The aunties chattered back and forth. Though it was clearly Liu Qingying and Lu Guoheng who had overstepped boundaries, they now made Song Jinhe seem like the unreasonable and petty one.
Lu Guoheng stormed over to Song Jinhe, his eyes filled with disappointment as he spoke:
“Song Jinhe, I’m deeply disappointed in you. I thought that as a woman yourself, you’d understand Qingying’s struggles. It seems I misjudged you.”
“Let me make this clear: Qingying and Ya Ya are having a hard time. Before Lin Zi passed, he entrusted me with their care, so I can’t possibly abandon them now.”
“If you’re not embarrassed to keep making a scene, go right ahead. Qingying and I need to bring this meal back to the hospital for Ya Ya.”
Lu Guoheng spoke with self-righteous conviction. Liu Qingying, trailing behind him, bit her lip and apologized to Song Jinhe:
“Sister-in-law, I’m sorry. I truly don’t want to trouble Guoheng Ge anymore, but I can’t manage caring for Ya Ya alone.”
“Please, for the sake of the friendship between Guoheng Ge and my late Lin Zi, let him help me just this once.”
Hearing this, Lu Guoheng turned to her, his eyes welling with heartache.
He softened his voice: “Qingying, you don’t need to apologize to her. It’s only right that I help you.”
Song Jinhe laughed in disbelief.
Even in this second chance at life, hearing such words again, she still couldn’t stomach their shamelessness.
Song Jinhe suppressed her anger, just as those morally coercive aunties continued their lecturing:
“Jin He, Ya Ya’s alone in the hospital. Qingying really can’t manage by herself, so stop making trouble.”
“That’s right, we’re all from the same village. We should lend a hand when needed. Anyone else here would help in this situation.”
Hearing this, Song Jinhe directly pulled Liu Qingying forward and pushed her toward the women. With a sarcastic smile, she said:
“Since you aunties put it that way, I’m sure you’d be willing to help Liu Qingying too.”
“Guoheng has to work every day, yet Liu Qingying constantly calls on him for help, leaving him exhausted for work the next day.”
“Why not let Guoheng rest for a while, and have your husbands take turns assisting instead.”
“Chores like gathering firewood, carrying water, or even carrying Ya Ya back tonight—all these heavy tasks could use the strong men from our village.”
The aunties, who had been eagerly criticizing moments earlier, shuddered at her words and immediately released their supportive holds on Liu Qingying.
“Absolutely not!”
“No way!”
Their refusals were swift and sharp. The way they recoiled from Liu Qingying stabbed deeply at her pride.
Liu Qingying clenched her fists, bowing her head in humiliation, wondering what had gotten into Song Jinhe today.
The woman who used to swallow her grievances now seemed completely fixated on targeting her.
Song Jinhe chuckled lightly: “Why not? You aunties just said we should help each other out. Shouldn’t we take turns assisting Liu Qingying, then?”
Song Jinhe called out with a smile to Auntie Liu, whose face had stiffened as she tried to slip away.
“Auntie Liu, you have two sons, both young and strong. You’re so kindhearted—I’m sure you’d be happy to have them help Comrade Liu, right?”
Seeing Auntie Liu’s expression darken, Song Jinhe then turned to the younger auntie who had repeatedly praised her for marrying well.
“Auntie Wang, I recall when Comrade Liu’s husband passed away, Uncle Wang was the first to say she could come to him if she ever needed help.”
“You can go back and tell them that Comrade Liu is in desperate need of help right now, so he should come quickly.”
Auntie Wang’s face tightened, turning a mottled mix of pale and green like a painter’s palette.
Song Jinhe called out every auntie who frequently gossiped about her and enjoyed her misfortune.
Seeing the identical unpleasant expressions on their faces, she felt much more satisfied.
When no one responded for several seconds, she even urged, “Aunties, don’t stay silent. Liu Qingying is so pitiful—if we’re going to help, let’s do it together. Many hands make light work.”
The aunties’ faces grew even more sour.
When did the Lu Family’s pushover daughter-in-law become so articulate?
If they had known, they wouldn’t have said those things.
They say a widow’s doorstep is full of trouble. It was fine to watch the drama from afar, but if their own men were to get involved with Liu Qingying, a widow, they would be absolutely unwilling.
The younger Auntie Wang was the first to speak with a dark expression: “Jin He, your Uncle Wang isn’t as sturdy as Guoheng. I’m afraid he won’t be able to help.”
Song Jinhe pretended not to notice her unpleasant expression and waved her hand dismissively. “Why can’t he? I’ve seen Uncle Wang gather firewood and carry water quite efficiently. With that strength, it’s more than enough to help Comrade Liu.”
Auntie Wang’s face darkened, her temples throbbing with anger.
Auntie Liu, who had two sons, was much smarter.
With a shift of her eyes, Auntie Liu redirected the blame and began lecturing Liu Qingying with an air of authority:
“Qingying, I have to say something unpleasant today. Your husband is gone, and you and Ya Ya are indeed pitiful as a widow and orphan, but you shouldn’t always rely on others.”
“You need to learn to be strong and handle your own problems. If it’s really too much, your elder brother from your maiden family can help you.”
Song Jinhe chuckled inwardly. How righteous they sounded when it came to offering others’ help.
But the moment they were asked to contribute, they immediately refused.
Auntie Liu’s words were clearly meant to ensure Liu Qingying wouldn’t cling to them.
Liu Qingying’s face turned pale, feeling utterly humiliated.
She reached out to tug at the sleeves of the two aunties to explain:
“Aunties, my daughter and I would never cling to—”
Auntie Liu frowned and avoided her touch, while Auntie Wang reacted sharply, slapping her hand away.
“Ah, well, your Auntie Liu is right. Your own problems are for you to learn to solve.”
“I just remembered I have something to do at home, so I’ll be going now.”
The aunties quickly made excuses to leave. Liu Qingying, who had tried to use them to criticize Song Jinhe, now looked like a fool.
Song Jinhe watched Liu Qingying trembling with rage and felt delighted.
All she wanted was for these people to avoid Liu Qingying at all costs.
This woman, Liu Qingying, was an expert at playing the victim and feigning helplessness.
In her previous life, these gossipy aunties in the village often stood on moral high ground to help Liu Qingying criticize her.
They accused her of being too petty, of targeting a pitiful person.
Song Jinhe had been criticized so much that she began to doubt herself, thinking she was some kind of monstrous villain.
Now, reborn into this life, Song Jinhe understood that she didn’t need to internalize or suffer because of anyone’s words.
What she should do was throw the emotional burden right back at them.
If these gossips tried to guilt-trip her, she would guilt-trip them right back, making them fear being entangled by Liu Qingying and desperate to draw a clear line.
If such a situation arose again, she would directly approach their husbands or sons and ask them to help Liu Qingying.
Liu Qingying was both beautiful and adept at feigning helplessness. Song Jinhe was certain they would be afraid, panicked, and would seize the opportunity to stir up trouble with Liu Qingying until chaos reigned!
The more Jin He thought about it, the more she found herself perversely looking forward to it.