Hearing that, Chen Xiaomeng frowned slightly.
She lowered her head and looked over her outfit for the day. From her figure to her looks, everything about her was strikingly beautiful.
Without a doubt, Jiang Lanhua was simply jealous that she was younger and prettier.
Chen Xiaomeng gently adjusted the silk scarf around her neck and put on a gentle, obedient smile.
“You’re joking, Sister. How could I possibly have the fortune to perform on stage? I’ve been cooped up at home these past few days, either by the stove or tending the livestock, covered in soot all day. Today was a rare chance to accompany Runsheng into town, so I thought I’d clean myself up. Otherwise, people might say the Jiang family’s daughter-in-law has no manners and goes around looking sloppy.”
Jiang Lanhua completely ignored her explanation and turned to her younger brother.
“I heard your broadcasting station went to the countryside yesterday for publicity?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Runsheng replied indifferently.
“Did you see Qingyan?”
Jiang Runsheng instinctively glanced at Chen Xiaomeng beside him before answering honestly.
“I did.”
Chen Xiaomeng’s eyes instantly sharpened, jealousy surging in her heart.
He had clearly seen Qiao Qingyan yesterday, yet he hadn’t mentioned it to her at all when he came home.
Qiao Qingyan was already married. Why couldn’t he let her go?
Unable to hold herself back any longer, Chen Xiaomeng gently tugged at Jiang Runsheng’s sleeve.
“Brother Runsheng, why didn’t you tell me you saw Qingyan yesterday? I haven’t seen her in days and have been worried about her. I wonder how she’s doing after marrying Xiao Jinye.”
“We just happened to run into each other while we were out promoting the station. There wasn’t anything worth mentioning,” Jiang Runsheng replied calmly.
Jiang Lanhua swirled her toothbrush around in an enamel mug before casually saying,
“Oh right, I almost forgot. Qingyan asked me to keep an eye out for a certain face cream for her. It finally arrived these past couple of days. If you happen to see her again, let her know she can come to the supply and marketing cooperative to pick it up.”
“Alright, I’ll remember, Sis.”
Watching her sister-in-law’s actions, Chen Xiaomeng itched with resentment.
She’s obviously doing this on purpose! She knows things are awkward between Runsheng and Qiao Qingyan, yet she’s deliberately asking him to pass along a message.
After a brief pause, she spoke up.
“Sister, Qingyan is already a married woman now. If you ask Runsheng to deliver messages to her privately, what if someone from the village sees them? People are bound to gossip. Once the rumors start spreading, not only will Qingyan’s reputation suffer, but Runsheng will also become the subject of idle talk.”
Jiang Lanhua looked up and gave her younger sister-in-law a meaningful glance before snorting coldly.
“Runsheng and Qingyan are both honorable people. Why should they fear gossip? If you’ve done nothing wrong, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s the people who pretend to be kind and gentle while secretly scheming behind everyone’s backs who should keep their heads down.”
The sarcasm wasn’t subtle, and Chen Xiaomeng understood exactly who she was talking about.
Still, she wasn’t willing to openly quarrel with her sister-in-law, so she swallowed her anger.
Taking the initiative, she linked arms with Jiang Runsheng and smiled sweetly.
“Brother Runsheng, let’s go.”
Jiang Lanhua rolled her eyes at her, silently cursing her for being an ugly troublemaker.
On the way, Jiang Runsheng asked Chen Xiaomeng to remove the scarf around her neck.
Though reluctant, she obediently took it off.
As Jiang Runsheng pedaled the bicycle with her riding behind him, neighbors greeted them from time to time.
Chen Xiaomeng couldn’t have been happier.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and secretly made up her mind.
Tonight, no matter what, we’ll finally finish what we couldn’t on our wedding night.
The town happened to be holding its market day. Stalls lined both sides of the dirt road, creating a lively, bustling atmosphere.
The couple first ate a simple meal at a small roadside restaurant. Afterward, Jiang Runsheng rode off alone to work at the broadcasting station, leaving Chen Xiaomeng to browse the marketplace by herself.
Once he had left, she immediately tied the silk scarf back around her neck.
According to local custom, tomorrow was the day a newly married daughter returned to visit her parents.
She intended to buy impressive gifts and use the occasion to thoroughly outshine Qiao Qingyan.
As she wandered through the market, her sharp eyes suddenly spotted Chunya in the crowd.
“Chunya!”
She immediately called out with a smile.
Chunya turned around in surprise.
“Xiaomeng? What are you doing here?”
“I’m buying things for tomorrow’s homecoming visit.”
After exchanging a few casual pleasantries, Chen Xiaomeng deliberately steered the conversation toward Qiao Qingyan.
She was dying to know how Qingyan was doing and hoped to pry some fresh news from Chunya.
“Speaking of it, I’ve really been worried about my little sister. I wonder how she’s doing after marrying that hunter in your village. By the way, Chunya, do your families live close to each other?”
“We’re actually pretty close,” Chunya replied before asking curiously, “You really care that much about Qiao Qingyan?”
Chen Xiaomeng immediately put on a sincere expression of concern.
“She’s my own sister. Of course I worry about her.”
Chunya sighed inwardly.
She wanted to say that Qiao Qingyan never even mentioned her and didn’t acknowledge her as a sister at all.
But saying that would only hurt Chen Xiaomeng’s feelings, so she kept it to herself.
Instead, she truthfully described Qingyan’s current situation.
“Brother Jinye doesn’t like her. He didn’t even come home on their wedding night, and whenever he sees her, he hardly talks to her.”
A trace of delight flashed across Chen Xiaomeng’s eyes.
“Really?”
Just like in her previous life.
Qiao Qingyan was still being neglected by Xiao Jinye, and life in the Xiao family was just as difficult.
“Of course it’s true. Why would I lie to you? Our families are close, so I’ve seen everything going on.”
Chen Xiaomeng sighed.
“I feel bad for her as her older sister, but there’s really nothing I can do. In the end, she brought this upon herself.”
Chunya frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Chen Xiaomeng immediately adopted a pitiful tone.
“Brother Runsheng and I were in love with each other. Later, after he broke off his engagement with her, she started resenting me, believing I’d stolen her marriage.
“So out of spite, she insisted on marrying Xiao Jinye—the man who had originally been engaged to me.
“When she left to get married, she even forced my mother to prepare a dowry that was twice as generous as mine.
“My mother is too soft-hearted and kind. She practically emptied the family’s savings just to scrape together that dowry for her.”
The moment Chunya heard this, her voice rose with indignation.
“That actually happened? That’s outrageous! She was clearly using Brother Jinye!”
Chen Xiaomeng lowered her gaze.
“My sister has always been stubborn and difficult. Ever since we were little, she’s loved competing with me over everything. If something could make me unhappy, she’d happily do it.”
“Xiaomeng, kind people only get taken advantage of. You’re far too indulgent toward her. Your family has spoiled Qiao Qingyan so much that she’s completely lost all sense of propriety.”
“She’s still my younger sister. As her older sister, all I can do is give in to her.”
After hearing Chen Xiaomeng’s story, Chunya became filled with righteous indignation.
She resolved to tell Xiao Jinye everything exactly as she’d heard it, so he could finally see his wife’s true colors.
Someone as selfish and malicious as Qiao Qingyan must never be allowed to bully Duoduo or Aunt Zeng.
Meanwhile, after successfully sowing discord, Chen Xiaomeng felt immensely satisfied.
Wang Chunya was simple-minded and innocent by nature—the easiest kind of person to manipulate.
After today’s conversation, Qiao Qingyan’s life in the Xiao family and the village would surely become even harder.
Chen Xiaomeng then headed straight to the supply and marketing cooperative.
She bought a crate of eggs, a large assortment of pastries and sweets, canned fruit, premium white sugar, a carton of Da Qianmen cigarettes for her stepfather, and a bottle of Erguotou liquor.
The thirty yuan she spent on the homecoming gifts had come from Jiang Runsheng that very morning.
He had scraped together every last bit of cash he had on him, and it totaled only thirty yuan.
When it came to money, Chen Xiaomeng had long since made her plans.
Jiang Runsheng worked at the township broadcasting station, earning a respectable salary.
His base monthly pay alone was sixty yuan, and during holidays he also received gifts, bonuses, and various allowances. His benefits were excellent.
Before they married, most of his wages had been handed over to his mother.
Now that she was his wife, Chen Xiaomeng believed it was only natural that his monthly paycheck should be turned over to her for safekeeping.
As for all the wages he’d previously given his mother, she intended to find a way to get that money back as well, lest her mother-in-law spend it supporting her own daughter.
Chen Xiaomeng had everything carefully planned.
Tonight, after becoming intimate with Jiang Runsheng, she would have a serious talk with him about his salary.