Mother Lu was fuming, gritting her teeth as she scolded Jiang Yue for being money-grubbing, pointing out she had never even emptied her in-laws’ spittoon. She also accused Jiang Yue of being wasteful with money.
Lu Da Sao stood her ground and retorted, “Sure, the money was spent, but it didn’t go to outsiders—it stayed within the family. How is that wasteful?”
Mother Lu was left speechless, her face pale with frustration.
Eager to stir up more trouble, the next day, Mother Lu invited a well-off elderly woman to the Lu family courtyard.
“Auntie, my Third Son’s wife gave birth to a daughter who’s absolutely lovely—fair, plump, and utterly delightful. Though she’s only a few days old, taking her home now would ensure she thrives.”
The elderly woman, dressed in a traditional slant-collar jacket with knotted buttons and her hair neatly styled in a round bun, looked tidy and composed. “But how could you bear to part with her?”
“Ah, what choice do I have? Just count how many girls we’ve already had in this family!”
“Still, I heard your Third Son’s wife treasures the child dearly. Would she really let me take her away?”
“Don’t laugh, but I initially had that idea, and she refused—she couldn’t bear to part with the child, especially since it’s her first. But things are different now. Your family’s circumstances are so much better! Yingzi and her husband have stable government jobs. That little girl would have a blessed life in your home!”
The elderly woman hesitated. “But even if Yingzi wanted to adopt, she’d prefer a son.”
Mother Lu patted her hand reassuringly. “Have you forgotten the old saying? ‘A daughter paves the way for a son.’ If you raise this girl, Yingzi might just conceive afterward. It’s no loss.”
The aunt was tempted. “Well, let me have a look first.”
Mother Lu immediately rose triumphantly and went to knock on Jiang Yue’s door. “Jiang Yue, open up! I’ve found a wonderful home for your daughter—your cousin Yingzi’s family. They’re well-off with government rations. It’s a good deal. Open the door and let your aunt see the baby.”
Jiang Yue had overheard everything long before. She truly couldn’t fathom Mother Lu’s motives.
Knowing full well that Jiang Yue would never agree to give up her child, why stage this drama? Was it just to upset her or purely to provoke her?
Then again, Mother Lu probably didn’t want her to have a peaceful postpartum recovery. They say getting angry during confinement can cause lasting health issues. She mustn’t let herself get worked up.
Clearly, the old woman had a wicked heart.
Hearing no response, Mother Lu felt humiliated and banged on the door even harder, shaking it noisily. “Jiang Yue! Open this door right now! We have guests! Hiding behind a closed door and ignoring visitors—what kind of behavior is that? Did your mother never teach you how to treat guests?”
Her voice was loud and shrill, startling Little Bean Sprout.
The infant’s lips quivered, and she let out a sudden, loud cry—mouth wide open, fists clenched, little legs kicking—sobbing intensely and pitifully.
Jiang Yue hurriedly picked up the child, gently patting and soothing her, her heart aching with a mix of heartache and fury.
She walked to the door, freed one hand, yanked it open, and shoved Mother Lu. “Haven’t you done enough? You’ve frightened my daughter!”
Mother Lu stumbled back two steps and ended up sitting on the ground.
The aunt rushed over to help her up. “Third Son’s wife, how dare you lay a hand on your mother-in-law! Have you no upbringing?”
Jiang Yue found it absurd. “You wretched old woman! You made my daughter cry, and I haven’t even settled accounts with you yet! How dare you accuse me of having no upbringing? Hmph! The Lu family’s so-called upbringing isn’t much to boast about either!”
Aunt Lu was stern by nature and rarely cracked a smile. The Lu children had been afraid of her since they were young, and she had grown accustomed to treating her nephews and nieces with severity.
Hearing this, her eyes turned as cold as ice, her brows furrowed, her eyes glared, and her face tightened. “This wife Third Son married is utterly outrageous! How could you have chosen her back then? With a mother like her, what good could possibly come from the child she bears? It’s bound to be a scourge too. I wouldn’t dare adopt it!”
Jiang Yue was furious. She grabbed the door bar and pointed it straight at Aunt Lu’s nose. “You’re the damn scourge! Your whole family is! Get out! My daughter doesn’t need your concern. If you dare show up here again, I’ll take my child and go live at the Commune Brigade! You Lu family are just too damn bullying!”
She was on the verge of tears from anger.
It wasn’t weakness—it was heartache for her daughter.
She was so little. What had she done wrong to be slandered and maligned like this?
Lu Jingzhou! You’d better die out there! Otherwise, I swear I’ll divorce you!
Mother Lu felt pleased inside but pretended otherwise on the surface. “Elder sister, please excuse this shameful display. Ah! I’m useless too. Old age has made me incapable of controlling things.”
Aunt Lu helped her up, her face stiff as a coffin board. “When Third Son returns, I’ll have a serious talk with him. If the household isn’t peaceful, what future can he possibly have outside?”
Mother Lu said pitifully, “She’s making a fuss about divorcing Third Son!”
“Divorce?” Aunt Lu turned her head and looked Jiang Yue up and down. “She has the nerve to make a fuss about divorce? If she really wants a divorce, she must leave everything behind—including the child—and go back where she came from. Our Lu family doesn’t want her anyway.”
Mother Lu felt she’d found a kindred spirit and was immensely pleased. “That’s what I said too. It’s just a pity for Third Son.” As for the child, forget it—she didn’t want a granddaughter.
Jiang Yue grew impatient with their talk. She went back inside, put down her child, rushed out, dashed into the kitchen, grabbed a basin of water, and stormed back out.
The two old women were still sympathetically enumerating Jiang Yue’s faults, talking about which daughters-in-law were obedient and sensible, regretting their misjudgment, and lamenting not having found a better match for Lu Jingzhou.
In short, they were making comparisons, belittling Jiang Yue as utterly worthless.
Then, a basin of cold water came splashing toward them, drenching them both from head to toe.
Jiang Yue threw down the basin and lifted her chin high. “Your mouths are too dirty—I’m helping you wash them. No need to curse; I know what you’re going to say. Lu Laosan will be back soon. We’ll say what needs to be said then. Pah! A married-off eldest aunt should mind less about her maiden family’s affairs! Meddling in what doesn’t concern you—like a dog chasing mice, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong!”
Mother Lu wiped the water from her face, remaining surprisingly calm. After all, she’d already experienced being threatened with a knife.
But Aunt Lu was furious!
“You! You! You! This is too outrageous!” Aunt Lu was so angry she nearly fainted, raising her hand to slap Jiang Yue.
Jiang Yue glared back fiercely. “Just try hitting me!”
Aunt Lu was intimidated by her glare and couldn’t bring herself to strike.
“Hmph! If you dare frighten my daughter again, see if I don’t end you!” With that threat, she ran back inside, closed the door, and went to comfort her daughter.
It took Mother Lu quite a while to console Aunt Lu and help her recover. She offered to take her to change clothes, but Aunt Lu refused, shaking her head. “No need! I’m leaving. If Third Son returns, send someone to inform me.”
“Alright, I understand. I’ll definitely notify you.” Mother Lu was more than happy to have another person join in condemning Jiang Yue.
After Jiang Yue managed to lull her daughter to sleep, she leaned against the bed, gazing at the child’s tender, soft little face, and her heart ached again.
Plop!
She reached up and wiped her face—it was tears.
She despised her own incompetence and weakness; she shouldn’t have cried.
The next evening, Zheng Xiaoliu went again to exchange goods.
This time, besides cotton fabric, Jiang Yue needed to exchange for money and ration coupons.
Both were important.
It would still be several years before full liberalization, and some things required ration coupons to obtain.
She unpacked a carton of Zhonghua cigarettes, wrapping them in a cloth.
She also brought out an entire case of liquor, along with five jin each of brown sugar and white sugar. Any more, and Zheng Xiaoliu wouldn’t be able to manage.
Seeing so many goods, Zheng Xiaoliu was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped. He was genuinely curious—where had Third Aunt gotten all this? Even if she had hidden them in the house, there was no way she could have stored this much!
The whole situation was bizarre.