Chapter 85: Because I Lack Decorum

Wang Xueping glanced at Sun Zhiyuan, then calmly looked away. Yang Ming saw nothing odd in this. In his eyes, Wang Xueping had only agreed to the engagement with Sun Zhiyuan because of the pressure of reputation and the coercion from the Sun family.

With clear displeasure, Yang Ming looked at Sun Zhiyuan. “Excuse us, we need to pass. Would you mind stepping aside?”

Sun Zhiyuan gazed deeply at Wang Xueping, regret weighing heavily in his heart. If only he hadn’t switched brides back then, Wang Xueping would still be his wife.

“Comrade Sun!” Yang Ming’s brows knitted together as he looked at him with annoyance. “It’s impolite to stare at a woman like that.”

“What’s it to you? Always sticking your nose in!” Sun Zhigang sneered, clearly looking down on Yang Ming.

“Would you please move? You’re blocking the way,” Wang Xueping’s brow furrowed as well.

She had once harbored complicated feelings for Sun Zhiyuan, perhaps even some lingering attachment, but after marrying Yang Ming, she finally understood what a truly good man was.

He taught her how to conduct herself, cared about her needs, considered her thoughts, told her what she did right and what she did wrong, protected her, and guided her.

He did not simply leave her some money and let her struggle with his family, nor did he leave her to suffer under his mother’s oppression, expecting her to endure.

In her previous life, though Sun Zhiyuan had separated from his family for her, he often urged her not to resent his mother, insisting that his mother had it hard, that all village women were like this.

Back then, she thought Sun Zhiyuan was good to her, and since his mother was an elder, she overlooked many things.

But now she understood it wasn’t so. Sun Zhiyuan’s mother had never considered her family.

In Sun Zhiyuan’s mind, a mother-in-law making things difficult for her daughter-in-law was nothing serious. As long as it wasn’t too much, the daughter-in-law should be magnanimous and understanding.

“Let’s go,” Wang Xueping no longer spared Sun Zhiyuan a glance and spoke to Yang Ming.

In this life, Sun Zhiyuan was nothing more than a stranger with whom she had almost married.

Sun Zhiyuan watched the two of them walk away, their figures harmonious and well-matched.

“Looks like Sun Zhiyuan regrets it,” Xia Nan whispered to Lin Jingyue once they were far enough away. “I remember he knew about Lin Xinrou’s scheming back then.”

When they got married, his expression soured after he came out for the toast—he must have realized by then.

Lin Jingyue shook her head and said nothing.

People are always like this—never content, always yearning for what they can’t have, believing what’s out of reach is always best.

With Lin Xinrou as such a striking contrast, Wang Xueping seemed all the more precious.

Now, with Wang Xueping so cherished and happy with Yang Ming, her features softened and serene, utterly unlike Lin Xinrou’s gloom and bitterness—anyone would regret.

Seeing Lin Jingyue had no interest in discussing it further, Xia Nan dropped the subject.

“I wonder if I’ll get a fish,” she said, licking her lips. “My mouth is so bland I might as well be a bird.”

“You probably will,” someone replied. “If not a big one, at least a small one.”

When they arrived at the grain-drying field, a long line had already formed. As soon as the educated youth appeared, the villagers began to whisper and point.

Xia Nan rolled her eyes. “They can spin black into white with their tongues.”

She had witnessed the sharpness of these village women’s words before.

“Comrade Lin! Over here! I saved a spot for you!” Aunt Liu’s eyes lit up when she saw Lin Jingyue, and she waved enthusiastically.

Li Cuihua, standing behind Aunt Liu, immediately darkened.

“Hurry over!” Aunt Liu called again.

Lin Jingyue squinted. “Alright, I’m coming!”

If she could annoy others, she’d certainly oblige—after all, if others weren’t happy, she was.

She winked at Jiang Xun and hurried over.

Aunt Liu hadn’t expected her to actually come and was even more delighted. She promptly shoved Li Cuihua behind her with her hip. “Stand in front with me.”

With this troublemaker around, Jiang Xun would take Jiaobao up the mountain more often, and there would be no shortage of meat at home.

“Comrade Lin, how can you cut in line?” Li Cuihua said sourly, glaring at Aunt Liu and then at Lin Jingyue.

“Because I have no manners,” Lin Jingyue replied, feigning modesty with a hand over her mouth.

The others: “……”

“Cough, cough…” Zhou Yan nearly choked on his own saliva. No manners? Well, if you have no manners, cutting in line is certainly possible.

Unbelievable!

Everyone looked at Lin Jingyue, speechless, especially the brigade leader. He felt a headache coming on, fearing his daughter would provoke this troublemaker. He quickly gave his daughter a warning glance.

Li Cuihua was about to explode with anger, but her father’s stern gaze held her back. She glared daggers at Lin Jingyue.

This Lin Jingyue—was Jiang Xun blind? What did she have besides a pretty face?

“Just like her sister Lin Xinrou, shameless as ever,” Sun Zhigang muttered to Sun Zhiyuan as they watched the scene from a distance, worried someone might overhear and covering his mouth nervously.

Sun Zhiyuan sighed. “You’re a man—why are you gossiping like a woman?”

“Brother!”

“Don’t speak ill of others behind their backs,” Sun Zhiyuan said, casting a long look at Lin Jingyue.

Compared to Lin Xinrou, Lin Jingyue was on another level. Half-sisters… No wonder one was illegitimate—there was simply no comparison.

At that moment, Lin Xinrou, scorned by all, hid in a corner, watching everyone with a sullen gaze.

She dared not show herself, afraid someone would throw stones at her.

She watched as everyone queued cheerfully for their fish, her mood sinking further.

It was only when she saw Sun Tiezhu’s mother receive two fish that she breathed a sigh of relief. At least one of those would be for her—after all, she was carrying the Sun family’s grandson.

The educated youth each received about half a pound of fish. If they wanted more, they had to pay.

Xia Nan bought two, Yang Ming as well. He wanted to buy more, but the brigade leader said that was the limit per person.

Yang Ming understood he was making things difficult and said no more.

When it was Lin Jingyue’s turn, she directly bought three large fish.

The fish from her space couldn’t be brought out often; they rarely ate fish.

The brigade leader cheerfully sold them to her, and Jiang Xun paid after the fish were weighed.

Wang Xueping, watching this, pursed her lips. So much for “limited”—the restriction only applied to them, it seemed.

“Jiang Xun, I want to eat sweet and sour fish, braised fish, fried fish bites…” Lin Jingyue said as she carried the fish, a long list of dishes running through her mind.

“What if you want everything?” he asked.

“Then we’ll eat everything.” Jiang Xun took the fish from her.

“Okay.”

“Brother Jiang, I have a few small fish here. Give them to Lin Jingyue to fry into crispy fish snacks,” Sun Jiabao said, running over with a basin.

Aunt Liu…

“Alright, you’ll get one in return,” Jiang Xun accepted without hesitation.

“That’s great,” Sun Jiabao licked his lips, already imagining Jiang Xun’s cooking.

Aunt Liu couldn’t help but cover her face—her silly son! No wonder the brigade leader’s daughter wasn’t interested. That foolish look… Well, no, her son was the best.

Aunt Liu quickly stopped her wandering thoughts.

The group left, utterly unconcerned, while those around them could only watch speechlessly.

PS: Lin Jingyue: As long as I have no manners, nothing you say matters!