the second sister-in-law stopped, glaring at each other with hatred.
“Isn’t this mess big enough already? Shanshan, apologize to your second sister-in-law,” Qiao Sheng ordered.
The second sister-in-law smirked smugly at her.
“Dad?” Qiao Shanshan looked at her father in disbelief. He had never been like this before. In the Qiao family, she had always been second only to him. No matter what mistakes her brothers or sisters-in-law made, he had never blamed her.
Qiao Sheng glared at her. “Apologize. If you don’t, go straight to the Yang family right now.”
Qiao Shanshan didn’t dare argue. She knew that being properly married made one a wife, but going on her own would make her nothing more than a concubine. If she were sent off like that, she would never be able to hold her head up in the surrounding villages.
Swallowing her pride, she apologized to the second sister-in-law.
Whether on purpose or not, the second sister-in-law acted as if she hadn’t heard, forcing her to repeat it several times.
Just as Qiao Shanshan was about to explode, her husband shot her a look, and she finally accepted the apology with satisfaction. Seeing Qiao Shanshan bow her head obediently filled her with delight.
When she first married into the family, Qiao Wanyue had obeyed her every word. Only this younger sister-in-law, spoiled by the family, had been unruly—she had even tried to take her Snow Cream. It was her first time using it, and she had been reluctant to give it up, but Qiao Shanshan only needed to look pitifully at Qiao Xingjia, and her husband ordered her to hand it over.
The whole family doted on this younger sister-in-law. The second sister-in-law was perceptive—she had married into the family to live well, and pleasing the younger sister-in-law was fine. But since the girl was digging her own grave, she wouldn’t be blamed.
After watching enough of the drama, Qiao Wanyue slowly walked out.
“Damn it, the sun’s already high—don’t you know how to cook? Are you trying to starve us all?” Liang Xiu snapped angrily when she saw her.
Qiao Wanyue glanced at her. “Are you not human? You’re a grown woman and can’t even cook? Is that how your mother raised you?”
Liang Xiu took a moment to react, then jumped up. “Qiao Wanyue! How dare you speak to me like that? Even if you marry an officer, you’ll always belong to the Qiao family. Don’t think that just because you’re married you can—”
Before she could finish, Qiao Wanyue cut her off. “So what? I’ve already registered my marriage with Lu Yunzhou. If you hit or scold me again, that’s abusing a military family member. I can report you directly to the police—you’ll end up in prison.”
She pushed Liang Xiu aside and cast a provocative glance at Qiao Shanshan.
Liang Xiu was furious.
Qiao Wanyue had actually stood up to her—even dared to talk back.
This was unacceptable.
“I have to thank Qiao Shanshan. Without her kindness, how could I have married Lu Yunzhou?” After saying this, Qiao Wanyue left the Qiao family without looking back.
Behind her, Liang Xiu continued cursing.
Qiao Shanshan endured the scolding, glaring resentfully at Qiao Wanyue’s departing figure.
Enjoy it while you can. On the wedding day, you won’t be smiling anymore. Lu Yunzhou won’t come back—I’ll wait for the day you kneel and beg me.
After leaving the Qiao house, Qiao Wanyue went straight to the village square and got onto the ox cart. There were no buses in the village—only an old ox that made two trips to the county every day, costing ten cents each time.
Old Yang was the village’s cattle keeper. Too old for farm work, he had been assigned this job by the brigade leader—driving the ox cart to take villagers to town during the off-season, bringing extra income to the village while making travel easier.
Qiao Wanyue handed him ten cents. Usually, not many people went to town, so they waited until four or five older women arrived. Once there were eight people, Old Yang flicked the whip, and the cart set off.
Qiao Wanyue stayed quiet, curling up in a corner, but the gossiping women didn’t leave her alone.
She gave vague answers, saying she didn’t know much and that her marriage had been decided by her elders.
To the women, this sounded like: my sister liked Yang Huaiyuan, and my mother forced me to marry Lu Yunzhou for appearances.
Their eyes lit up with curiosity.
Under their probing, Qiao Wanyue “reluctantly” revealed quite a bit of inside information.
After half an hour, they arrived in the county.
“Be back by noon—no waiting for latecomers,” Old Yang reminded them.
Qiao Wanyue got off the cart and quickly slipped away from the women. The way they looked at her shifted from sympathy to mockery.
How lucky this girl was.
An uneducated village girl marrying a military officer.
Qiao Wanyue heard them but didn’t react.
It was human nature to envy others—she wouldn’t waste her breath arguing.
She headed to the bus stop. The ox cart only brought them to the edge of town; the post office was still half an hour away. Fortunately, the county buses were convenient—ten cents could take you anywhere.
When the bus arrived, she squeezed on and handed over ten cents. The ticket collector, a middle-aged woman, saw that the bus wasn’t crowded and pointed her to a seat.
Qiao Wanyue thanked her and sat down.
“Wanyue, over here.”
The eldest son of the Lu family spotted her from afar outside the post office.
Qiao Wanyue got off and ran over.
Mother Lu was standing beside him.
“Hello, Auntie.”
The more Mother Lu looked at her, the more she liked her. She took her hand. “Wanyue, there’s no need to send anything to Yunzhou. He has everything in the army.”
Qiao Wanyue handed the heavy box to the eldest son. Inside were fruits and vegetables she had prepared the night before, along with some medicinal liquids.
“Auntie, it’s nothing. Consider it an apology from me on behalf of my parents.”
Mother Lu quietly assessed the box.
She could faintly smell apples—something only available at the county supply cooperative. This girl must have gone early in the morning, hiding it from the Qiao family.
Her heart softened.
This girl was far more considerate than the rest of the Qiao family.
She would treat her well in the future.
Qiao Wanyue had no idea that a box of apples had further improved Mother Lu’s impression of her.
The three of them walked into the post office.
Mother Lu had originally been reluctant to spend money and planned to use ordinary mailing.