One was Wang Guifen.
The other was Song Fang, the mother of the original female lead in the book.
Before she even reached the door, Wang Guifen walked over and rummaged through her bamboo basket. Finding a pile of wild vegetables, she couldn't help but curse, Can't afford to live anymore? Why did you dig up so many wild vegetables?
Lin Zhilan replied, We really can't afford to live, Mother. How about you give me half of Zhou Chen's allowance from all these years?
Bah! Keep dreaming! Where would I get any money?
Lin Zhilan bypassed her and walked toward the door of her house.
Sister-in-law, Song Fang stopped her, holding a bowl of dumplings. Thanks so much for helping cook on my wedding day. We made dumplings at home today, so you and Linlin should have a taste.
Wang Guifen, who had followed them, quickly chimed in, Look at you, always so polite. We're family, there's no need for all this.
Song Fang smiled, It's only right.
Lin Zhilan glanced at Song Fang's stomach. On the second day of his marriage, Zhou Jianjun had returned to the military base along with Su Lang, who had received a mission.
If she guessed correctly, the female lead was already growing in Song Fang's belly right now.
Lin Zhilan didn't take the bowl. The smile on Song Fang's face stiffened a bit. Sister-in-law?
Lin Zhilan nodded. Thank you for the kind offer, but please take them back.
Although she didn't know why Song Fang in the book had misunderstood and thought Zhou Jianjun liked the original owner of this body.
But Lin Zhilan knew one thing for sure: the further she stayed away from this family, the better.
Sister-in-law... Song Fang wanted to say more, but saw that Lin Zhilan had already closed the gate.
Seeing this, Wang Guifen reached out and snatched the bowl from Song Fang's hands. It's a waste to give it to her. I'll take it back with me, and I'll return the bowl to you after we finish eating.
Song Fang watched Wang Guifen's retreating figure, then looked at Lin Zhilan's tightly shut door, and gritted her teeth.
Right after they got engaged, Zhou Jianjun was promoted to deputy battalion commander.
Her in-laws felt she brought good fortune to her husband, so her life after marrying into the family was even better than when she lived with her own parents.
The only downside was that her husband was recalled to the military base right after their wedding.
What bothered her even more...
Before leaving, her husband specifically instructed her to interact more with this distant sister-in-law.
Lin Zhilan was incredibly beautiful; Song Fang had never seen a woman like her.
Every move she made exuded charm.
On her wedding day, even though Song Fang was wearing a red dress and full makeup, the attention of more than half the men at the banquet was on Lin Zhilan, who was helping with the chores.
Song Fang was quite annoyed at the time, but it wasn't appropriate to voice it.
And then her husband just had to give her such instructions before leaving, filling Song Fang's heart with suspicion.
She wanted to probe into the matter, but Lin Zhilan rarely left the house, making it impossible to run into her.
Today, she had finally managed to corner her, but they barely exchanged a few words, and she ended up losing a bowl of dumplings in the process.
Fangzi.
Hey, coming. Hearing her mother-in-law call her, Song Fang put on a smile and immediately responded, walking over.
In the courtyard, Lin Zhilan set down her bamboo basket and took her daughter to wash her hands.
Baby, do you want to eat dumplings?
Linlin watched her mother rub her little hands and shook her head. Mama eat.
Yes, Mama will eat too. Let's wait for the hen to lay a few more eggs, and Mama will make shepherd's purse and egg dumplings for you.
Okay~
Lin Zhilan actually didn't really like children.
But Linlin was just too well-behaved and sensible.
She was born in the twelfth lunar month and was still a few months away from turning three, yet she rarely cried or fussed, and would even try to find ways to help out.
The more she liked her, the more her heart ached for her, and the more she wanted to spoil her.
After lunch, Lin Zhilan coaxed her daughter to sleep and flashed into her spatial dimension.
Inside the space, the one thing she lacked the least was land.
Lin Zhilan spent a good amount of effort to cultivate a plot.
She planted ginseng and casually scattered a few vegetable seeds.
Whether they would survive or not was up to fate.
Afraid that her daughter might wake up midway, Lin Zhilan immediately exited the space after finishing these tasks.
While things were peaceful and quiet for the mother and daughter duo, Lin Zhilan and Linlin...
Wang Guifen tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
She had never liked Lin Zhilan to begin with, and cared even less about her granddaughter.
In the past, Lin Zhilan was submissive and did whatever she was told, so Wang Guifen could tolerate her.
But today, this seductive vixen had suddenly changed her tune, demanding back her chests and quilts, fighting over the chickens, and asking for money.
Now that her son was gone, why should they give the old house to her?
A wicked idea popped into Wang Guifen's mind.
Father of my children, that Lin woman is still young. Why don't we find a matchmaker and marry her off?
That way she won't keep occupying the Zhou family's house.
Old Man Zhou took a drag from his hand-rolled cigarette and frowned. Our son has only been gone for a few months. At least... let her mourn for three years.
Look at her foxy behavior, Wang Guifen curled her lips. Does she look like someone who can stay a widow? We might as well marry her off early, and we can even get a bride price out of it.
Lin Zhilan was beautiful. Even though she was a widow, as long as word got out that she was remarrying, there would definitely be many suitors.
Hearing the words bride price, Old Man Zhou sighed and rolled over. Do whatever you want.
Seeing that he had agreed, Wang Guifen secretly planned to go find a matchmaker tomorrow.
The busy farming season had just ended, so there was no need to go to work for the time being. Everyone was busy tending to their private plots.
Lin Zhilan and her daughter had just returned from the fields when they heard someone knocking on the door outside.
Who is it?
From outside the courtyard came Wang Guifen's smiling voice, Zhilan, it's me. Hurry up and open the door for your mother.
Zhilan?
Wang Guifen had never called her so affectionately before.
Lin Zhilan sent her daughter into the room but didn't open the door immediately. Instead, she stood in the courtyard and asked, What's the matter?
Wang Guifen's expression turned ugly, and her tone worsened. Good news! Hurry up and open the door for me!
Whatever it is, just say it from out there.
The matchmaker and the man outside could also tell that Lin Zhilan and her mother-in-law were not on the same page, and she might not necessarily want to get married right now.
But since they were already here, the matchmaker shouted toward the courtyard, Sister, please open the door. It really is a good thing.
Lin Zhilan peeked through the crack in the door. Outside, besides Wang Guifen, stood a man and a woman.
She asked coldly, What good thing?
The matchmaker smiled, A tremendously good thing! Why don't you come out and see?
Lin Zhilan sneered internally. Were they trying to marry her off?
There's nothing to see. You all should go back.
The man's name was Zhao Jinbao, from the neighboring village. He had four older sisters and was the only boy in his family.
He had been spoiled rotten since childhood, and his personality wasn't very good either.
If he hadn't heard that Lin Zhilan was beautiful, he wouldn't have made the trip today at all.
Seeing that Lin Zhilan was giving them no face, he spat on the ground and was ready to leave immediately.
Wang Guifen quickly grabbed hold of him. She had no choice; the man's family was wealthy and said they were willing to pay a bride price of one hundred yuan.
With Lin Zhilan's face, any man who saw her would definitely be moved. Wasn't this one hundred yuan a sure thing?
Lin Zhilan, I'm warning you, this is the Zhou family's house! Get out here right now!
Lin Zhilan ignored her and just continued drying wild herbs in the courtyard.
Wang Guifen angrily pounded on the door. Wu Li hurriedly ran over, Mom, go back quickly! People from the town commune are here, saying they came to deliver Big Brother's pen...
