“Mom, about the registration… when I was coming back just now, I happened to run into Auntie Wu and the others. They insisted that I sign up and even registered my name for me.”
Lin Yi spoke calmly, as if it were no big deal.
The moment Meng Juan heard that, her expression changed.
Since yesterday, she had been racking her brain over how to bring up the matter with the family. Only if the Zhou family supported her and voted for her would she have the confidence to persuade others in the village to vote for her as well. If even her own family wouldn’t support her, why would anyone else?
Who could have imagined that Lin Yi had already registered?
It was like an eggplant struck by frost—she instantly wilted.
“Dad, Mom, I have something to do. I’ll be leaving first.”
“Juan’er!”
Zhou Lijun hurried after her.
With the two of them gone, the room suddenly felt much more spacious. Liu Huilan paid them no mind and immediately turned to Lin Yi.
“They were the ones who dragged you over to register?”
“Mm.”
“That’s wonderful! It means they’re supporting you. You have no idea—ever since the village announced the election for Women’s Director, several people have wanted the position. Not just people from our village—even the educated youths want to come here and become village officials. For the title of Women’s Director, they’d fight tooth and nail. If you really win, it’ll bring honor to the Zhou family.”
Liu Huilan now truly treated Lin Yi like her own daughter. She was even more enthusiastic than Lin Yi herself.
Even Zhou Xiangdong, who rarely spoke, unexpectedly flashed a wide grin.
“I think she can do it!”
Liu Huilan shot him a glare.
“You barely say a word all day, and now suddenly you know what’s good and what’s not?”
“Listen to you! Of course I know.”
He even looked rather proud.
“Fine, fine. You’re amazing. Now let me discuss the election with Lin Yi.”
As she spoke, she pushed Zhou Xiangdong aside and started discussing ways to help Lin Yi gather votes.
According to her, everyone in the village was canvassing for votes. There were four or five different candidates competing.
Who didn’t want to become the Women’s Director?
Lin Yi said awkwardly,
“Mom, I think we’d better forget about canvassing. Let everyone else do it. Our family doesn’t need to.”
It would be great if she won, but if she lost, that was fine too.
She didn’t want to win that way.
Liu Huilan sighed.
“Alright then. If you don’t want to canvass for votes, we won’t.”
But…
Could she really win without asking for votes?
If she lost, wouldn’t all this excitement have been for nothing?
After returning home, Meng Juan climbed onto the kang in a huff, turned her face away, and refused to look at Zhou Lijun.
“What’s wrong now? So what if you don’t become the Women’s Director?” Zhou Lijun nudged her gently.
“Why can’t I run? Why does it have to be Lin Yi? Why can’t I be the Women’s Director?
“Lin Yi married into your family, but she never even shared a wedding night with your second brother. She’s still a virgin!
“The Women’s Director has to mediate disputes between married couples in the village. Can Lin Yi handle that?
“What’s wrong with choosing me?
“And did you see the look on your mother’s face?”
“Why are you so obsessed with being an official?” Zhou Lijun frowned.
“Ever since the village announced the election, you’ve been acting like you’ve taken stimulants. What, if you don’t become Women’s Director, are we supposed to stop living our lives?”
He continued,
“Enough already. Just because Lin Yi registered doesn’t mean she’s guaranteed to win. Why are you so jealous?”
“I just want to be the Women’s Director! I want the position! Go talk to your parents and tell them to support me. I’m the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhou family!”
“Oh, give me a break.”
“Weren’t you only in second grade before dropping out of elementary school? It’s been so many years since you’ve studied. How many characters can you even recognize now?
“A few days ago, you even tried to stop Yingzi from going to school. You don’t have an education yourself, and you didn’t want Yingzi to get one either. Dad and Mom didn’t even criticize you for that—you should be grateful.”
Those words hit Meng Juan where it hurt most.
She was left speechless.
Zhou Lijun had held back for a long time.
“Meng Juan, that’s enough.
“Ever since you married into this family, our parents have always indulged you.
“You said girls didn’t need an education, so even after Yingzi got into middle school, she never went.
“You complained that our old house was too cramped, and Second Brother used his own military allowance to build us a new house.
“What more do you want?
“You want to be a village official—but are you even suited for it?
“Even if you got the position, do you think anyone would actually listen to you?”
“Zhou Lijun! You just can’t stand seeing me succeed!”
“How can you say that? I want you to succeed too. But do you honestly think you can win?”
“If I can’t win, then Lin Yi can?
“What is your family thinking?
“Why are your parents so biased toward Lin Yi?
“What, just because Second Brother is gone, they still treat Lin Yi like a treasure?
“Or are they planning to have Third Brother replace him?”
The instant those words left her mouth—
Smack!
A loud slap landed across her face.
“Zhou Lijun! You actually dared to hit me?”
“Juan’er, stop talking nonsense!”
The moment he struck her, Zhou Lijun regretted it. He slowly lowered his hand with difficulty.
“Can you just say anything that comes into your head?
“Is that something a sister-in-law should ever say?
“Have you forgotten that Second Brother paid to build our house?
“You…”
His eyes were filled with pain.
Covering her cheek, Meng Juan shouted,
“Fine!
“Your whole family are wonderful people, and I’m the only bad one.
“I’ll leave, alright?”
She angrily packed her belongings.
Zhou Lijun tried to stop her, grabbing at her arm.
She threw everything aside in frustration, didn’t even take the child with her, and stormed out.
Zhou Lijun: “…”