Zhang Qian struggled violently in the water. “Help me! Help me!”
On the riverbank, Wang Guifen tightly grasped Su Yi’s hand, her legs trembling.
If she had hesitated even slightly, her daughter-in-law would have been pushed in.
Swallowing nervously, she anxiously looked her over. “Yi Yi, are you okay?”
Su Yi was a little puzzled by Wang Guifen’s actions. Ever since she had entered the family, this mother-in-law didn’t seem to like her.
Although she had never scolded or hit her, she never spoke much either.
Zhang Qian had even claimed that her mother-in-law disliked her identity and wanted to find Zhijun a new wife.
Su Yi had not believed it at first—but her mother-in-law did seem to dislike her.
Yet today, despite usually disliking her, her mother-in-law had rushed to save her at the first sign of danger.
Perhaps this meant that her mother-in-law didn’t truly hate her after all.
Seeing Su Yi staring blankly at her as if scared, Wang Guifen said, “Don’t be afraid.”
Her daughter-in-law must have been terrified.
That Zhang Qian was shameless, but this time, she wouldn’t let her succeed.
Zhang Qian continued flailing in the river, “Save me!”
As she was about to sink, Wang Guifen bent down, picked up a carrying pole, and lowered it toward her.
It wasn’t that she lacked heart—her daughter-in-law was pregnant with twins.
Killing such a shameless woman could dirty her hands, and she wanted to earn merit for her grandchildren.
Besides, if someone were killed in the commune, the police would catch them.
Her daughter-in-law needed to be cared for, so she couldn’t let her die like that.
From now on, with her around, she would protect her daughter-in-law, ensuring no one could bully her again.
After resolving this, she spoke gruffly to the person floundering in the water, “If you don’t want to die, grab the rope on the pole.”
Hearing this, the person in the water groped and caught hold of the rope, clutching it like a lifeline.
Su Yi stepped forward, reaching for the rope. “Mom, I’ll help you.”
“No, no, stand back quickly. Don’t get close to the water,” Wang Guifen said anxiously.
Her daughter-in-law was in her first trimester. Everything needed to be done carefully.
After speaking, Wang Guifen pulled Zhang Qian up with a strong tug.
Zhang Qian, who had trained herself to be thin and delicate like city girls and ate little, was easily lifted.
“Cough, cough…” Zhang Qian lay on the ground, soaked and coughing violently, water splashing from her lungs.
She looked at Wang Guifen with hatred.
If this old woman hadn’t pulled Su Yi away just then, she wouldn’t have pushed empty air but actually sent her into the pond.
As she looked up, she saw Zhao Xi from Aunt Zhang’s house coming down the slope.
Her eyes darted, and she immediately covered her face, crying pitifully, “Auntie, I don’t know what I did to offend you! You pushed me into the pond!”
Wang Guifen also saw Zhao Xi, then glanced at Zhang Qian—what a shameless woman.
She didn’t know how to be grateful and still tried to blame others.
Zhao Xi first looked at the soaking Zhang Qian, then asked Wang Guifen, “Aunt Wang, what happened?”
Aunt Wang was well-known in the commune—hardworking and strong, even stronger than men. She earned plenty of work points, and even though her daughter-in-law didn’t work in the fields, Aunt Wang could earn enough alone. Other young wives in the commune envied her.
“Uncle Zhao, I don’t know how I offended Aunt Wang, but she pushed me into the pond, trying to drown me,” Zhang Qian hurriedly claimed.
Everyone in the village lived close together, and to try to kill someone was extremely malicious. Villagers were simple and honest—anyone with such wicked intent would be shunned, and people would spit on them if they encountered them.
Zhao Xi frowned at Wang Guifen.
Wang Guifen pointed at Zhang Qian on the ground. “Zhang Qian, have you lost your mind? If I wanted to drown you, why would you still be lying on the bank? Shouldn’t you be floundering in the water?”
She then asked Zhao Xi, “Old Zhao, why are you here?”
“My family said you rushed to the pond with a carrying pole, worried something would happen, and asked me to check on you,” Zhao Xi explained, glancing at Su Yi.
Weren’t people saying Aunt Wang went to beat her daughter-in-law with the pole?
Why did she look perfectly fine, with no marks of being hit? Instead, it was Zhang Qian who looked like she had been dealt with.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just an evil woman trying to harm my daughter-in-law. She ended up falling in herself. If I hadn’t pulled her out, she would have met the King of Hell by now. And she still tries to frame people—what a black-hearted shameless woman,” Wang Guifen scolded.
Zhao Xi thought about it and realized it made sense.
If Aunt Wang really wanted to hurt someone, she wouldn’t have pulled her out.
He said disdainfully, “Zhang Qian, go home quickly. There aren’t many people on the road now, and you’re soaking wet. If anyone sees you like this, how will you ever get married?”
Seeing that Zhao Xi didn’t believe her, Zhang Qian’s face fell. Wet all over, she looked ridiculous and hurriedly stood up, biting her lip, and left quickly.
Wang Guifen brought the unfinished laundry and said to her daughter-in-law, “Let’s go home.”
Su Yi hurried to stop her. “Mom, the laundry isn’t finished yet.”
Wang Guifen’s face grew stern. “Listen to me. Go home and wash it with water from the house. I’ll pick more later.”
In the commune, water was usually carried from the pond, which was hard work. Large water-consuming tasks like laundry were done at the pond, while water for cooking and washing was fetched in buckets from the pond.
“How can that work? Mom, our house is far from the pond. Carrying water will take too long.” Su Yi paused mid-sentence, realizing she shouldn’t go against her mother-in-law’s wishes. Her mother-in-law already disliked her, and disobedience would only make things worse.
Wang Guifen set the basin down. “Then we’ll wash together—two people will be faster.”
Su Yi was surprised, then slowly smiled. “Alright.”
They squatted, one washing clothes, the other rinsing water.
Zhao Xi watched in confusion.
When had Aunt Wang ever been so attentive to her daughter-in-law? He had heard her family say Aunt Wang was dissatisfied, but for a farming family, living well was what mattered most.
“Aunt Wang, you two go on, I’ll head back now.”
Aunt Wang, scrubbing the clothes, said, “Alright.”
Zhao Xi walked back along the slope, thinking about how ugly the earlier scene had seemed. This family lived harmoniously; some villagers just gossiped, spreading the rumor that the mother-in-law didn’t like her daughter-in-law.
“Yi Yi, stay away from Zhang Qian in the future. She means no good. If I hadn’t arrived in time, it would have been you in the pond,” Aunt Wang said, handing Su Yi a washed piece of clothing.
Su Yi nodded. “Okay.”
Her mother-in-law cared for her.
Although she hadn’t liked her at first, she had never made her do fieldwork.
Strict but not cruel.
Two old basins of clothes were washed quickly.
On their way back, they ran into Aunt Zhang carrying a basket of eggs.
At that time, few families could afford eggs.
Aunt Zhang’s eldest son worked outside, a dutiful son who sent money home each month. Though not much, it was enough for eggs.
“Guifen, so you went to wash clothes. I thought you were off to beat someone,” Aunt Zhang said, lifting the eggs slightly.
Wang Guifen ignored the gesture. “Yes, I left in a hurry. My daughter-in-law was alone washing, so I went to help. Are there still eggs at the supply store?”
Aunt Zhang stepped forward. “Yes, some left when I came by. If you want to exchange for some, go early. I saw many people there already. If you’re quick, you might grab a few.”
Wang Guifen immediately said to Su Yi, “Yi Yi, take your time. I’ll check—if there are, we’ll get some too.”
Su Yi nodded and reached for the large basin of clothes. “Mom, I’ll carry it.”
“No, no, take your time,” Wang Guifen said and hurried off.
Aunt Zhang walked alongside Su Yi. “Eggs are good, nutritious. Eat more so you stay healthy. Only by eating eggs can you have a big, strong baby boy.”
She glanced at Su Yi, thinking: the girl is so thin.
What if she can’t have children?
Gossiping women in the commune are already waiting to see Aunt Wang’s trouble if the girl is infertile. Aunt Wang would suffer greatly.