“Since Yingzi’s going back to school, she won’t be needing a matchmaker anymore!”
The crowd burst into laughter.
Matchmaker Liu’s face alternated between red and green with embarrassment.
“So what? I refuse to believe she’ll stay unmarried her whole life! Even if Yingzi doesn’t need a husband, what about Lin Yi? She’s still young and doesn’t have a man. I don’t believe she’ll never remarry.”
The moment the words left her mouth, someone came riding down the village road.
The newcomer was on a gleaming bicycle, wearing a bright red dacron blouse and a pair of black trousers. Even from a distance, her fair skin stood out brilliantly. Before anyone could even make out her features, everyone was already staring in amazement.
“I-Isn’t that Lin Yi?”
“Lin Yi, where are you headed?”
Once they recognized her, everyone greeted her with smiles.
Lin Yi got off the bicycle.
One slender arm rested lightly on the handlebars, her fair hand gripping them gently. As she bent slightly, her graceful figure formed an elegant curve.
She lifted her face and smiled.
“So many aunties are gathered here chatting?”
Just that one greeting of “aunties” made everyone beam with delight.
“Lin Yi, it’s so hot today. Where are you going?”
Someone even stepped in front of Matchmaker Liu, deliberately blocking her from view and nudging her farther aside, as though afraid Lin Yi might become unhappy if she saw something unpleasant.
Matchmaker Liu’s face turned green with anger.
She glared at Lin Yi but didn’t dare say a word.
Lin Yi had long since noticed the hostile gaze fixed on her, but she pretended not to.
“I’m going to the town middle school. Yingzi wants to go back to school, so I’m going to check whether her student records are still there.”
The crowd fell silent.
Only moments ago, some of them hadn’t believed Yingzi could really return to school.
Now they believed it.
Ordinarily, a fifteen-year-old village girl returning to school would simply be considered another burden on the family.
“I’m off.”
After exchanging only a few words, Lin Yi climbed back onto her bicycle and rode away.
The villagers watched her leave in stunned silence.
So…
She had really meant it.
…
Lin Yi went to the town first to ask about the enrollment procedures.
She learned that Yingzi had originally passed the entrance examination for middle school but had never enrolled.
If she wanted to attend now, she would have to take the entrance examination again.
After getting a definite answer, Lin Yi headed to the village primary school.
The fifth-grade teacher there was Fu Yang.
Lin Yi knew him.
He had once been an educated youth as well and had even been classmates with Yuan Jinfeng.
He was highly educated and good at recognizing opportunities, eventually earning himself a position as a primary school teacher through his own abilities.
Lin Yi waited until classes ended before approaching him.
“Teacher Fu, I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”
The moment Fu Yang saw her, he froze.
“L-Lin Yi? You… you’re looking for me?”
He stared at her in disbelief.
He was tall, wore glasses, and had the refined, scholarly appearance of an intellectual.
When he spoke, there was even a trace of shyness.
Without beating around the bush, Lin Yi explained that Yingzi wanted to return to school and asked whether she could temporarily join his class.
Fu Yang was surprised after hearing her out.
In the village, girls usually stopped attending school after finishing primary school. They either worked in the fields or stayed home to care for younger siblings.
Very few ever returned to school.
For that reason alone, he genuinely wanted to help.
“But there’s only one month left before the exams. Can she keep up?”
“She can.”
“I’ll tutor her myself. She’ll definitely pass. You can even test her beforehand. If her grades aren’t good enough, we won’t make things difficult for you.”
There was no reason to refuse after hearing that.
Fu Yang nodded.
“I’ll discuss it with the principal, but I don’t think there’ll be any major problems.”
After a brief pause, he hesitated before asking,
“Lin Yi… about you and Yuan Jinfeng…”
He wasn’t someone who enjoyed gossip.
But the rumors had spread far and wide.
He had heard that Yuan Jinfeng had been depressed for quite some time after the incident, and recently there were even rumors that he’d started seeing another woman.
Lin Yi smiled.
“They’re just rumors. There’s never been anything between Yuan Jinfeng and me. Don’t listen to people making things up.”
Fu Yang blinked.
So…
It had all become “making things up” now?
“All right, then. I’ll bring Yingzi over tomorrow to start attending class. You can get back to work—I’m leaving now.”
She was like a gust of fire—
Arriving swiftly and leaving just as quickly.
Before Fu Yang had even gathered his thoughts, Lin Yi had already disappeared into the distance.
Without realizing it, Fu Yang had agreed to take on a rather troublesome responsibility.
Yingzi hadn’t attended school for two whole years.
Now she was suddenly returning to class.
If her grades turned out poorly and dragged down the class’s overall performance during the exams…
That would become quite a headache for him.
As soon as Lin Yi returned home, she heard loud voices coming from inside the house. The tone was anything but friendly.
“Mom, what were you thinking? Yingzi’s almost sixteen. Wouldn’t it be much easier to find her a husband and get her married? Why should she go back to school? Besides, does going to school guarantee success? Look at Lin Yi—she’s a high school graduate. What good has that done her? The only reason she was able to marry into our family was because of that. Otherwise, would she ever have had the chance?”
“Lijun and I both oppose Yingzi going back to school. This is our decision.”
The room fell silent.
Neither Liu Huilan nor Zhou Xiangdong spoke.
Without slowing her pace, Lin Yi walked straight inside.
“Sister-in-law, thank you for worrying about Yingzi, but I’ve already spoken with her teacher. She’ll be starting school tomorrow.”
“What?”
“Since when is it your place to make decisions in this family? Mom and Dad haven’t even said anything yet!”
Meng Juan immediately flew into a rage.
She was the eldest daughter-in-law. In her mind, she would be the one running the family in the future. As for someone like Lin Yi, she’d probably remarry and leave in another year or two anyway.
Liu Huilan cut in.
“Your father and I share the same opinion. We both agree that Yingzi should go back to school.”
Both of them agreed.
The Zhou family wasn’t large. Excluding Zhou Liyue, who was away at school and hadn’t returned home, everyone in the family—except Meng Juan and her husband Zhou Lijun—supported Yingzi’s return to school.
Meng Juan was left speechless.
Lin Yi didn’t care whether Meng Juan approved or not.
When it came to matters of principle, all she cared about was the outcome.
“Sister-in-law, times have changed. It’s time to let go of those old-fashioned ideas. Even Mom agrees Yingzi should study. Why are you the one refusing to accept it?”
It was obvious that Meng Juan and Zhou Lijun had fought quite a bit the previous night.
The bruises on Meng Juan’s face made it clear the argument hadn’t been a mild one.
Liu Huilan spoke again.
“Juan’er, just focus on living your life well with Lijun. Your father and I will take care of Yingzi’s affairs.”
The meaning behind her words was unmistakable.
The families had already split into separate households.
There was no need for Meng Juan to interfere anymore.
No matter how influential the eldest daughter-in-law thought she was, Liu Huilan—the mother-in-law—was still alive.