Chapter 134: Can That Be Spoken of Behind Their Backs?

Just as Li Cuihua was about to say something, the Brigade Leader put his foot down: "That’s settled."

Her expression darkened, but knowing that once her father made a decision, it wouldn't change, she bit her tongue and kept quiet. The Brigade Leader’s two daughters-in-law exchanged glances and shared a silent smile.

They didn't have to wait until the next day; Li Cuihua’s husband arrived that very afternoon.

The Brigade Leader invited him inside, his face grim. "My daughter has been spoiled by her mother and me. If she has done anything wrong, son-in-law, feel free to tell me, and I will discipline her." The implication was clear: only he had the right to discipline his daughter; no one else had the standing to do so.

Meng Dalong took a deep breath, his honest face weary. "Father-in-law, if you feel Cuihua has been wronged in our home, then let’s divorce. I will let Cuihua go..."

"Meng Dalong! What did you say?!" Before he could finish, the Brigade Leader’s second son, Li Yandong, jumped to his feet. The eldest son, Li Yanhao, glared at him as well. They only had this one younger sister, and even if she was unreliable, they wouldn't let anyone bully her.

Meng Dalong’s expression turned cold. He stared at the Brigade Leader. "Brigade Leader, the only reason I delayed for so many days was that I had to take care of my mother at home. She still can't even get out of bed..."

His words made the hearts of the Brigade Leader’s family sink. The Brigade Leader looked at Li Cuihua beside him with a grim face; seeing the cowering look in her eyes, he immediately understood. Meng’s mother being bedridden had everything to do with his daughter.

Meng Dalong sneered and recounted the sequence of events.

It turned out that on the morning of the Lunar New Year, Meng’s mother had simply asked Li Cuihua to help with the cooking, only to be met with biting sarcasm and scorn. Since Meng Dalong had younger siblings, the Meng children naturally couldn't stand by and spoke up. Li Cuihua then threw a tantrum and started a brawl with Meng Dalong’s younger sister. When Meng’s mother tried to intervene to stop the fight, Li Cuihua—whether intentionally or not—shoved her directly against the stove. She suffered a massive bump on her forehead and fainted on the spot.

Li Cuihua had originally tried to run away but was held back by the Meng family. It wasn't until the next morning, when Meng’s mother regained consciousness and no one in the Meng household was paying attention to her, that she fled back to her parents' house.

Meng Dalong clenched his fists. "I have never laid a hand on Li Cuihua. My mother, as her mother-in-law, did nothing wrong in asking her daughter-in-law to cook a meal. Furthermore, since Li Cuihua married into our family, she hasn't done a single chore. She even dumped her own laundry on my little sister to wash, and in the dead of winter—my sister is only nine years old..."

The faces of the Brigade Leader’s family turned black. Li Yandong and Li Yanhao, who had jumped up earlier, wilted. They stiffened their necks, refusing to believe their little sister could act this way, but seeing the guilt in her eyes, their hearts instantly went cold.

The commotion in the yard had drawn the neighbors. Since it was the season for "winter hibernation" and everyone had time on their hands, quite a crowd had gathered. They began whispering among themselves.

"How could Cuihua be that kind of person?"
"She looked so sweet and well-behaved before, but it turns out she's rotten inside. What a waste of the Brigade Leader’s wife treating her like a treasure."
"Exactly. They were talking about giving her to the Sun family back then. Good thing Sun Baosheng didn't marry her, or the whole family would be lazy."
"It's just that the Brigade Leader’s wife didn't raise her right..."
"It’s truly a misfortune to end up with a daughter-in-law like that."

Although the whispers were quiet, the Brigade Leader’s family heard every word. Their faces turned even darker.

***

At the educated youth dormitory, Lin Jingyue was organizing the packages sent by Mother Jiang and her aunt. Before Jiang Xun left, he had instructed her to open them, organize the contents, and store them properly so they wouldn't spoil, as most of them were food.

Beyond the various snacks, there were clothes. Her aunt had sent a set of spring wear—a military green suit, the most popular style at the time—and a pair of small leather shoes. Mother Jiang’s package contained a short, knee-length knitted skirt, paired with thick cashmere leggings and a pair of boots; it was very fashionable. She had seen others wearing similar outfits when she was in Shanghai.

Everyone loves beautiful clothes, so Lin Jingyue cherished them and tucked them away in her cabinet.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

Just as she was finishing up with the last pound of egg cake, there was a knock at the door. Lin Jingyue put the cake into the cabinet and went to open it. "Who is it?"

"Sister Lin, it's us."

"Tie Dan? Niu Niu? Why are you here?" Lin Jingyue looked at the two little ones at the door in surprise. Niu Niu’s family wasn't like Zhao Di’s, where they favored boys over girls, but Niu Niu usually had to look after her younger siblings. Even though she was only seven, she could already do many chores for her family. She usually wouldn't have time to come over at this hour.

"My aunt is getting a divorce, and things are a mess at home. My mother told me to go out and play," Tie Dan said, sitting down on a small stool. He didn't really understand the concept of divorce; he only knew that something big had happened at home.

"What? Your aunt is getting a divorce?" Lin Jingyue was truly surprised.

Niu Niu sat obediently next to Tie Dan, her hands tucked into her patched sleeves. She spoke in a crisp voice, "My mother said Aunt Cuihua beat her mother-in-law until she was bleeding. Sister Lin, what is a mother-in-law? Why did Aunt Cuihua hit her? Is her mother-in-law a bad person?"

"Because my aunt is a bit fierce," Tie Dan added before Lin Jingyue could speak.

"Can you hit people just because you're fierce? Sister Lin seems even fiercer."

"Sister Lin hits people too," they agreed, nodding solemnly.

Lin Jingyue: "..."

She stared at the two children with a dark expression. "You shouldn't speak ill of people right to their faces." She was standing right there, yet they were discussing it so enthusiastically. Did they think she wouldn't swing a sledgehammer?

Niu Niu looked at Lin Jingyue innocently. "Sister Lin, should we say it behind your back instead?"

"..."

Her mouth twitched violently. "You shouldn't say it behind their backs, either. Don't gossip about others; good children shouldn't talk bad about people." She didn't want to warp their young minds.

"Then my aunt isn't a good child, because she talks bad about you behind your back," Tie Dan said suddenly.

Lin Jingyue: "...What bad things does your aunt say about me?"

"I can't say."

"Why not?"

"Sister Lin, you just said we shouldn't gossip or talk about others behind their backs."

Lin Jingyue: "..."

She felt a sharp pain in her chest. She glared at the two little ones, took a piece of egg cake from the cabinet, split it in two, and gave each of them a half. "Eat."

"We don't want it, Sister Lin, you eat it," they both waved their hands. Their families had told them not to take food from Sister Lin, as they had nothing of equal value to return.

"Eat it first. When spring comes and I need to gather pig fodder, you can help me gather a bit more," Lin Jingyue said, shoving the cake into their hands. The egg cake from this era was the real deal—rich in egg flavor and sweet. The two little ones couldn't resist the temptation.

"Thank you, Sister Lin," they said, accepting the cake.