“All right, Mom, then I’ll go to the fields these next few days and earn work points to exchange for meat coupons,” Su Yi said excitedly. With her mother-in-law no longer making things difficult, life finally had a glimmer of hope.
Wang Guifen placed the vegetables on a small table with peeling red lacquer. “No need. Just clean up the house. I can manage the work alone. Zhijun will send meat coupons too—we’ll have enough meat.”
The paths in the fields were all dirt, uneven and full of bumps. Since her daughter-in-law was pregnant, it was better for her to stay home. Wang Guifen could easily earn enough work points on her own anyway.
“Mom, I’m sorry for holding you back,” Su Yi said, tugging at her clothes.
Wang Guifen came over and held her delicate, fair hand. “What nonsense are you saying? I should be the one saying sorry. I used to always find fault with you. It was my foolishness.”
Su Yi shook her head repeatedly, her eyes reddening.
“I was foolish before. I must have hurt your heart. But now I understand. Since you married into my family, becoming my daughter-in-law, you’re like my own daughter. I will treat you well from now on. How could Yi Yi hold a grudge against me for my past mistakes?” Wang Guifen’s own eyes teared up.
Such a good daughter-in-law had died in her past life—a tragedy of one life lost for three. It had been her blindness and lack of care that harmed her.
“Mom, I’ve never held a grudge. You let me, someone everyone disliked, into your home. You never shorted me on food. I’ve already entered a blessed home,” Su Yi said.
Though Wang Guifen often scolded her for being tidy and fussy, she always washed the bowls and utensils, never hoarded the rice and flour, and even boiled a couple of eggs for her. When meat was cut, she never ate it secretly but served it openly so Su Yi could partake. Wang Guifen might have preferred lean meat herself, and although she claimed that picky girls were hard to feed, she always saved the lean meat for her.
Wiping away her tears, Wang Guifen smiled. “What blessed home? Wait until Zhijun becomes a commander. Then I’ll take you with him, and we’ll live in a big courtyard. I’ll raise you plump and fair—that’s a real blessed home.”
In her past life, she hadn’t known whether that shameless Zhang Qian had succeeded before she was reborn. This time, she would accompany Yi Yi to live near the army and raise her to be the most beautiful young lady in the courtyard.
Su Yi reached out to wipe her mother-in-law’s tears. She knew it wouldn’t be easy for Zhijun to become a commander—he was a soldier, and rising through the ranks would take risking his life. She only wished for the safety of her family.
Though she thought this, she still said aloud, “Yes, Mom, I’ll listen to you.”
“That’s right. Come, daughter, sit down and eat. Braised pork gets cold quickly, and it’s best hot.” Wang Guifen helped her sit and put a few slices of lean braised pork into her bowl.
Su Yi smiled and pushed the slightly fattier pieces back toward her. “Mom, you eat too.”
As the two ate, next door Aunt Zhang set out noodles on her table and sniffed the air. “Guifen’s family is having meat again?”
Zhao Xi walked over and sat down. “We’re so tempted. Tomorrow, go to the supply store and get a pound. We’ll have a feast too.”
“All right! I want meat too,” five-year-old Xudong said.
Xudong was Aunt Zhang’s little grandson. Aunt Zhang had one daughter and two sons. Her daughter was already married into another farming family.
The eldest son worked at a steel factory with a good job, married early, and Aunt Zhang had been enjoying her grandson since.
The second son was an honest farmer. His wife, Sun Meili, was strong-willed and fussy. Because Xudong was raised at Aunt Zhang’s, Sun Meili occasionally caused a fuss.
“Bang!” Sun Meili slammed her bowl on the table.
In a sharp voice, she said, “Money doesn’t grow on trees. If you want meat, ask your father for more!”
“Smack!” Aunt Zhang slammed her chopsticks. “Second son’s wife, if you have concerns, say them clearly. No need to beat around the bush.”
Zhao Erzhu tugged at his wife’s sleeve, but she shook him off. “What concern? Mom, you know everything already. Xudong is already five and still eating so well at home, while the eldest and his wife don’t care. The money they send ends up with you, and you buy eggs for your grandson. We haven’t even divided the property yet, and you’re already favoring the eldest. How am I supposed to live with you?”
“Meili, stop talking,” Zhao Erzhu whispered.
Sun Meili pointed at him. “You useless man. If I had known life here would be like this, I never would have married into the Zhao family.”
Her words were harsh. Aunt Zhang jumped up.
“Bang!” Zhao Xi slammed the table. “Enough! No more arguing!”
The loud thud silenced everyone.
“Give the money the eldest sent to Meili,” Zhao Xi told Aunt Zhang.
Aunt Zhang was shocked. “Why? That money came from my eldest son!”
“Because the work points and grain were earned by the second son’s family,” Zhao Xi explained. He didn’t want the brothers to grow apart.
The head of the household spoke, and Aunt Zhang reluctantly went inside to fetch the thirty yuan wrapped in a handkerchief from under the mat.
She handed it to Sun Meili. “Satisfied?” Then she left the meal without eating and went back inside.The dining table grew much quieter.
Wang Guifen and Aunt Zhang’s house were separated by a dirt wall.
They could hear all the commotion clearly.
“Your aunt is biased, and Sun Meili is picky. If this continues, the two Zhao brothers will drift apart.”
She then took a key and opened her cabinet, taking out a new quilt to spread on Su Yi’s kang (heated bed).
Su Yi was surprised. “Mom, this is new. Can we just use it?”
In the past, her mother-in-law treasured this quilt and rarely took it out—it was one of the few new items in the house.
“Why not? Things are meant to be used. Now that you’re my daughter, I’m happy to give you the good things.” Wang Guifen spread the quilt and added a new cover. One side was white, the other bright red—clearly valuable.
In her past life, Su Yi had died tragically, never even using such a quilt. This time, Wang Guifen would give her all the good things.
After Wang Guifen left, Su Yi sat on the kang, gently touching the quilt. Her eyes welled up again. She truly had a good mother-in-law.
That night, Su Yi slept soundly.
Wang Guifen also slept peacefully, smiling slightly as she looked at the moon hanging in the sky. Thank goodness—she had saved her daughter-in-law and the two little grandchildren.