The Jeep drove out of Ning’an County and traveled along a long stretch of muddy road before reaching the main highway—a national highway leading to the city, which was much smoother.
Once on the highway, Ding Meng began to accelerate.
The route went from Ning’an County to Ning City, then from Ning City through Qing City and Shan City, finally arriving in Guang City.
Yu Yin hadn’t gotten much rest these past few days, so she fell asleep shortly after getting in the car and didn’t wake up until they reached Guang City.
Ding Meng heard the sound and turned around, giving a sheepish smile: “Sister-in-law, you’re awake. We’ve just arrived in Guang City; it’ll take about half an hour to get to the eldest brother’s place.”
“We’re here already?” Yu Yin looked out the window in surprise.
In her previous life, Yu Yin was from Guang Province. Before her college entrance exam scores were even released, she had gone to Guang City on her own to find a summer job to earn tuition money.
That was her first time in Guang City, and it was also the first time she had truly witnessed its bustling vibrancy.
However, Guangzhou in the 1970s was different from that of the 21st century. Although equally bustling, the 1970s lacked the skyscrapers and dazzling modern facilities of the 21st century; instead, it featured archways retaining a sense of nostalgia and blue-brick houses characteristic of Lingnan architecture.
The streets of Guangzhou were wide, with many bicycles riding along both sides.
There were many pedestrians, and every now and then a bus or tram would pass by… This was the early stage of Guangzhou’s development into a first-tier metropolis.
“It’s so wonderful!”
Yu Yin’s eyes sparkled with joy and curiosity at the sight of all these new things. Seeing her roll down the car window to look at the scenery outside, Ding Meng deliberately slowed down for her.
He figured they still had plenty of time anyway.
No rush.
But while they weren’t in a hurry, the Pei family was going crazy with anxiety.
Especially Uncle Pei’s household.
After Uncle Pei and Zhang Guihua returned from picking up the bride and were about to start the banquet, they discovered that Sheng Siyang had invited nearly half the police force of Lihe District to his son’s wedding.
Unbelievable!
Zhang Guihua had the audacity to schedule her youngest son’s wedding on the same day as Pei Zhan’s, knowing full well that Sheng Siyang was a pushover. Since both of their sons were getting married, she was certain she could keep Pei Zhan in line and prevent him from resisting—that’s why she planned to outshine Sheng Siyang on this day.
She wanted everyone in the neighborhood to know that she, Zhang Guihua, had the best daughter-in-law in the Pei family. If all the relatives and friends came to their house for the wedding banquet instead of Sheng Siyang’s, that would prove everything.
From then on, if anyone dared to compare Sheng Siyang to her, she’d berate them mercilessly.
But now—
If officers from the Public Security Bureau came to congratulate Sheng Siyang’s family, what would that make of her own family?
Those penniless relatives wouldn’t just fail to save face for her—they’d also polish off every last bite of the banquet her family had painstakingly prepared.
What was this?
Losing both the battle and the war?!
The more Zhang Guihua thought about it, the angrier she became. In front of her relatives—who had already begun to grow restless upon learning that the Sheng Siyang family had invited police officers and officials to their wedding banquet—she dragged Uncle Pei, Pei Guangyi, into the room.
With a loud “bang,” she slammed the door shut, her face turning as dark as the bottom of a pot.
“Go over there right now and tell Sheng Siyang to kick out the police and those so-called officials!”
“Are you out of your mind?” Uncle Pei, Pei Guangyi, shook off Zhang Guihua’s hand and pointed at his own nose. “You want me to go tell my sister-in-law to kick out the officials? ”
“Are you the one who’s crazy, or am I?”
“Zhang Guihua, I’m telling you, enough is enough.”
“Enough of what? It’s your son’s wedding today—do you want to make a fool of him?” Zhang Guihua screamed.
Pei Guangyi let out a cold laugh. “Are you afraid your son will lose face, or are you afraid you’ll lose face yourself?”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve done. My older brother is gone, and my eldest nephew is gone too. My older brother’s family has only this one son left. If this gets too ugly, I’ll never let you off the hook.”
Zhang Guihua hadn’t expected Pei Guangyi to say these things to her at a time like this.
Stunned and incredulous, she reached out and clawed at Pei Guangyi’s face. “What did you say?”
“You won’t let me off the hook?”
“How do you expect me to let you off? Who am I doing this for?”
“Isn’t it for you, Pei Guangyi, and your two fine sons?”
“Your eldest son is both stupid and slow-witted, and the wife he married isn’t exactly well-liked. They’ll stay this way their whole lives—they’ll never amount to anything. In the future, we’ll have to rely on Jianguo.”
“Jianguo’s made something of himself now—he’s married a movie theater ticket seller, and her family has someone in office. With a daughter-in-law like that, if the groom’s family isn’t powerful enough, do you think you’d be able to keep her in line?”
“Don’t forget—your youngest son, Jianguo, isn’t even in his own job!”
Zhang Guihua and Pei Guangyi’s youngest son was named Pei Jianguo. He hadn’t even finished elementary school and had always been idle. His current job originally belonged to Pei Guangyi’s eldest brother—Pei Zhan’s late father, Pei Guangyuan.
After Pei Guangyuan’s death, it was taken over by his eldest daughter-in-law. When she left, the job temporarily fell to Pei Jianguo because Pei Zhan had never married.
The reason it ended up with Pei Jianguo was that Zhang Guihua and her husband had pleaded for it for a long time and finally secured it by signing an agreement.
The agreement stated clearly and unequivocally that as soon as Pei Zhan got married, the job would be returned to his wife.
Zhang Guihua had gone to such great lengths—even going so far as to bribe a matchmaker to find Pei Zhan a lowly country girl, and arranging for her beloved youngest son’s wedding to take place on the same day as Pei Zhan’s—not only to get one over on Sheng Siyang, but more importantly, to force her relatives to choose sides.
As long as the relatives all stand on their side, even if Pei Zhan’s wife wants her job back in the future, it will depend on whether she can outmaneuver them.
She’s been scheming for so long—all for the sake of this family, and for him, Pei Guangyi.
As for Pei Guangyi, at the critical moment, he suddenly remembered that woman was his elder sister-in-law.
If he truly regarded Sheng Siyang as his elder sister-in-law, he should have stopped her back then when he caught her with the matchmaker.
Instead of being a last-minute meddler—only now that trouble has erupted does he suddenly remember that they’re all one family.
What a load of bullshit about “one family.”
This family had already split apart long after the two old folks died, when the two sides fought over the jobs and houses left behind by the elderly couple.
“Ouch! What are you doing?!” Although Pei Guangyi dodged in time, Zhang Guihua still managed to scratch his chin.
Just a light touch on it was enough for him to feel the stinging pain of the skin being torn.
“Do you really want to bring utter shame upon this family before you’ll stop?” Pei Guangyi roared through gritted teeth.
“Am I the one bringing shame upon this family?”
“Are you going or not? If you don’t go, nobody’s going to have an easy time of it today!”
Zhang Guihua was even fiercer than Pei Guangyi.
Pei Guangyi knew exactly what kind of person Zhang Guihua was; if he didn’t do as she wished now, she would really make a scene.
Then there would truly be no dignity left. He glared fiercely at Zhang Guihua. “This is a one-time exception.”
In the end, Pei Guangyi pulled up his collar to hide the scar, opened the door, and walked out.
Zhang Guihua snorted and, as if it were her right, followed close behind him.
As soon as the relatives saw the two of them appear, they immediately swarmed around them.
Since Pei Guangyi was a man, no one blocked his path.
But it was a different story for Zhang Guihua—the moment she appeared, she was swarmed by aunts and cousins until she didn’t even have room to take a single step.
“Guihua, what were you two old folks hiding from just now? I heard that over at Siyang’s place, they’ve invited the police and some officials. Since both of your families share the same surname and the same parents, and it’s such a rare occasion for both of your younger sons to get married on the same day, why don’t the two families host a joint banquet?”
“That’s right, Guihua. The more, the merrier. Why would one family host two separate celebrations? Why don’t you, Eldest Aunt, take the lead and organize a joint banquet?”
“Exactly…”
“No way—!” Zhang Guihua scoffed coldly, pushing aside her “eldest aunt” and “aunties.” She glanced toward the doorway, where Pei Guangyi’s figure had already disappeared, and suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her. She shouted loudly, “Our family has bought plenty of fine wine and food—it cost half a year’s worth of Guangyi’s wages and grain coupons. Why on earth should I help another family host a banquet to welcome their daughter-in-law? Is Sheng Siyang so desperate she’s gone mad? Does she expect our family to foot the bill for her son’s wedding?”
She shouted these words so loudly that once wasn’t enough; the second time, she even deliberately walked up to their front door and yelled at Sheng Siyang, who had come out to greet her young daughter-in-law after hearing she’d been brought back—
“Sheng Siyang, if you don’t have the money, don’t go throwing a wedding banquet. It’s a disgrace!”
“Your son isn’t marrying someone from the city anyway—just have a simple meal with your own family.”
“I’m only looking out for you. Don’t let the guests show up and find there’s nothing here—it’ll bring shame to our Pei family.”
Just then, Yu Yin drove into Guiyuan Alley and happened to overhear this whole scene.
She raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The car happened to drive right past the arrogant Zhang Guihua, and through the half-open car window, Yu Yin saw Zhang Guihua’s fearless, self-righteous face—one that clearly thrived on bullying others.
This woman… is she the male cannon fodder’s second aunt?
That scum of a woman who, in the book, teamed up with all her relatives to force the male cannon fodder’s biological mother to give up her job and house, and who, in her insatiable greed, eventually joined forces with the female lead—who hadn’t been reincarnated yet—to drive the male cannon fodder’s mother to her death?!
She’s really ugly.
Sure enough, people with evil hearts are all ugly.
Yu Yin disliked Zhang Guihua from the very first glance.
Just then, a jeep pulled up in front of No. 12 Guiyuan Alley. Sheng Siyang, so furious her chest ached, was about to lash out. Even if she couldn’t win an argument against Zhang Guihua, she wanted the second brother, Pei Guangyi, to rein her in.
Today was her youngest son’s wedding day. As the eldest sister-in-law, even with her husband absent, she couldn’t let her younger sister-in-law bully him like this.
But just as the words were on the tip of her tongue, a jeep pulled up right in front of her.
Her gaze happened to meet Yu Yin’s eyes as she peered out.
Those eyes were clear and curious, yet still held a trace of disgust that hadn’t had time to fade.
It was so clear that Sheng Siyang, who had been so eager to fight back, froze in her tracks.
The next second, panic welled up inside her.
She thought the disgust in Yu Yin’s eyes was directed at her—at her family, who had caused such a mess on this joyous occasion.
Sheng Siyang truly panicked. She desperately wanted to explain, but just as the words reached her lips, her throat grew dry and itchy again, and she couldn’t help but start coughing.
“Cough, cough, cough—!!!”
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Zhang Guihua’s venomous voice rang out again. “Big Sister, your health is so poor, and you cough so often. If you really have to entertain the leaders and guests, you’d better not eat with them.”
“Otherwise, it wouldn’t be good if you passed some illness on to them.”
She might as well have said Sheng Siyang had tuberculosis.
Sheng Siyang’s cough had been triggered by nervousness to begin with, and now it only grew worse.
She even began to gasp for breath.
Aunt Cai, standing nearby, noticed something was wrong with Sheng Siyang and quickly began patting her on the back.
As she patted her, she shouted, “Zhang Guihua, shut the hell up!”
But patting her back didn’t help with the coughing. Yu Yin hurriedly rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a slightly chipped military canteen.
The moment she pulled out the canteen, Yu Yin had already flung open the car door and jumped out. She immediately unscrewed the cap and hurriedly poured water into Sheng Siyang’s mouth.
The water in Yu Yin’s canteen had been filled by a staff member at the supply and marketing cooperative when she bought it.
Ning’an County was surrounded by mountains, and the locals usually drank mountain spring water.
The spring water was unpolluted and sweet—a natural soothing remedy for a sore throat.
After just a couple of sips—whether it was a placebo effect or because the water had been offered by her new daughter-in-law, who had put past grievances aside—Sheng Siyang really did start to feel much better.
“Thank you,” Sheng Siyang said with a weak smile.
Not wanting to leave a bad impression on Yu Yin, she forced back the itch in her throat and made small talk: “You must be Little Yu. I’m A-Zhan’s mother. I’m sorry I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather and haven’t come to meet you yet—please don’t hold it against me.”
“How could I hold that against you? It’s just as good to meet you now,” Yu Yin replied warmly. At the same time, she caught a glimpse of Zhang Guihua, who was still trying to stir up trouble and slander others. Before Zhang Guihua could open her mouth, Yu Yin cut her off: “Besides, Auntie, you didn’t avoid meeting me on purpose because you were feeling unwell. It’s all because… Ah Zhan isn’t here to look after you. You have to manage the household and work for the nation’s development—even the strongest person would collapse under that, let alone you.”
“But that won’t happen anymore. I promised Ah Zhan I’d take good care of you and look after the household. Your health will definitely improve from now on.”
“That’s right!” Aunt Cai chimed in excitedly from the side.
“Now that’s what a good daughter-in-law and a good younger generation should be like. Not like certain people who pay lip service to respect but do nothing but cause trouble behind your back!”
That “nothing but cause trouble” was clearly directed at Zhang Guihua.
Zhang Guihua’s smug expression instantly froze and turned grim.
“Fatso Cai, who are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you, Bucktooth Zhang. Why don’t you take a look in the mirror at your own face? It’s such a joyous occasion today—can’t you just keep that buck-toothed mouth shut?”
“Do you want me to slap you across the face before you’ll shut up?”
Aunt Cai wasn’t just talking—she’d already taken a step forward. If Zhang Guihua had answered “yes,” Yu Yin thought, staring at Aunt Cai, she really would have slapped her.
This woman—she’s feisty.
She liked that.
But Zhang Guihua hated her with a passion.
She knew full well that Aunt Cai would actually slap her—she’d been taught a lesson more than once when she used to bully Sheng Siyang.
That was one of the reasons she despised Sheng Siyang. She was clearly a good-for-nothing, yet so many people were there to help and pamper her. What gave her the right?!
“Sheng Siyang, why the hell aren’t you doing anything about this? Do you want to bring total shame on our Pei family?”
This was a classic case of picking on the weak. Yu Yin couldn’t stand by and watch, so she tried to step in front of Sheng Siyang.
Sheng Siyang, however, gave a weak smile and grabbed Yu Yin’s hand.
Sheng Siyang didn’t respond to Zhang Guihua’s words; instead, she turned to Pei Guangyi, Uncle Pei, who had remained silent the whole time.
“Guangyi, are you just going to let your wife bully your elder sister-in-law like this?”
“Do you think that just because your eldest brother is dead, my eldest son is gone, and my youngest son is ‘serving the people’ and isn’t home, you can bully us—a widow and her orphaned child?”
If that accusation were to stick, it would be Zhang Guihua and her crowd who’d bring shame upon the Pei family.
In an instant, everyone’s gaze—whether overt or covert—focused on Pei Guangyi, while only Yu Yin raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Her mother-in-law, who seemed so weak both inside and out, apparently wasn’t as meek as she appeared.
This was going to be quite a show.
Author’s Note:
Hello everyone, after discussing it with the editor, *The Provincial Capital Daughter-in-Law* will go VIP in the early hours of the 30th. I hope you’ll all show your support—thank you.