"Auntie, your family also built a red brick house last year. The layout and size are about the same. How much did it cost?"
Jianjun's mother chuckled awkwardly, "It also cost quite a bit."
In her heart, she cursed Lin Zhilan for harboring ill intentions.
She wanted to see Wang Guifen and Lin Zhilan make fools of themselves, but she didn't want to drag herself into it.
She understood the principle of not showing off one's wealth.
Lin Zhilan sneered. Just now when Uncle Chen was here, Jianjun's mother was peeking around outside.
When seeing Uncle Chen out, she saw her rushing into the Zhou family's house.
Wang Guifen had arrived so quickly; it definitely had a lot to do with this auntie's efforts.
"It is quite a bit of money," Lin Zhilan counted on her fingers for them. "The timber was approved by the village, and the labor was also helped by the village. Everyone knows how much was given. The most expensive things were the red bricks and cement, which would be two or three hundred yuan at most.
Let's just say three hundred. Mother, there is still one thousand four hundred left. I won't ask for much, just give me seven hundred."
"Bah!" Wang Guifen jumped up and pointed at her, cursing, "You jinx, you bringer of bad luck, you shameless slut! That is the money my son gave to honor me. Why should I share it with an outsider like you!"
"Heh," Lin Zhilan sneered. "When you wanted me to observe mourning, I was your daughter-in-law. Now that it's time to split the money, I've become an outsider?
To tell you the truth, the leaders who came today were here to express sympathy to the families of martyrs, to see if I have any difficulties so the organization can do its best to help me solve them.
Otherwise, I'll go ask tomorrow if I have the right to take my husband's allowance."
Lin Zhilan's name was elegant and understated, but her appearance was not understated at all; instead, she possessed an aggressive, striking beauty.
In the past, the original owner of this body was cowardly and sorrowful, always carrying a trace of melancholy between her brows. Coupled with being criticized for her looks and figure, she was used to lowering her head and hunching her shoulders. She was beautiful, but she had no presence at all, like a punching bag who wouldn't even cry out if pricked with a needle.
But now, she straightened her back. Compared to her delicate features, she exuded even more radiance and grandeur.
The crowd that had been chattering just a moment ago suddenly fell silent.
Several young men blushed and smiled at each other.
Song Fang was also good-looking, with fair skin and a slender figure. Before she got married, she was also considered a village beauty.
Even the educated youths from the city couldn't compare to her.
Song Fang was proud of her looks.
But the first time she saw Lin Zhilan, she knew she had lost.
Now, seeing these young men blushing and smiling at Lin Zhilan, Song Fang thought to herself that her mother-in-law was right: this Lin Zhilan was a seductress, not a decent woman at all.
"Sister-in-law," Song Fang walked out of the crowd, supported Wang Guifen, and smiled. "If you have something to say, say it nicely. Auntie is an elder after all."
Lin Zhilan frowned, wondering why she was joining the commotion.
Wang Guifen was just at a loss for words, but seeing someone standing on her side, she actually started wailing.
"Oh my dear heavens, give me my son's life back and take this slut away!
Other people know how to feel sorry for this old lady, but my own daughter-in-law only knows how to bully me ah."
She added an "ah" at the end of every sentence, which sounded like singing to Lin Zhilan's ears.
Seeing Lin Zhilan unmoved, Wang Guifen, with snot and tears streaming down, held onto Song Fang's hand and refused to let go.
Song Fang felt a bit disgusted and looked at Lin Zhilan as if asking for help.
"Sister-in-law, look at this..."
Lin Zhilan curled her lips. "If you feel sorry for the old lady, take her to your house and wait on her."
Jianjun's mother darkened her face and shouted, "Fangzi, the chickens haven't been fed yet. Hurry up and come back!"
"Sigh, I know, mother."
Song Fang broke free from Wang Guifen's hand. "Auntie, I have things to do at home, I'll be leaving first."
Wang Guifen looked at her back. "You..."
Lin Zhilan smiled. "Mother, when will you give me the seven hundred yuan?"
"Don't even think about it! You heartless, stinking bitch..."
She cursed as she walked away quickly.
Zhou Jianmin popped out from who knows where, smiling shamelessly. "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. My mother just has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Actually, she's just worried about you."
Lin Zhilan glared at him.
When the original owner was drugged, her biggest suspect was this brother-in-law.
That day, the original owner went to Zhou Jianjun's house to help. She worked all day without even a sip of water, and it was Wang Guifen who brought her a bowl of chicken soup.
The original owner was flattered at the time and drank the chicken soup right under Wang Guifen's nose.
Thinking about it now, Wang Guifen wasn't that kind-hearted unless someone else had instructed her.
Besides Zhou Jianmin, she couldn't think of a second person.
Receiving an eye-roll from his sister-in-law, Zhou Jianmin felt an unbearable itch in his heart. He turned to dismiss the people still lingering outside, then turned back and smiled:
"Sister-in-law, we're all family. Just do me a favor and don't be angry with mother anymore."
He walked closer and closer. Lin Zhilan suddenly said, "Jianmin, on the day Zhou Jianjun got married, was it you who told mother to bring me the chicken soup?"
Zhou Jianmin stopped in his tracks, his eyes darting away for a moment. "What's wrong?"
Seeing his reaction, Lin Zhilan knew the answer.
"Nothing, I just wanted to thank you for thinking of me."
Zhou Jianmin grinned. "You are my sister-in-law. If I don't think of you, who else would I think of?"
His words were ambiguous, and his gaze became sticky and lecherous.
Lin Zhilan suppressed the discomfort in her stomach, barely maintaining her expression, and turned back to close the door.
Zhou Jianmin leaned against the door and said softly, "Sister-in-law, why did you close the door?"
Lin Zhilan's eyes turned cold, but she deliberately softened her voice.
"I am your sister-in-law, and you are my brother-in-law. In broad daylight, it's not good for us to be alone together. If someone sees us, they'll gossip."
Zhou Jianmin subconsciously glanced over his shoulder.
He was also afraid.
There was a tigress at home. If she found out he was hanging around his sister-in-law, he wouldn't have a way out either.
Lin Zhilan sighed again. "If only your brother were still here. He could warm my bed at night, and you could also come over and sit for a while."
Her words were full of hints, making Zhou Jianmin's heart itch unbearably, like claws scratching at his soul.
"Then... Sister-in-law, I'll come see you tonight."
Lin Zhilan didn't say a word.
Zhou Jianmin felt assured in his heart and decided to go back and plan carefully first.
Hearing his footsteps fade away, Lin Zhilan snorted coldly.
As long as he dared to come, there would naturally be a trap set specifically for him.
That night, Lin Zhilan coaxed Linlin to sleep early.
The datura flowers she had picked on the mountain earlier had already been dried thoroughly by her.
This kind of flower was poisonous and could not be eaten. The volatiles produced when burned were also toxic; inhaling them would cause dizziness and drowsiness.
Zhou Jianmin liked to drug people, so presumably, this would be enough for him to enjoy.
Lin Zhilan lit a pile in the yard and then hid inside the house.
Before the second half of the night even arrived, Zhou Jianmin indeed showed up.
Perhaps he pressed on a nail while climbing the wall, because Lin Zhilan even heard him cry out in pain.
Through the window, Lin Zhilan quietly watched his reactions.
Zhou Jianmin had been excited all day, finally waiting until midnight.
Wu Li was sleeping like a log, her snoring even louder than his.
He tiptoed to Lin Zhilan's door.
He pushed the door.
The door didn't open.