The morning sun had not yet fully risen, and the courtyard was bathed in a faint yellow light. The temperature at this time was just right—neither too cold nor too hot—making it very comfortable for anyone present.
Finally, it was a day off, and Ding Ximei had slept well before leisurely preparing breakfast. After the meal, with nothing else to do, she directed her husband and son to sweep the front and back yards clean.
Taking advantage of the good weather, she brought out all the household’s quilts and hung them on the clothesline to air. Then, she washed the dirty clothes the family had changed out of the previous night. Summer clothes were thin, and there weren’t many to begin with, so they were quickly washed. However, wringing out the water was a bit of a struggle. Fortunately, Cheng Xuejun, having finished his tasks, rushed over to help without delay.
“Mom, let me help you.”
A hint of relief flashed in Ding Ximei’s eyes. Perhaps because he was about to start high school next semester, the boy had become increasingly sensible. During the holidays, he no longer ran off to the mountains or rivers but stayed home to read, occasionally asking her questions. When she didn’t know the answers, he would go to the educated youth point to ask the knowledgeable youths there. He was a completely different person from before.
Just as the mother and son finished hanging the clothes, a shout came from the front yard.
“Uncle Cheng, Auntie Cheng, are you home? Hurry to the village entrance! Sister Fang has brought Comrade Zhou back.”
Upon hearing this, Ding Ximei didn’t even have time to put away the laundry bucket and rushed outside. She was about to call Cheng Xuejun to join her, but he had already run ahead.
“Really? My sister is back?” Cheng Xuejun stared intently with his peach-blossom eyes, which closely resembled Cheng Fangqiu’s, not daring to blink for fear that the news might not be true.
“Why would I lie about this?”
The messenger slapped her thigh, laughing, but couldn’t help curling her lips in envy. “Your sister must have stumbled upon some incredible luck to marry Comrade Zhou. You should advise her not to bring back so many things to her parents’ home, or she’ll eventually be disliked by her in-laws.”
Hearing this, the joy on Cheng Xuejun’s face gradually faded, and his brows furrowed. He disagreed strongly and retorted, “What kind of perspective is that? Clearly, Comrade Zhou is the lucky one to marry my sister.”
“Hey, you little brat, don’t argue with me! Aside from being pretty, what else is good about your sister? Comrade Zhou is not only handsome but also a senior technician from the city, earning a monthly salary that equals your family’s yearly income.”
Everyone in the village knew Cheng Fangqiu was lazy. She hadn’t mastered any of the skills women were supposed to learn, spending her days dressing up flirtatiously to attract men, hoping to marry into a wealthy family for an easy life.
If it weren’t for the Cheng family being blind enough to raise such a lazy daughter, she would have starved long ago, given the meager work points she earned from farm work each year.
It seemed heaven had no justice, letting her climb so high. If only she had set aside her pride to try her luck earlier, she might have married into the city like Cheng Fangqiu, living a life of luxury.
“My sister has many virtues; you just don’t know them.”
Cheng Xuejun, still young, flushed red with anger, unsure how to counter her words. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, silently vowing to study hard, rise above, and stand up for his sister, so these gossips would never dare speak such words again.
“If they’re unknown, can they really be considered virtues? Only someone blind like Comrade Zhou would fancy your sister…”
Before she could finish, a cold voice cut in from behind.
“Whether he’s blind or not is none of your business. Do you live by the sea? Why meddle so much?”
Turning towards the voice, they saw the two subjects of their discussion standing not far away, their expressions dark, clearly having heard every word.
Zhou Yinghuai’s eyes simmered with anger, brewing a storm. “Fangqiu is wonderful in every way. Marrying her is a blessing I’ve earned over lifetimes. There’s no need for you to judge our relationship.”
“Moreover, my wife can buy as much as she wants. All our money is hers to spend.”
Cheng Fangqiu laughed heartily, her joy contrasting sharply with the grimace on the gossiper’s face.
“Let’s not talk about me for now, but someone like you, who gossips behind others’ backs, is definitely a rotten-hearted scoundrel.” Cheng Fangqiu shrugged, delivering a heavy blow with a light, casual tone.
The woman’s face turned pale, then red, shifting colors like a palette. She took a deep breath, about to retort, when a basin of dirty water was suddenly splashed at her feet, soaking her shoes.
“Ahhh! Are you insane?”
Ding Ximei stood beside Cheng Xuejun, holding a wooden basin, her face stern. A woman who had rarely quarreled with anyone in her life now spoke directly: “Get out of here, and don’t let me see you again. Otherwise, I’ll splash you every time I see you.”
“You people!” The woman stomped her feet in anger. “I came here with good intentions to deliver news, and not only do you not thank me, but you also insult me and splash me with dirty water. Is this how you treat people?”
She had hoped to guilt-trip them, but most of the onlookers were long-time neighbors of the Cheng family and naturally sided with them. Besides, she had been the one to gossip first, so she was clearly in the wrong.
“From a distance, I could smell the jealousy. Some people just can’t stand to see others doing well.”
“If someone insulted my daughter, I’d chase them out with a broom. Ding Ximei has a good temper; she didn’t lay a hand on you. You should be glad you only got splashed with water.”
“Exactly, we’re all from the same village. Why say such harsh things? Do you still want to get along in the future? How dare you twist the blame? Shameless.”
“Lately, there’s been a lot of gossip in the village. Was it you who started it?”
The woman stammered for a while, then covered her face and ran off.
Cheng Fangqiu called out leisurely from behind, “Hey, not only am I bringing back loads of things to my parents’ home this time, but I’ll bring even more next time, and the time after that, and the time after that. Both my husband and I are happy about it, and the things are prepared by my in-laws. Let me give you some advice, missy: don’t meddle in other people’s business. Even if you do, it’s none of your concern.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the woman ran even faster.
Cheng Fangqiu felt a great sense of relief after venting her anger. She then took out some candied sweets that hadn’t been distributed at the village entrance and handed them to the crowd, her big eyes curving into crescent moons as she smiled. “Uncles, aunties, everyone, come and try some.”
“Oh my, how can we accept this?”
“They say a married daughter is like spilled water, but I don’t think so anymore. Daughters are the best; they’re so thoughtful.”
“Fangqiu, how have you become so stylish in just a few days? Look at what you’re wearing—I’ve never seen anything like it. These clothes must be made of fine material, right?”
“Is this Comrade Zhou’s younger brother? My, both brothers are so handsome.”
“You came all the way from the capital by train? Do you have a girlfriend? Should I introduce you to someone?”
Having just escaped the crowd at the village entrance, Zhou Yingcheng felt his head spinning as he was about to be swallowed by this new group. Fortunately, Cheng Fangqiu was there to help handle the situation.
“He’s still studying and isn’t thinking about marriage yet. We just got back and are tired. Let’s rest for a bit, and you can come visit us at home later.”
The crowd, understanding the hint, gradually dispersed.
Cheng Fangqiu quickly herded her family into the courtyard and closed the gate. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she muttered, “I’ve never seen them so enthusiastic before.”
Then, her gaze fell on Zhou Yinghuai and Zhou Yingcheng. Well, it was all thanks to these two.
“Fangqiu, why did you come back at this time?” Ding Ximei had been counting the days, eagerly awaiting their return, but she hadn’t expected them to arrive at this hour.
“We were supposed to arrive yesterday afternoon, but the bus broke down on the way, so we had to stay at a guesthouse in the county overnight,” Cheng Fangqiu explained briefly. Then, she hugged Ding Ximei’s arm and cooed softly, “Mom, I missed you so much.”
“Mom missed you too,” Ding Ximei said, her eyes reddening as she held Cheng Fangqiu’s hands and looked her up and down.
Those people weren’t entirely wrong—their Fangqiu had indeed become more and more stylish.
Today, she was wearing a plain, floral-patterned cardigan paired with an indigo midi skirt. Her black hair was braided into a single plait that hung down her chest, with a silk scarf tied at the end as an accent. Combined with her delicate features, she looked stunningly beautiful under the sunlight, radiant and otherworldly.
Her outfit was nice, and she hadn’t lost weight, but her energy and spirit seemed a bit off.
“Did you not rest well last night? Was it uncomfortable staying outside?” Ding Ximei asked with concern.
Hearing this, Cheng Fangqiu stiffened slightly, forcing a dry laugh as she replied, “Yeah, I’m picky about beds and didn’t sleep well. I was thinking of catching up on some sleep later.”
After saying this, she quickly turned to Cheng Xuejun, changing the subject. “Come here and let your sister take a look at you.”
Cheng Xuejun had been waiting nearby. Hearing this, he immediately rushed to Cheng Fangqiu’s side, calling out brightly and excitedly, “Sis!”
“Yeah!”
After the siblings exchanged a few words, Cheng Fangqiu introduced Zhou Yingcheng to them. Once everyone had exchanged greetings, they all went into the main room.
“Where’s Dad?” Cheng Fangqiu hadn’t seen him earlier.
“Dad went to the private plot. I’ll go call him back now,” Cheng Xuejun said, darting out in a flash.
“That kid,” Ding Ximei shook her head with a smile, then added, “Your brother came in second in the school exams this time. He’s definitely getting into County No. 1 High School.”
“That’s amazing! Did he overperform?” Cheng Fangqiu’s eyes lit up. Although Cheng Xuejun had always been a good student, his grades usually hovered around the top ten, with his best result being fifth place. She hadn’t expected him to give the whole family such a pleasant surprise in the high school exams.
“Exactly. Lately, he’s been staying home, burying himself in books. Even when the Yao family’s youngest son invited him to go bird-nesting in the mountains, he refused,” Ding Ximei remarked with some lament.
Cheng Fangqiu couldn’t help but recall the time they went to the mountains to collect pine mushrooms. Back then, Cheng Xuejun had been begging and crying to go up the mountain.
“He did well, so he deserves a reward. Since we’ve been to the provincial capital this time, I’ll take him to the department store. He can pick whatever he likes,” Cheng Fangqiu said, her eyes sparkling and her lips curling into a smile, genuinely happy for Cheng Xuejun.
Ding Ximei, however, grew a bit anxious. She instinctively glanced at Zhou Yinghuai and Zhou Yingcheng, but both men were hard to read, their expressions unreadable. She could only shoot Cheng Fangqiu a meaningful look.
“We’ve already rewarded him. You shouldn’t spend more money on him.”
Cheng Fangqiu understood Ding Ximei’s concern and was about to respond when Zhou Yinghuai spoke up from the side. “Mom, this is a small gesture from us as his sister and brother-in-law. We’re all family; there’s no need to draw such clear lines.”
“That kid will be over the moon when he finds out,” Ding Ximei said, relieved to see her son-in-law didn’t mind. Her expression softened, and a hint of a smile appeared.
After chatting for a while, Cheng Baokuan and Cheng Xuejun returned. The family gathered together and talked for a bit before deciding to go to the village secretary’s house to ask if they could get a letter of introduction today. This matter was better handled sooner rather than later. If they didn’t get it done, they might have to delay their departure tomorrow morning, which would waste another day.
But visiting someone on their day off required bringing a gift. Cheng Fangqiu asked Zhou Yinghuai to pick something from the pile of things they had brought back.
Zhou Yinghuai stood up to search through the items, and as he moved, everyone noticed the bite mark on the back of his hand.