7
Many People Offended Song’s Mother
When Lin Jianchun leisurely rode the bus around the city and finally returned to the Courtyard carrying roast duck, she heard crackling noises from the yard along with shouts: “They’re fighting! Someone’s getting their hair torn out…”
She hurried over and saw Song’s Mother being dragged by her hair and thrown into the yard.
Lin Jianchun was amused – Song’s Mother had offended quite a few people.
“You vicious old hag with a kind face but cruel heart! How dare you mistreat my daughter? Do you think my family is all dead?”
Wait, that sounded like her own mother?!
Lin Jianchun was stuck outside the crowd, unable to reach the fight, and could only watch as two more clumps of Song’s Mother’s already sparse hair were torn out, followed by two slaps across her face.
Meanwhile, her sister Lin Jianliu was tearfully trying to persuade Mother Lin to stop fighting, while secretly giving Song’s Mother several hard pinches on her thigh when no one was looking.
After all, they had been neighbors for many years, and the elders in the courtyard couldn’t just stand by and watch Song’s Mother get beaten to death.
When they were pulled apart, Song’s Mother groaned and demanded to go to the hospital, insisting the Lin family pay her medical expenses.
Mother Lin snorted coldly: “Fine, not only will I pay your medical expenses, I’m even willing to take personal care of you.”
Lin Jianliu gently added: “I can also stay at the Song family and cook meals for you every day. Mom, you can focus on taking care of Aunt Song in the hospital.”
Seeing Lin Jianliu’s gentle appearance, Song’s Mother remembered how her thigh hurt so badly it felt like the flesh was about to fall off. She couldn’t let this black-hearted woman stay in her house – her son was handsome and full of vigor, and if anything happened, he’d have to take responsibility and marry a Lin girl. The thought made her sick.
“I’m not going to the hospital! I won’t go!” Song’s Mother gritted her teeth through the pain and endured it.
Mother Lu brought half a bottle of Medicated wine and tossed it to Song’s Mother: “Although you don’t want my in-laws to pay your medical expenses, we’re not unreasonable people. This half bottle of Medicated wine should last you half a month.”
“In-laws, you must be tired after all that. Let’s go home for some water and rest.”
Mother Lu warmly invited the two back home, with Lin Jianchun following behind carrying the roast duck.
Mother Lu noticed her first, “Daughter-in-law, your family is here—”
“Xiao Chun’er, my dear daughter, you’ve suffered so much—”
Mother Lin cried with genuine emotion, holding Lin Jianchun tightly. The neighbors who had initially thought the Lin family had been too harsh now felt that if it were their own daughter who had suffered such treatment, not smashing the other family’s home would be letting them off lightly.
Holding two sizzling, oily roast ducks, Lin Jianchun really couldn’t claim she had suffered too much.
She comfortingly patted Mother Lin’s back, “Mom, I haven’t suffered. Look how well I’m living. You and Xiaoliuer must have traveled far and haven’t had lunch yet. I just bought roast duck – it’ll get cold soon.”
Mother Lin knew this was her first visit and didn’t want to embarrass her daughter, so she decided to save any serious talk for inside.
Mother Lu brought a basin of water, “Mother-in-law, please rest first. I’ll prepare the meal.”
Mother Lu thoughtfully left the room for the Lin family. Only after Mother Lin washed her face did she have the mood to examine the room, nodding with satisfaction when she saw Lin Jianchun had brought all her dowry back.
“Did you pay for that roast duck yourself?”
Lin Jianchun shook her head, “My mother-in-law gave me ten yuan this morning to make a phone call. I bought it with the leftover money.”
“Gave you ten yuan just to make a phone call? Your new mother-in-law seems quite good – generous and reasonable.”
Mother Lin asked several more questions and felt relieved to see that Lin Jianchun hadn’t been wronged. “Alright, I’ll go help your mother-in-law. You two sisters can chat. Xiaoliuer is feeling a bit unwell from motion sickness.”
Lin Jianliu stood obediently to the side, her head lowered the entire time, lost in thought.
“Xiaoliuer.”
Hearing her name, Lin Jianliu looked up at Lin Jianchun with reddened eyes, her voice choked with emotion. “Sis, I came too late. I let you suffer. From now on, I won’t let anyone bully you again.”
Lin Jianchun couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed that despite all her reassurances about how well she was doing, Xiaoliuer hadn’t listened to a single word.
“Mom said you’re feeling carsick. Come, lie down on the bed.”
Lin Jianchun patted the bed. “Your brother-in-law just changed the sheets. They’re clean.”
Lin Jianliu shuffled over to Lin Jianchun’s side, looking pitiful. “Sis, I’m scared. Can you sleep with me?”
Lin Jianchun nearly laughed out loud. This little girl, who had just secretly schemed and would later covet her ex-brother-in-law, had nerves of steel—what could she possibly be afraid of?
Oh well, she’s just a young girl who deserves to be spoiled. If she makes a mistake later, she can always be disciplined then.
Lin Jianchun lay side by side with Lin Jianliu, gently patting her back to lull her to sleep.
But Lin Jianliu seemed restless, her brow furrowed even in sleep, murmuring, “Sis…” The words that followed were unclear, as Mother Lin pushed the door open to call them for dinner.
“Shh—”
“Is she asleep?”
Lin Jianchun nodded and quietly slipped out of bed.
With the new daughter-in-law in the house, Mother Lu had specially bought plenty of good meat and vegetables. Fortunately, the family had some stored supplies, or else there would have been nothing to serve the in-laws.
Lu Xuanzhou returned home with Little Lu. As soon as he stepped inside, Mother Lu pulled him over to introduce him. “In-laws, this is my eldest son, your son-in-law.”
Mother Lin looked Lu Xuanzhou up and down. He was about half a head taller than Song Chusheng, with a strong and broad build—far better than Song Chusheng, who couldn’t even lift a hand or carry a load.
Lu Xuanzhou greeted her properly, “Aunt Lin.”
Mother Lu, standing nearby, pinched his arm in frustration. Her rebellious son—calling his mother-in-law “Aunt”! If it weren’t for the wife who fell into their lives next door, he’d probably remain a bachelor forever.
Mother Lin’s eyelids twitched. Was this her own son? She pinched him so hard his arm must have bruised. If he were her son-in-law, she’d feel sorry for him.
Little Lu beamed a big smile and greeted, “Hello, Aunt Lin. Hello, Sister-in-law.”
Lin Jianchun responded softly, “Good boy, your sister-in-law bought you some roast duck.”
“Sister-in-law, you’re the best! Whether my brother enjoys his good fortune or not, I don’t care—it’s all my luck.” Little Lu chatted affectionately with Lin Jianchun, making both families laugh heartily.
“Sister Lu, you’ve raised your sons well.”
“In-laws, you’re too modest. It’s your daughter who’s been raised well. Otherwise, why would I be eagerly calling you in-laws?”
Mother Lu’s cheerful personality resonated with Mother Lin. If all city folks were like Song’s Mother, she would have taken her eldest daughter and left immediately, even if it meant supporting her for life back home.
Mother Lin laughed and gave her approval, “Aren’t we already in-laws?”
Delighted, Mother Lu pulled Lu Xuanzhou over to make him bow to Mother Lin. “Hurry up and thank your mother-in-law for thinking highly of you and agreeing to let her daughter marry you.”
Mother Lin hurriedly stopped her, having come in such haste that she hadn’t brought a red envelope: “No rush, such an important matter still needs my husband’s approval.”
“Of course, of course…”
The Lu family’s guests were all enjoying themselves, and Mother Lu’s hearty laughter could be clearly heard by the neighbors next door.
Next door at the Song family.
Song’s Mother was having her close friend help tend to her wounds: “Pah, what’s there to be so proud of? Country folk showing up empty-handed and leaving with two sacks full. The Lu family will regret this someday.”
“Oh dear, if they end up like the Chen family in the front courtyard, I wonder if A Zhou’s mother will still be chirping ‘my daughter-in-law’ this and ‘my daughter-in-law’ that, strutting around like a peacock.”
The daughter-in-law of the Chen family in the front courtyard was from the countryside. Her family and relatives would frequently show up to sponge off them, and staying just one day before leaving was considered decent behavior. Unfortunately, the Chen family was weak-willed, and their living standards kept declining. A few more rounds of being bled dry, and they might have to sell their house.
Song’s Mother feared her family would end up like the Chens in the front courtyard, unable to even afford a decent bowl of porridge, which was why she wanted to establish control over her daughter-in-law from the very beginning. Little did she expect things would escalate into such a huge misunderstanding, making her son resent her.