Zhou Wanyi stormed in, her face full of dissatisfaction, pointing at the bangle in Lin Yuqiu’s hand.
“Why are you giving the Zhou family’s ancestral heirloom to her? Why not give it to Sister Shiyun? Someday, it could have been mine!”
Her gaze didn’t even glance at Lin Yuqiu, as if she didn’t exist in the room at all.
Lin Yuqiu stiffened slightly, a faint blush of awkwardness rising on her cheeks. She froze, unsure, and lowered her head.
Zhou’s mother shot her daughter a sharp look, stern but tinged with indulgence:
“You little girl! This bangle was passed down from your grandmother’s generation to me. Now it’s going to your sister-in-law she is the Zhou family’s eldest daughter-in-law. In the future, she will manage our family’s affairs, accompany your brother, and help guard the household!”
“Look at you, throwing a tantrum in front of guests what kind of behavior is that?”
“Hurry up and apologize to your sister-in-law.”
Zhou Wanyi pouted, her face full of stubbornness.
Lin Yuqiu slowly lifted her head, her expression soft and gentle. She stepped in front of Zhou Wanyi and held out the bangle:
“Sister, don’t be upset. This heirloom rightfully belongs to you. I’m only keeping it safe for now. When you get married, I will return it to you as part of your dowry.”
Zhou Wanyi’s tone was cold, tinged with disdain as she muttered: “Who cares that you wore it?”
Her eyes then swept over the neatly arranged bedding the silk sheets, silk quilts, wool blankets, camel-hair quilts and her face filled with indignation. She huffed:
“Mom, you gave all of this to her? Even the silk bedding you said was for me as my dowry you gave it to her too?”
Zhou’s mother looked at her daughter, shaking her head with a mixture of mild reproach and indulgence:
“Why are you in such a rush? You haven’t even found your future husband yet.
“When your brother and sister-in-law are settled, your dowry will not be forgotten.
“There are still three sets of these silk sheets saved for you.”
With that, she reluctantly took three sets of silk bedding from the wardrobe. The two camphorwood chests also contained her daughter’s dowry.
Zhou Wanyi snorted, her displeasure growing.
She didn’t care how much her mother had saved this was her family, and she felt all the good things had been snatched by Lin Yuqiu.
She didn’t even look at Lin Yuqiu or listen to her mother further; she turned and stormed out.
Once outside, Zhou Wanyi went straight to Li Shiyun’s house.
As soon as she entered, she flopped onto the sofa, tears in her eyes, and cried:
“Sister Shiyun, I knew it! That woman is nothing but a seductress!
“She not only stole my brother’s heart, she even has Mom on her side now!”
“They gave the best things in the house to that woman, even my dowry they gave it all to her!”
Zhou Wanyi cried and sniffled, pouting angrily:
“That woman came here with nothing and is stealing from my family. Mom prepared all this for her why?!”
“I heard her mother is half-dead in the hospital, yet she’s tagging along with my brother, living comfortably. She even came into our home to take my parents it’s all so calculating!”
“If it weren’t for my brother, she’d probably have starved by now, and yet she dares to flaunt herself in my house, thinking she deserves the best!”
“Sister Shiyun, Mom’s real daughter-in-law is clearly you. I just don’t understand why she’s so good to that woman.”
Li Shiyun brought her a glass of water and comforted her gently:
“Wanyi, don’t be angry. She’s your sister-in-law now. Your parents love her because they love your brother it’s only natural.
“You are their daughter, and that will never change.
“Try to understand a little.”
Zhou Wanyi slammed her hand on the table, her voice sharp:
“Why should I understand her?
“She came with nothing and married my brother empty-handed!
“Why should my family prepare so many valuable things for her?”
“And you know, my brother also has to care for her bedridden mother every month. Just the living and nursing costs eat up tens of thousands, which would be a full month’s salary for a regular person. My brother is a regiment commander, and even with over a hundred yuan a month, it’s not enough they might even have to use Mom and Dad’s money!”
“Sister Shiyun, if only you were my sister-in-law! You’re educated, sensible, capable a hundred times better than that woman.
“The Li family and our Zhou family are well-matched. If my brother married you, that would have been a perfect match. Unlike that woman, who doesn’t fit our family and will rely on my brother in the future.”
Li Shiyun’s heart skipped.
She looked at Zhou Wanyi, lips moving but no words coming out.
Zhou Wanyi didn’t notice, continuing:
“Sister Shiyun, don’t worry! I just realized my brother married that woman out of gratitude! He doesn’t even like her!
“Maybe the one in his heart is actually you.
“My brother values brotherhood above all. That woman’s elder brother who died was probably one of his subordinates. My brother married her out of pity, to take care of his subordinate’s family.”
Those words fell like a seed into Li Shiyun’s heart.
Her heartbeat sped up suddenly.
The laughter and happiness of growing up together in the courtyard came rushing back like a tide, unstoppable.
Watching him grow from the best young man in the courtyard to the most outstanding man, watching him fight for his ideals, pursuing glory, her heart had never wavered.
He was the one she had secretly cherished in her youth the most outstanding in the entire military district. How could she forget him?
That thought took root, like vines wrapping tightly around her insides, every breath burning with pain.
Reason gave way to obsession. She watched herself sink, powerless to resist.
That day, Li Shiyun went to see her father.
“Dad,” her voice firm, “I’ve made up my mind. After my internship, I want to go to the island. It’s my dream to fight alongside the frontline soldiers.”
Her father looked at her, torn between worry and resignation, yet confident he could support her.
After a moment, he nodded:
“Alright. If it’s your dream, Dad supports you.
“I’ll arrange it transfer you to the island’s military hospital.
“No matter what, Dad will always be your strongest backing.”
Zhou Wanyi quickly received this news, suppressing her excitement as she hurried to the study to find the guard, Xiao Liu, to begin her next plan.
At the door, she heard her brother’s voice inside different from his usual calm, carrying uncontainable joy.
“Old Wang, this is Zhou Runqing. Yes, we got the certificate today.”
On the other end came congratulatory cheers:
“Congratulations, Regiment Commander! This is such great news. You have to treat your brothers to a wedding drink!”
Zhou Runqing’s eyes crinkled with happiness, his voice low but joyful:
“Thanks. Of course, you’ll have the wedding drink. The compound can’t hold a big celebration, but once we’re on the island, I’ll throw one for the brothers! The whole regiment will celebrate together.”
He paused, then his tone returned to businesslike efficiency, still carrying a trace of joy:
“Time is tight. We didn’t prepare in advance.
“I’ll dictate the deployment request; you pre-approve it. I’ll bring the official documents when I depart tomorrow and complete the signing on the island. Then it will be official.”
Commissioner Wang immediately agreed:
“Don’t worry. Pre-approval noted. Your deployment spot is reserved, and I’ll have supplies prepared. Just wait for you and your sister-in-law to arrive.”
After hanging up, Zhou Runqing instructed guard Xiao Liu:
“Prepare all the documents and check tickets for the return trip to the island in the past two days.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Hearing her brother’s joyful voice from the study, Zhou Wanyi ground her teeth in anger. When Xiao Liu came out, she grabbed him and dragged him to the courtyard below.
Her face wore a spoiled yet sweet smile, her tone commanding:
“Xiao Liu, buy me a ticket too. I’m going to the island with my brother and sister-in-law. Don’t forget me.”
Xiao Liu was a little surprised, smirking:
“Sister Wanyi, I thought you were worried about being taken to the island for training and your delicate face why do you want to go now?”
Zhou Wanyi bared her teeth in frustration but spoke confidently:
“I’m not afraid anymore! Just buy it, I’ll tell my brother myself.”
Then she narrowed her eyes like a fox, half-threatening, half-warning:
“Make sure it’s a sleeper in the same carriage. Preferably next to my brother. I’ll be scared alone. If it’s not arranged, I’ll tell my brother you did a poor job!”
Xiao Liu quickly nodded:
“Sister Wanyi, the Commander will be glad you want to join the training. Just wait and you’ll go to the island with us.”
Zhou Wanyi watched Xiao Liu leave, glanced slyly at the upstairs window, and giggled behind her hand.