Early the next morning, Wang Guifen got up bright and early.
She put on a new outfit she had previously been reluctant to wear: a floral blouse and indigo trousers.
Having died once, she knew that some things were meant to be enjoyed in this life—or one would regret it in the next.
Today was her first day after rebirth, and she intended to live every day comfortably from now on.
She rolled up her sleeves, boiled three eggs, and steamed the hard corn buns to warm them.
After adding two small sticks of firewood to the stove, she stood, clapped her hands, and went outside to grab the broom in the corner to sweep the leaves the wind had blown into the yard overnight.
When Su Yi opened the door, the courtyard was spotless—no fallen leaves in sight.
The kitchen smelled of cornmeal.
She quickly washed her face, brushed her hair, put down the comb, and went to the kitchen.
“You’re up! Breakfast is just ready,” Wang Guifen said with a smile, bringing over the morning meal.
“Mom, you rest from now on. I’ll handle it,” Su Yi said. Without men at home, her mother-in-law was busy both inside and outside, and she would wear herself out.
“I’m an old woman, can’t sleep well anyway. Daughter-in-law, let me do it, don’t fight me for it. Otherwise, I’d wake up early and feel uncomfortable all over,” Wang Guifen replied, sitting down.
“Alright, if you go to the fields, you don’t need to bother with chores inside, otherwise I’ll get up so early every day to help you,” Su Yi said, feeling more at ease. Her mother-in-law had changed.
Wang Guifen’s eyes crinkled in a smile. “Fine, fine, just as you say.”
They planned to go downstream to Tanghe River in the morning to see if there were any fish.
After breakfast, Wang Guifen grabbed a bucket while Su Yi donned a bamboo grass hat and followed her. They locked the door and turned toward the river.
“Auntie, where are you going?” Sun Meili peeked her head out.
Hearing her, Wang Guifen turned. “Ah, you’re craving fish. We’re going downstream to see if we can catch any. Is your mother-in-law coming?”
Sun Meili hesitated. “She? No way. Last night, she got thirty yuan from me. She’s probably too upset to get out of bed now. She’s not going to fish. Besides, there are no fish left in Tanghe—it’s pointless.”
Su Yi turned, smiling, her fair skin and checked dress making her look nothing like a girl from the mountains.
Sun Meili stared at her own rough, dark face in comparison, envious of Su Yi’s porcelain-like complexion.
No wonder the other young brides avoided playing with her—she was too beautiful.
“Meili, are you coming?” Wang Guifen asked with a smile.
After a pause, Sun Meili nodded. “Yes. Auntie, wait for me—I’ll grab a basin.” She went inside and returned with one shortly.
“Let’s go. Who knows, we might get lucky and catch one.”
The three headed toward the Tanghe River.
“Tired?” Wang Guifen asked Su Yi.
Su Yi shook her head, smiling. “Mom, not at all.”
Wang Guifen nodded.
Sun Meili walked beside them, increasingly envious, lowering her gaze.
“Your mother-in-law isn’t bad, just stubborn. She often told me you’re capable. A few days ago, you liked dates. She had some at home, and she got them for you. She probably said they came from Er Zhu,” Wang Guifen said slowly.
“And when we went to the department store together, she didn’t like that Er Zhu couldn’t pamper his wife, so she bought you a decorative hair tie. She probably told you Er Zhu gave it to you, right?”
Sun Meili stopped, stunned, staring at Wang Guifen.
Wang Guifen patted her shoulder. “Good girl, you’re not bad, and neither is your mother-in-law. We neighbors know each other’s families well after decades. She’s a good person, and I want a good environment for Yiyi to raise her twins.”
Having good neighbors was important, especially with her daughter-in-law expecting twins.
Sun Meili hesitated. “That’s true… but what about the silver earrings?” she asked. Two months ago, Er Zhu had secretly given her a pair, which had made her very happy.
“I’ve seen them. Those are heirlooms from your mother-in-law. She gave them to you when Er Zhu’s family was doing well,” Wang Guifen explained, fanning Su Yi casually with her straw hat.
Sun Meili opened her mouth to speak but didn’t.
“Come on, let’s go fish,” Wang Guifen said, putting on her hat and grabbing the bucket.
Su Yi linked arms with Sun Meili. “Meili, let’s go quickly.”
Seeing Su Yi smiling at her, Sun Meili smiled in return. “Alright, let’s go catch fish.”
Wang Guifen thought to herself: her daughter-in-law was smart and obedient.
By the time they reached the river, several people were already rolling up their pants and wading in.
Zhang Qian and Wang Qiulan were there too, perfectly clean, standing at the edge of the river. Wang Ergou was in the water catching fish.
The locals had grown accustomed to it.
Zhang Qian and her mother only knew how to boss around the single men.
“After yesterday’s incident, they still come out so boldly. Thick-skinned,” one woman muttered, rolling her eyes at Wang Qiulan and Zhang Qian.
“No kidding. I’d be too ashamed if it were me.”
The chatter about Zhang Qian and her mother abruptly stopped when Wang Guifen and Su Yi arrived.
Now all eyes were on Su Yi.
“Isn’t that Wang Guifen’s daughter-in-law? She’s really beautiful.”
“Beautiful but useless—she can’t do anything. People like that are a drag in the brigade.”
“Exactly. Wang Guifen is thirteen years older, yet she has to fight for her daughter-in-law’s ration.”
“Look how thin she is. What if she can’t conceive?”
Chunlan, the wife of the brigade leader’s eldest brother, feigned shock. “If she can’t, the Wang family won’t have descendants!”
“Ah!” someone screamed.
Wang Guifen was the iron lady of the village, a skilled worker who earned more labor points than most women, sometimes even winning coupons.
Her success had sparked jealousy in some of the other women. Spring Lan, in particular, resented her and was ready to insult her mercilessly the moment they met.
Before she could finish, a small stone hit Spring Lan on the forehead.
Wang Guifen’s strength was great; the stone immediately drew blood.
The surrounding women gasped. “Blood! Chunlan, you’re bleeding!”
Chunlan touched her head, felt the blood, and glared at Wang Guifen.
“You… how dare you hit me?!”