“Mom… Meng Juan went back to her parents’ house.”
Zhou Lijun spoke with his head lowered, looking thoroughly dejected. It was obvious that he regretted what had happened.
Liu Huilan didn’t react at first.
“It’s not a holiday or festival. Why would she suddenly go back to her parents’ home?”
“She wanted to become the Women’s Director, but our family didn’t support her. I said a few words to her… and I hit her once. Then she ran off.”
“You actually hit her? Look how capable you are! Go bring her back!”
Liu Huilan immediately flew into a rage.
No matter what the reason was, hitting someone was wrong.
Zhou Xiangdong also came out of the house. He took off one of his shoes and smacked Zhou Lijun several times with the sole. Zhou Lijun stood there with a dark expression, saying nothing.
“Our family doesn’t abuse daughters-in-law. Since you drove your wife away, you go and bring her back yourself.
“And tell her this too: becoming the Women’s Director isn’t something anyone can just decide to do.
“Our family supports Lin Yi, but does that mean Lin Yi is guaranteed to become Women’s Director?
“If your mother really had that kind of influence, I’d just make myself the Women’s Director. I have ambitions too, don’t I?
“The two of you fighting over something like this—isn’t that just asking for trouble?”
Zhou Lijun lowered his head without saying a word.
Pointing at him, Zhou Xiangdong scolded,
“If your wife is so unreasonable, that’s your fault. You’ve spoiled her!
“Whenever something happens at home, you always take your wife’s side.
“Why didn’t you teach her what’s right?
“When she said she didn’t want Yingzi to go to school, you agreed.
“As the eldest brother, you’ve completely failed.”
Zhou Lijun’s face flushed red with embarrassment.
“I’ll go bring her back.”
He handed Huzi over to Liu Huilan before hurrying off to find his wife.
Lin Yi knew about the whole incident but didn’t comment.
Everyone wanted to be an official, but that didn’t mean anyone who wanted the position could get it.
Meng Juan had become so obsessed with power that she’d lost all reason.
Who else could she blame?
Whenever someone stubbornly refused to see reason, Lin Yi usually chose to ignore it.
Otherwise…
They could do whatever they wanted.
Trying to waste time persuading someone like that was simply wasting her life.
Meng Juan had expected both Lin Yi and Liu Huilan to come to her parents’ house, apologize, and beg her to return.
Instead…
Neither Liu Huilan nor Lin Yi showed up.
Only Zhou Lijun made the trip back and forth twice.
Even then, Meng Juan refused to come home.
Eventually, Zhou Lijun stopped going altogether.
He had already admitted his mistake and apologized.
If she still insisted on being difficult and refused to return, there was nothing more he could do.
Meng Juan’s mother pulled Zhou Lijun aside and offered him some advice.
“Have your mother and your younger brother’s wife come here, humble themselves, and apologize to Juan’er. Then she’ll go back with you.”
The moment Zhou Lijun heard that, he became furious.
“I’m the one who hit her.
“If anyone should apologize, it’s me.
“Why should my mother and my younger sister-in-law be dragged into this?
“Ask Meng Juan this: if she’s willing to come back, then come back.
“If not, then forget it.”
After saying that, he turned around and left.
He never went back to apologize again.
The villagers knew what had happened, but no one really discussed it.
Everyone was busy with the election.
Who had time to care about someone else’s family quarrel?
Xiaoguan Village was divided into four election groups.
The first group’s candidate was Liu Xia, a woman in her thirties.
She had graduated from elementary school, could write her own name, and was literate. She had a warm personality and was always willing to help whenever someone in the village had a problem. She was well-liked and enjoyed tremendous support.
The second group didn’t have a single qualified candidate.
Not one woman there could read or write.
As a result, the educated youth Xu Li took that group’s nomination and ran as its candidate.
The third group’s candidate was Lin Yi.
Lin Yi disliked attracting attention.
After registering, she hardly appeared in public again.
Although the villagers’ opinion of her had improved considerably, she showed almost no enthusiasm for the election itself.
As a result, her chances of winning didn’t seem very high.
The fourth group’s candidate was Zhao Hongmei, the younger sister-in-law of Matchmaker Liu.
Since Matchmaker Liu couldn’t conveniently run herself, she pushed her sister-in-law forward as the candidate while she remained behind the scenes campaigning for her.
Among all the candidates, Matchmaker Liu campaigned the hardest.
She had been the village’s matchmaker for decades.
Whether it was weddings or funerals, people often relied on her.
Although Lin Yi had recently exposed her and thoroughly embarrassed her, Matchmaker Liu had spent decades building connections in the village.
Even if she’d lost face, she still had influence.
Few people dared to offend her casually.
While everyone else actively canvassed for votes, Lin Yi remained completely unmoved.
She didn’t even show her face.
Instead, she was busy tutoring Yingzi.
Yingzi tucked away the gloves she had been knitting for Lin Yi before spreading her textbooks across the table.
“What did you learn today?” Lin Yi asked.
“Teacher Fu reviewed all the first- and second-grade material with me. She also gave me some mixed addition and subtraction problems.”
Lin Yi nodded.
“Then I’ll give you a few questions too.”
Yingzi hesitated before saying,
“Second Sister-in-law… everyone else is out asking for votes. Maybe you should go too?
“I saw Aunt Zhao standing at the village entrance handing out eggs.
“Two eggs for every person.”
Lin Yi: “…”
These people are really willing to spend money.
Had people in this era already learned how to buy votes?
Yingzi secretly pulled an egg out of her pocket and handed it to Lin Yi.
“Look. This is one of the eggs she was giving away.”
Lin Yi laughed as she looked at the egg.
“You went to get one too?”
“I did, but she wouldn’t give me any.
“She said my sister-in-law is running in the election too, so we’re the enemy.
“She couldn’t give one to me.
“But Tiedan received two eggs and gave one to me.”
Lin Yi: “…”