“Huh? No way. Comrade Lin is a college graduate from Kyoto. How could that happen…”
Pretending to know nothing, Bai Qiaolan covered her mouth and laughed as she spoke.
Another military wife curled her lips and added sarcastically,
“A college graduate? Please. Some people just aim too high and overestimate themselves. They think that because they’ve studied a few years, they’re guaranteed a secure government job. In the end, they still wind up doing manual labor. Honestly, she would’ve been better off staying comfortably in Kyoto. Why come all the way to the Southwest frontier just to suffer?”
The three women took turns talking.
Every word dripped with schadenfreude.
Openly and secretly, they mocked Lin Shuyao for being overconfident, claiming she had a diploma but no real ability, and that after all her efforts she still ended up doing rough work.
Bai Qiaolan glanced at Lin Shuyao, her smile widening as she waited for her to lose her temper.
If this had been the original Lin Shuyao, she probably would have turned pale with anger and immediately started arguing.
But Lin Shuyao merely lifted her eyes calmly.
She set down her pen, tidied her materials, and prepared to return to her room.
Meanwhile, she was thinking about when she could finally move out.
Unfortunately, since she hadn’t secured one of the key positions, getting assigned housing would likely be difficult.
Sigh…
Seeing that Lin Shuyao remained calm and unbothered only fueled Bai Qiaolan’s irritation.
She decided to be even more direct.
“Comrade Lin, you’re a pampered city girl. Working logistics in the experimental fields means pulling weeds, watering crops, and recording data. It’s exhausting work. How could you possibly handle it? I doubt you’ll last more than a few days before giving up. When that happens, you’ll only embarrass Chengjing.”
Lin Shuyao frowned slightly.
Looking calmly at the three women, she replied in a cool voice,
“There’s no need for Comrade Bai to worry about me. Besides, logistics work in the experimental fields is honest work. Earning a living with your own hands, without stealing or taking from others, is nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Yes, yes, you’re always right.”
“And I studied agriculture. I’ve spent years working with crops. I don’t consider this work difficult. Poor farmers are the most honorable people—that’s something the organization itself recognizes. I suggest you be careful with your words.”
The statement immediately silenced them.
Mocking farmers?
Who would dare?
Even if they secretly thought that way, they certainly couldn’t say it aloud.
“That’s not what we meant! Why are you twisting our words?”
“Exactly. We’re not as educated as you are, so we can’t argue with you. Don’t go putting labels on us.”
“And besides, your sister-in-law was only speaking from the heart. She was worried you wouldn’t be able to handle the work. How did that become something negative?”
Lin Shuyao had no interest in listening to their excuses.
All she saw were ugly expressions and uglier intentions.
“If you ladies came to chat or sew shoe soles together, you’re very welcome. But if you came specifically to stir up trouble with misleading remarks and disrupt the peace of this household, then please leave. I’m busy organizing my materials and don’t have time to listen.”
The moment the words left her mouth, all three women’s expressions changed.
In just a few sentences, Lin Shuyao had firmly established her position while returning every one of their insults.
Not once had she shown fear.
The truth was simple.
Lu Chengjing was the pillar of this household.
As his wife, Lin Shuyao was its rightful mistress.
Bai Qiaolan, on the other hand, was merely a widowed sister-in-law living under someone else’s roof.
Instead of acting appropriately, she had brought people into the house to mock her younger brother-in-law’s wife.
If she lost face, she had no one to blame but herself.
No matter where the matter was taken, Bai Qiaolan would be the one in the wrong.
Her face turned deathly pale.
Just as she was about to lash out, steady footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate.
Lu Chengjing had returned from the battalion.
“This life… I just can’t go on like this anymore!”
Bai Qiaolan instantly changed her tune.
Her tears began flowing as though they cost nothing.
The speed of her transformation was astonishing.
Lu Chengjing frowned as he looked over.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, he immediately understood the situation.
His expression darkened.
Before Lin Shuyao could say anything, he stepped in front of her protectively.
“You go back to your room first. I happen to have something to discuss with Sister-in-law.”
Lin Shuyao looked at him for a moment but did not object.
“Alright. I’ll go back inside.”
Truthfully, she was too tired to argue.
Every few days there was another scene like this.
It was exhausting.
Who had the energy to keep fighting all the time?
It drained both time and patience.
“Mm.”
Lu Chengjing already possessed a powerful presence.
Now that his face had turned cold, he became even more intimidating.
The other two military wives felt uneasy.
They quickly stood up, offered a few awkward pleasantries, grabbed their bamboo baskets, and hurried away.
Soon, only Lu Chengjing and Bai Qiaolan remained in the main room.
The atmosphere became suffocating.
There was none of Lu Chengjing’s usual courtesy.
The coldness surrounding him felt almost tangible.
His sharp gaze remained fixed on Bai Qiaolan.
Under his stare, she felt increasingly uneasy.
Still, she forced herself to continue.
Wiping away tears, shoulders trembling, she spoke in a choked voice.
“Chengjing, what are you doing? Sister-in-law Zhang and the others only came to chat and sew shoe soles. Lin Shuyao chased them away without reason and even accused us unfairly. How could I not feel wronged?”
“That’s enough.”
Lu Chengjing cut her off coldly.
Every word carried authority.
“Sister-in-law. You don’t need to put on an act in front of me. I know exactly what you’ve been plotting.
This time, Shuyao’s interview was obstructed. Rumors were spread about her, and people deliberately made things difficult for her.
Your hand was behind all of it.
Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”
Bai Qiaolan’s expression changed instantly.
Her crying paused for a brief moment before growing even louder.
She waved her hands frantically.
“Chengjing, how can you think that of me? I’m your sister-in-law. Why would I do something like that? Everything I’ve said and done was for the Lu family—for you!”
Lu Chengjing let out a cold laugh.
Step by step, he moved closer, forcing her backward.
“You used your position as an elder to spread rumors about Shuyao everywhere. You encouraged others to exclude her and mock her. You even passed gossip to people at the experimental station to deliberately sabotage her.
And this is what you call doing it for my sake?
There are plenty of people in the compound. I can find out exactly what you said, who you said it to, and every single thing you’ve done.
What’s the point of continuing to deny it?”
Ever since his older brother’s death, Lu Chengjing had shown Bai Qiaolan considerable care.
He sympathized with her circumstances and had always treated her respectfully, allowing her to live comfortably within the compound.
But everything changed after Lin Shuyao arrived in the Southwest.
Again and again, Bai Qiaolan stirred up trouble.
She targeted Lin Shuyao at every opportunity and even interfered with her work.
She had crossed his bottom line.
How could he continue tolerating it?
Lin Shuyao genuinely wanted to stay and build a life here now.
If he couldn’t even handle this issue properly, perhaps they might as well divorce and spare her the suffering.
Realizing her motives had been exposed, panic flashed through Bai Qiaolan’s eyes.
Still, she refused to admit anything.
Instead, she dredged up the past and tearfully complained.
“Even if I said a few extra things, it was because I felt it wasn’t fair to you! Back when Lin Shuyao married into the Lu family, she treated you coldly. She was always entangled with that pretty boy and constantly demanded a divorce. She embarrassed you and made everyone laugh at you…”
“We all know what kind of person she is. She’s arrogant by nature. No matter how well she pretends, she’s never truly respected you, nor has she ever cared about this family!”
“And now she’s suffering the consequences of her own actions. I was only standing up for you. What did I do wrong?
I truly care about you, Chengjing.
I was afraid she’d deceive you.
Afraid you’d get hurt again…”