Fang Yao looked on at Wang Cuilian, who stood bristling like a fighting rooster and instead of growing angry, she simply laughed aloud.
“Is that so, Second Aunt? It sounds as though your family wanted Li Xuemiao all along. Did you deliberately send the wrong bride to the wedding chamber, just to snatch her away from Xu Qingzhou?”
Her words had barely left her mouth when Wang Hua stepped out from the kitchen, her expression turning cold as she fixed Wang Cuilian with a sharp stare.
Wang Cuilian met Wang Hua’s gaze eyes sharp enough to slice and hastily denied it. “That is absolutely not true! Don’t you dare put words in my mouth! I say Xuemiao is better than you because she actually cares for us she offered up her own dowry to pay you, unlike you, a curse upon this household! You’re nothing but a troublemaker!”
Wang Cuilian pointed imperiously at the ground, feeling a surge of triumph at last. “Here is Xu Qingzhou’s dowry, together with what my family pays you in compensation. Xuemiao’s portion of the bride price we keep. Take this money and if you ever dare come gossiping and criticizing us again, beware lest I tear your tongue out!”
A smile never left Fang Yao’s face. No matter how much she might dislike anyone, she would never let money get away.
She was just about to bend down when Wang Hua beat her to it picking up the stack of money and placing it directly into Fang Yao’s hands. Then she turned to Wang Cuilian with a frown. “Second Sister-in-Law, there is no need for you to come shouting and making a scene here. This compensation is something your family has agreed to. If you take issue with it, we shall go together and let the Village Head decide. Fang Yao is now Qingzhou’s wife and my daughter-in-law. Do you come speaking such foul words before me just to humiliate us?”
This was the second time Wang Hua had stood up for Fang Yao that day. In her past life, Fang Yao had known her character well easygoing yet dignified, too proud to stoop to petty bickering.
To see her now willing to defend her meant she already regarded Fang Yao as family. Warmth rose in Fang Yao’s chest; with such backing, she need not trouble herself further.
Wang Cuilian, mindful of the dignity due both families, dared not openly clash with Wang Hua. She huffed in embarrassment, then stepped inside and carried Li Xuemiao’s dowry luggage away.
Fang Yao moved to retrieve her own share of the dowry. Wang Hua stepped forward to help, carrying the items together into the room.
After placing the bedding inside the large wardrobe, Wang Hua took Fang Yao’s hand and spoke gently. “Fang Yao, you have seen for yourself what sort of woman your Second Aunt is. Henceforth, keep your distance when you cross paths there is no sense wasting your breath on her.”
“Mother is quite right. As long as she leaves me be, I shall pay her no mind!” Fang Yao replied with a playful glint in her eyes.
In her past life, Fang Yao had suffered every indignity at Wang Cuilian’s hands. She had dreamed of having a kind mother-in-law like Wang Hua while Li Xuemiao, blessed with such fortune, had never appreciated it.
After Xu Qingzhou was crippled, Li Xuemiao had seized every coin in the household, leaving Wang Hua without a penny. She had been forced to take odd jobs just to keep them fed, all the while waiting on the couple like a household drudge. Within two years, she had fallen ill from exhaustion and passed away.
And the very last words she had spoken before dying were: I only regret ever bringing Li Xuemiao across my threshold.
In this life, it was Fang Yao who stood as her daughter-in-law. She would cherish this blessing and nurture a warm, loving bond with her mother-in-law.
Wang Hua, seeing how sweet and biddable she was, smiled tenderly. “We have been running about all morning and haven’t eaten a bite. Let me go prepare lunch now. Will Qingzhou be returning by noon?”
“He has taken the marriage certificate to the army unit for approval,” Fang Yao replied. “He said he shall return this evening.”
Wang Hua went to the kitchen. Fang Yao neatly arranged the remaining belongings, then took out and counted the compensation money Wang Cuilian had brought. After deducting the 1,500 yuan Xu Qingzhou had paid as Li Xuemiao’s bride price, Wang Cuilian had added another 1,200 yuan on top. Together with the 800 yuan Xu Manjiang had returned as dowry, the sum came to exactly 3,500 yuan. Holding the thick bundles of banknotes in hand, Fang Yao felt a deep sense of reassurance settle over her.
Yet almost at once, another thought struck her.
Li Xuemiao was someone who valued money above all else and yet she had willingly given up her dowry to assist Xu Manjiang’s family. It could only mean one thing: Li Xuemiao had also been reborn. She knew full well the fortune Xu Manjiang would one day amass through his wealthy uncle!
By acting so generously today, she had instantly won Wang Cuilian over and secured Xu Manjiang’s devotion as well. If her aim had been to see their household descend into chaos and strife, Fang Yao realized, that hope had just grown very distant indeed.
With lunch still being prepared, Fang Yao tucked her money and passbooks away, excused herself to Wang Hua, and stepped out.
Taoli Village lay not far from Yao City. A li’s walk brought one to the outskirts and there, nestled nearby, stood a savings bank.
Fang Yao knew what few others did: in half a year’s time, this entire district would be designated a development zone. Xu Manjiang’s uncle had seized that very opportunity, securing a road construction contract and through it, had earned his nephew their very first fortune.
Li Xuemiao had already gained a head start through her rebirth. She would undoubtedly seize every chance that came hereafter and if things continued this way, Fang Yao would soon find herself falling hopelessly behind.
She resolved then and there: she must take action too and seize control of her own destiny!
Fang Yao deposited her money at the bank, then stopped by the nearby supply and marketing cooperative to buy a new padlock, along with knitting needles and balls of wool.
By the time she returned home, Wang Hua had already prepared the meal and was waiting for her to eat together.
Fang Yao locked her passbooks safely inside the iron box and carefully hid the key. Then, carrying her knitting needles and wool, she went to Wang Hua’s room and set them down beside the bed.
“Mother,” she asked earnestly, “after lunch, might you teach me how to knit a sweater?”
Wang Hua looked at her with the indulgent gaze of an elder watching a curious child. “It strains the eyes, dear. If you wish to have one, I shall simply knit one for you later.”
But Fang Yao insisted. “I truly wish to learn. There is little to do sitting indoors and I would rather keep my hands busy.”
“Very well,” Wang Hua yielded with a smile. “I shall teach you after we eat.”
After all, few mothers-in-law in this world could ever take offense at a daughter-in-law eager to learn from them.
Over the meal, Fang Yao voluntarily washed the dishes. Wang Hua sat inside sorting skeins of wool, watching the young woman’s diligent figure through the glass and found the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile of their own accord.
She could not help but marvel: though her son had missed out on Li Xuemiao, gaining instead a hardworking, capable wife like Fang Yao surely it was a blessing in disguise!
Once the dishes were done, Fang Yao returned to her own room first to light the stove, before coming over to Wang Hua’s to begin her lesson.
In her past life at her parents’ home, Fang Yao had dabbled in knitting but her skill had been limited. No one in her family had been particularly adept, and she had only ever learned the basic knit and purl stitches.
Wang Hua’s craft, however, was something altogether different. She wove intricate, beautiful patterns and fashioned elegant designs rivaling anything sold in the city’s department stores.
Fang Yao determined to master this skill. Perhaps, in time, it might even become a means of earning her own living.
The sun sank low behind the western hills. After sharing supper with Wang Hua, Fang Yao returned to her own quarters with her needles and wool to practice.
The flickering candlelight cast her shadow long upon the wall. A gust of wind stirred the calendar hanging beside the door and then the door swung open from without. Fang Yao lifted her head and looked up.
Xu Qingzhou stepped inside, shedding his heavy army coat. He walked slowly toward the bed with long, steady strides. The crisp chill of the evening clung to him, mingled with a faint, warm scent of spirits. He leaned forward to look at the knitting in her hands.
“What are you making?” His voice was rich and deep polite, yet not distant.
Fang Yao caught the scent of alcohol on him and wrinkled her nose slightly.
“A sweater. Mother has only just begun teaching me. And who were you drinking with?”
“Comrades from the unit. When they heard I had married, they insisted I stand them a round.” He reached into his coat pocket and laid a few crumpled banknotes and vouchers upon the bedside table. “Their wedding gifts. Put them away, you little miser.”
Fang Yao caught the teasing lilt in his tone. She pressed her lips together and shot him a mock-severe glare.
As for the money he had set down she did not even glance at it.
“I am no skinflint,” she retorted. “It is hardly a fortune. Keep it for yourself spend it on whatever you please.”
“Shall I thank you, then, for being so generous with me?”
A low, warm laugh rumbled in Xu Qingzhou’s throat. In the quiet of the evening, it sounded like an invisible feather brushing light against her ear, sending a delicious, tingling shiver down her spine.