Lin Chuxia grew impatient with her babbling and was about to make an excuse to send her away when she heard Sister-in-law Feng shift the topic.
"It’s not for me to say, but you city folks just don’t know how to live frugally. No matter the time, one must always budget carefully. Look around our residential compound; in their courtyards, every family has a patch of vegetables growing, even in Jiang Hong’s tiny yard, there are two beds of greens. With such a big yard of yours going to waste without some planting, it’s truly a shame. But I know, as a city girl, you probably can’t do farming. That’s not a problem; I can plant for you. After all, we have such a deep relationship. With me around, I guarantee your yard will be well looked after, saving you a decent amount on vegetables all year round."
Only then did Lin Chuxia realize why she kept praising her yard—it turned out she had her sights set on it.
"There’s no need for you to worry about that. Besides, I believe I’ve told you at our first meeting, I’m not some city person. When it comes to farming and gardening, I’m no worse than you. After all, my family are bona fide vegetable farmers. We know exactly what to plant in each of the four seasons, perhaps even better than you."
Sister-in-law Feng didn’t take her words seriously at all, "Oh come on, don’t be polite with me. Who would believe that? With your delicate, untouched hands, you saying you can garden? It’s settled then. I’ll bring a hoe tomorrow. The ground needs to be turned over and the soil loosened before anything can be planted..."
Lin Chuxia had encountered many people in her two lifetimes, but she had never met anyone quite like Sister-in-law Feng.
While most people would leave some room for pride, she insisted on acting obtusely.
"Xu San Ni, do you truly not understand, or are you just pretending to be confused?"
Xu San Ni was Sister-in-law Feng’s real name. Considering that Feng Dajun and Qin Yang were colleagues, Lin Chuxia didn’t want to fall out with her.
But she couldn’t hold back any longer.
"My home, my yard—there’s no need for others to point fingers and tell me what to do."
"Qin Yang’s wife, look at you getting all worked up. I’m only doing this out of kindness," Sister-in-law Feng said with a face full of sorrow, as if she had good intentions but wasn’t understood.
"Your kindness?" Lin Chuxia scoffed, "Qin Yang and the others are about to finish work. Should I call Feng Dajun over to see your ’kindness’?"
The mention of bringing the men into it visibly made Sister-in-law Feng blink in guilt, "It’s just a small matter. The men already have it tough enough working and earning money; no need to bother them with this. If you really don’t want it, then don’t. It’s not like I’m desperately forcing myself to work for your family, how could you possibly complain to someone about it?"
Despite what she said, Sister-in-law Feng didn’t dare delay any further; she was afraid that once Qin Yang and Feng Dajun returned from work, Lin Chuxia would indeed drag her husband into the complaint.
Lin Chuxia could clearly see what she was thinking, and now that Sister-in-law Feng wanted to leave, Lin Chuxia wasn’t about to let her.
"Look at how you’re talking. What do you mean by complaining? You’re so kindhearted, wanting to rush over to help us with our vegetable garden. Shouldn’t I praise you in front of Engineer Feng? Not only do I want to praise you in front of Engineer Feng, but I also want to write two letters of commendation. One to be posted on our residential compound’s bulletin board, and another to be sent to our unit’s leaders, so everyone can learn from your helpful, selfless spirit."
Hearing that it might get escalated to the leaders, Sister-in-law Feng grabbed Feng Jingjing and ran out.
If this petty issue really reached the leaders, wouldn’t Feng Dajun send her back to her hometown?
As Sister-in-law Feng fled in panic, Lin Chuxia called out from behind, "Sister-in-law, don’t go! I’m about to write the letter of praise and I’ll read it to you."
The moment she finished speaking, Sister-in-law Feng stumbled nearly falling flat on her face.
Behind her, Lin Chuxia’s laughter rang out like tinkling bells.
Sister-in-law Feng clenched her hand and saw Feng Jingjing gripping it tightly with a worried face, which infuriated her even more.
"Do you see? They look down on us deep in their hearts. No matter how much we pour out our hearts to others, we can’t buy their appreciation."
"Remember this in the future; however nice people are to you, it’s all fake. Who knows how much they may despise you inside? You come from the countryside; why on earth should they be nice to you? They might even be harboring ill intentions, scheming against you. The only ones who truly care for you in this world are your father and mother."
......
When Qin Yang got home, he saw that Lin Chuxia had already returned and seemed to be in a good mood.
"Did you get everything taken care of?"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Switched Marriage The Coddled Little Wife