Liu Chunlan was about to explode with anger.
Being cursed at like that by Lin Wanyi on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
She immediately called Wang Meijuan:
"Juan'er, your mother's life is just so hard, too hard!"
Even though Wang Meijuan was still mad at her, hearing her say this, she couldn't help but ask,
"What happened now?"
Liu Chunlan started to badmouth Lin Wanyi endlessly:
"That bitch goes against me every single day now, deliberately making me miserable.
"She ran away from home last night, and today she said she's going back to her parents' house tomorrow. She's acting like a lunatic.
"Do you think she's possessed? Did she get possessed by her dead father when she went back to her parents' place?"
This time, Wang Meijuan didn't join Liu Chunlan in cursing Lin Wanyi:
"Mom, it's perfectly normal to visit one's parents on the second day of the New Year. She married far away and can't go back, so it's normal for her to feel upset.
"Just let her have her way this once, don't piss her off."
Liu Chunlan got even angrier. She then called Wang Kai, but infuriatingly, Wang Kai didn't even pick up.
Liu Chunlan almost smashed her phone:
"What's the point of giving birth to him? I practically raised a son for someone else for nothing! All for nothing!"
She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Finally, she called Liu Dabing:
"Brother, is what you mentioned last time reliable? Do you have any connections yet?"
Liu Dabing immediately replied, "Of course it's reliable. You've seen Chen Daniu's wife in your village, right?
"She's young and pretty, and that's where she came from.
"Chunlan, do you want one?"
Liu Chunlan didn't answer directly; she didn't want to spend the money.
If Lin Wanyi was obedient enough, she wouldn't want to go through all this trouble. Besides, that woman from the neighboring village made such a huge scene last night.
She also knew that those women were hard to control. They might fight to the bitter end, and then she would lose both the person and her money.
But thinking about Lin Wanyi's recent attitude annoyed her. In the end, she hung up the phone without saying anything.
She tossed and turned all night.
So did Liu Chunlan, and so did Lin Wanyi.
She thought about her father, her mother, and her younger brother.
She wondered when she would finally be able to leave this place.
The sky gradually brightened.
The sound of firecrackers began to echo through the village again.
Crackle and pop.
Lin Wanyi woke up very early today.
Her body wasn't sore or aching.
When she finished washing up, got dressed, and stood in the courtyard, she saw her neighbor Wu Qin wearing new clothes and holding her son.
Her husband was loading bags of all sizes into their car.
She was so envious.
More envious than on any day in previous years.
For the past eight years, whenever this day arrived, she would hide at home and refuse to go out. She didn't want to see the young women coming and going.
She didn't want to hear their laughter.
Wu Qin knew she must be feeling sad, so she just looked at her without saying much. However, Zhang Cuihua spoke up:
"Wanyi, you're not going back to your parents' home again? Come to think of it, you haven't been back on the second day of the New Year once since you married here.
"Tell your auntie the truth, do you really not want to go back, or is Wang Hao not letting you?
"If it comes down to it, I'll go talk to Wang Hao for you. How can there be a rule against visiting your parents on the second day of the New Year?"
Wang Hao didn't come out, but Liu Chunlan heard it.
She angrily pointed her finger at Zhang Cuihua's nose:
"Do you have nothing better to do than meddle in my family's business?
"Get lost, and stop being so nosy."
Zhang Cuihua wasn't afraid of her at all. "Liu Chunlan, I just can't stand seeing you guard against your daughter-in-law like she's a thief.
"It's the second day of the New Year, why won't you let her visit her parents? I think you're just feeling guilty, scared that your daughter-in-law won't come back.
"Let me tell you, if you treated your daughter-in-law with all your heart, why wouldn't she be grateful?"
Lin Wanyi's eyes grew moist. She looked at Zhang Cuihua with gratitude. Before she could speak, Wu Qin suddenly rolled down her car window:
"Wanyi, do you want to come hang out at my parents' house with me? It's not far."
Even Wu Qin's usually silent husband chimed in:
"Yeah, come hang out with us."
Lin Wanyi's tears finally fell. She reached out and touched the little cheek of Wu Qin's son, fighting back her sobs as she said,
"I don't know anyone there, so it would be awkward. You guys go ahead. I'm used to it after all these years.
"I'll just video call my mom later."
Wu Qin's car drove off, and Zhang Cuihua glared at Liu Chunlan:
"Hmph! Mean old woman!"
Liu Chunlan turned and went back to her room. Seeing Wang Jianguo, she said,
"Is there something wrong with Zhang Cuihua's head? She's been going against me on purpose lately.
"Whether my daughter-in-law goes back to her parents' house or not, what the hell does it have to do with her? Who asked her to run her mouth?"
Wang Jianguo ignored her completely, continuing to watch a pretty girl's live stream on his phone.
Liu Chunlan was annoyed to death, but she still had to go prepare food for Wang Meijuan.
In previous years, Lin Wanyi always prepared it, but this year she refused to lift a finger no matter what, leaving Liu Chunlan with no choice.
She cooked while cursing.
Wang Keke came over holding Lin Wanyi's phone.
Li Suhua was video calling. Lin Wanyi quickly wiped away her tears and put on a smile:
"Mom, it's hard to buy tickets on the second day of the New Year. I'll go back to see you in a few days, I promise."
Li Suhua also smiled:
"It's fine, you just focus on your things. Mom is fine, perfectly fine."
Lin Wanyi noticed that the background on Li Suhua's end wasn't at home, so she asked,
"Mom, where are you going?"
Li Suhua answered quickly, "Jiajun said he's taking me on a trip. Wanyi, I won't talk anymore, I'm going to hang up now."
A trip?
Lin Wanyi was genuinely happy for her mother, and also felt comforted that Lin Jiajun had grown up and could take care of her.
At the same time, she felt like a useless failure. She had married far away, had no money, and couldn't help her mother with anything.
Li Suhua hung up the phone and looked at Lin Jiajun beside her:
"What do you think your sister's reaction will be if she suddenly sees us? Will she be happy?"
"Of course she'll be happy!"
Lin Jiajun picked up their luggage. "Time to board the plane, Mom. There's no daughter who doesn't want to see her mother."
On the main road of the village, many cars left one after another, and many other cars drove in.
They were all young married women returning to their parents' homes with their families in tow.
Lin Wanyi brought a stool and sat at the front gate. Everyone who walked by asked her:
"Oh, Wang Hao's wife, why aren't you going back to your parents' home on the second day of the New Year?
"Look, my daughter came back, and she bought me so many gifts."
Lin Wanyi just smiled and stayed silent.
Wang Xiu'e walked by holding her grandson's hand, scolding her daughter as they went:
"See? Didn't I tell you back then not to marry far away, not to marry far away?
"Look at her on the second day of the New Year. Everyone else can go back to their parents' home, but she's the only pitiful one who married far away."
Her daughter glared at her:
"Say less. Whether others go home or not is none of your business. Hurry up and walk."
Wang Xiu'e kept talking as she walked, "She chose to marry far away, so it serves her right!
"I don't believe her parents didn't try to stop her."
Liu Chunlan glanced at Lin Wanyi sitting at the door:
"What are you doing blocking the gate? Are you acting as a watchdog?
"You don't cook, and now you won't even enter the kitchen. Aren't you going to sweep the courtyard and clean up?
"Your older sister-in-law will be back soon. How disgraceful will it be if it's filthy?"
Lin Wanyi didn't move an inch; she just sat at the front gate.
She watched as Li Jun rode his motorcycle from the main road, carrying Wang Meijuan and Li Borui.
She sat there steadily, not leaving the slightest gap at the door, until Li Borui shouted:
