"Alright!" Zhou Xiaohong said with a laugh. "I’ll tell you what, weather forecasts are like fortune-telling—sotis accurate, sotis not. I’m just using it as an excuse to take a day off."
Lin Lan thought about the weather forecasts decades in the future. ’They’re not much different from the ones now,’ she mused. Smiling, she said, "Who cares if it’s accurate? We might as well give ourselves a couple of days off too."
Zhou Xiaohong nodded with a grin. "Exactly. I’m heading out now. I’ll be back the day after tomorrow!"
"Alright!" Lin Lan saw her to the gate before turning back into the courtyard.
She needed to fertilize the oat grass today. Lin Lan carried Little Douzi in a back basket to her mother-in-law’s house, then hoisted a shoulder pole with buckets of liquid manure and hurried to the foot of the mountain.
First, she cut a full basket of oat grass. Then, she went to the hay shed, found a ladle, and used it to dilute the liquid manure with water before fertilizing the patch she had just cut.
After finishing her work, she headed to the local supply store. She bought two bottles of Quanxing Daqu liquor and two jin of fruit candies, placing them in her back basket for the walk ho. Along the way, several won greeted her with smiles.
Lin Lan returned their smiles politely. As soon as she got ho, still carrying the basket and the empty manure buckets, she poured so hot water from a kettle to wash her face, then started heating up a al.
She picked a handful of spinach, made a quick egg-drop soup, and ate it with fried rice. Just as she finished cleaning up, she heard Dahuang start to BARK.
"You stupid dog!" a woman snapped before kicking him. Dahuang yelped, then barked even more ferociously.
Yang Lirong stood in Lin Lan’s courtyard with Auntie Tian and Cousin Tian, taking in the sight. They looked at the vegetables in the garden plot, the lush green ramie plants growing along the base of the wall, and the courtyard itself, which was so clean there wasn’t a single stray bamboo leaf.
The clothes drying on the bamboo poles had been shaken out and hung straight, no longer looking like pickled vegetables carelessly tossed over the top.
She recalled that the last ti the courtyard had been full of vegetables was years ago, right after her youngest brother-in-law married Lin Lan. He had planted them to show off and win his new wife over.
Lin Lan took a few steps to the doorway. She saw Dahuang blocking the path to the vegetable patch, snarling and barking wildly as it defended its territory.
A woman who bore so resemblance to Yang Liying stood in the courtyard, accompanied by a sharp-faced woman in her fifties and a pale, effeminate man in his thirties.
The mont Lin Lan saw the woman, she knew who it was. ’Yang Liying told she already turned them down, but they still showed up at my door. It seems they didn’t take her words seriously at all.’
’In that case, don’t bla for being rude.’
The old woman’s eyes scanned Lin Lan from head to toe like radar. ’Her backside is nice and perky, her complexion is rosy and vibrant... she just looks a bit too much like a seductress.’
Then again, she thought, ’A little bit of seductress in her might be a good thing. That’s what it will take to keep a hold on Jianshe.’
Seeing Lin Lan co out and just stand there without greeting them, Yang Lirong said with displeasure, "Lin Lan, there’s barely enough food for people to eat. What are you doing raising a puppy?"
"To boost my courage," Lin Lan said, giving Yang Lirong a faint smile. "Second Sister Yang, have a seat."
Yang Lirong stared at Lin Lan in surprise. ’Is this the sa Lin Lan who used to be so timid she was afraid of stepping on an ant? It’s been just over a month, but she’s like a completely different person. Her eyes are bright, and she’s brimming with vitality.’
Seeing that Lin Lan wasn’t inviting them in, the old woman looked at Yang Lirong with displeasure. "Lirong, she clearly doesn’t welco us. Let’s go."
The effeminate man, who had been stealing glances at Lin Lan, heard the old woman suggest leaving. He delicately pinched her sleeve, his fingers held in a flower-like pose, and gave it a coy tug without saying a word.
A shiver went down Lin Lan’s spine. ’Damn, his look and gestures are creepier than any eunuch I’ve ever seen in the movies.’
The old woman glanced at her son and understood he’d taken a fancy to the young widow. Though displeased by Lin Lan’s rudeness, she suppressed her anger. ’If Jianshe likes her, I’ll let it slide for now,’ she thought. ’Once she marries into our family, I’ll teach her the rules of the Tian family properly.’
"Auntie, Lin Lan doesn’t know you!" Yang Lirong said, turning to Lin Lan with an embarrassed smile. "Lin Lan, this is Auntie Tian, and that is Cousin Tian."
Lin Lan spared them a single glance before saying to Yang Lirong, "Second Sister Yang, I’m happy to have you as a guest. But if this is about sothing else, I believe Third Sister already told you what I think."
Yang Lirong thought of the jars of malted milk, canned goods, and the monthly red envelopes the old woman had given her. Steeling herself, she tried to persuade Lin Lan. "Lin Lan, Liying doesn’t understand the situation! Just listen to . Cousin Tian is..."
"Second Sister Yang!" Lin Lan cut her off, her voice sharp. "I made myself perfectly clear the other day. Why would you damage the bond between us sisters-in-law for the sake of complete strangers?"
’Now I finally understand why Yang Liying said she was selfish and could only see her own problems. Even Mom said she was a skinflint who only cared about money.’
’Liying also told that Yang Lirong took back the money she’d fronted for the funeral on the very day the condolence money was collected. The only people I owe money to are Yang Liying and Eldest Sister, Yang Liqun.’
Yang Lirong looked at her sheepishly. "Lin Lan, Second Sister Yang wouldn’t hurt you. Just listen to and give it a try!" She stared at Lin Lan, thinking the change in her was just too drastic. It was like she was a completely different person.
Seeing that Yang Lirong didn’t know when to quit, Lin Lan stopped holding back. "Second Sister Yang!" she yelled. "Your own brother is dead, and it hasn’t even been a full year!
"And you’re already busy trying to marry his widow off? Aren’t you afraid his ghost will co for you in the middle of the night? And even if I, Lin Lan, were looking for a man, I wouldn’t need you to play matchmaker!"
"I... I..." Yang Lirong’s face flushed red, but after several attempts, she couldn’t form a single sentence.
Lin Lan paid her no more attention and turned to walk toward the kitchen.
Auntie Tian’s face darkened. She shot Lin Lan a vicious glare, then turned to Yang Lirong. "Lirong, we’re leaving. This creature whose parents died young obviously has no manners and no respect for her elders..."
When Lin Lan heard the woman curse her parents, a fire of pure rage erupted within her. She whirled around, stord right up to the old hag, and pointed a finger in her face.
"You old bitch! I tried to be polite, but you insisted on being shaless. I already refused you, yet you still ca to my door looking for a fight. What kind of elder are you, coming here to throw your weight around just because you’re old? Now get the hell out of my house and don’t co back!"
"Why you—!" The old woman, shaking with fury, pointed at Lin Lan and shrieked, "Look at this ill-bred wh—"
"GET OUT!" Lin Lan grabbed a large broom leaning against the wall and swung it wildly at them. "Get out."
Auntie Tian yelped, covering her head and freezing on the spot.
Tian Jianshe hurriedly steadied Auntie Tian, apologizing profusely to Lin Lan. "I’m so sorry! We’re sorry!..."
Lin Lan paused when she saw him. Auntie Tian, terrified, tugged at her son’s arm while staring at Lin Lan. Yang Lirong’s mouth hung open, her eyes fixed on Lin Lan.
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