Chapter 14: Not Good at Managing a Household Frugally

On the other side, at the Lin family residence, Lin Fengmian was making a fuss about wanting to go to the county town.

Zhou Xiaomei regretted it instantly; had she known, she wouldn't have mentioned Shen Qingqing in front of her sister-in-law.

And now, because the other woman was going to the county town, so was she.

Wasn't this just looking for trouble?

Patiently, she said helplessly, "I have to go to work in a bit. If you go to the county town, there will be no one to watch Xiaobao."

"My brother is on leave; let him watch him."

Zhou Xiaomei's eyes darted around. "How about you go tomorrow instead? I'll give you ten yuan then, so you can buy something you want."

Letting her sister-in-law go to the county town would be the perfect way to avoid a confrontation with Shen Qingqing—killing two birds with one stone!

Ten yuan was almost half a month's salary for many people.

Lin Fengmian was tempted for a moment.

But she still shook her head. "I want to go today."

Zhou Xiaomei was getting a massive headache. "It's not like you have anything important to do. Why must you go to the county town today?"

"How is it that I don't have anything important to do?"

Going to meet Shen Qingqing—wasn't that the most important thing of all?

She had to see what was so great about this woman that she could trick Big Brother Jiang into marrying her.

The reason Big Brother Jiang didn't return to the hometown to visit relatives was probably because he had a wife like this at home and didn't want to see her.

Lin Fengmian thought to herself that she was merely having a little run-in with Shen Qingqing.

She hadn't tried to seduce Big Brother Jiang or do anything to break up their marriage.

Therefore, she was not in the wrong.

There was no need to feel a guilty conscience!

As soon as Zhou Xiaomei saw her sister-in-law's expression, she knew what she was thinking.

She resolutely refused to let her go looking for trouble.

"It's a matter between a married couple; why are you meddling? If you cause them to get a divorce, the public outcry will drown you."

Lin Fengmian stiffened her neck. "When did I say I was going to meddle? Now that Shen Qingqing has come to the compound, is she not supposed to interact with anyone? Is saying a few words to her considered an unfilial attempt to pick a fight?"

Zhou Xiaomei knew exactly how unreasonable her sister-in-law could be when she was being stubborn.

If she let her go see Comrade Shen, she would undoubtedly start making snide remarks to make things difficult.

That was Jiang Zhixun's wife; they would surely see each other often in the future.

If the relationship turned sour, how would they all get along?

Furthermore, her sister-in-law's intentions were too obvious. If she and Shen Qingqing were at odds, to outsiders, it would look like she had no shame and was trying to steal Shen Qingqing's man.

How would she be able to go on blind dates in the future?

How would she get married?

"If you had never harbored feelings for Jiang Zhixun, I certainly wouldn't interfere with you and Comrade Shen becoming friends, provided she was willing. But you should look in a mirror yourself. Every time Comrade Shen is mentioned, you grit your teeth. Anyone who didn't know better would think she had done something to wrong you."

Lin Fengmian felt that her sister-in-law was taking the outsider's side.

Her tone grew even sharper. "Is she some kind of big shot that I absolutely have to like her?"

Zhou Xiaomei was momentarily speechless.

She said dryly, "I didn't say you had to like her. Just treat her with a normal attitude. Don't act like you've swallowed gunpowder, ready to ignite at the slightest touch."

Lin Fengmian snorted. "I just dislike Shen Qingqing. She dresses so flashily; one look and you can tell she isn't the type of woman who is thrifty and good at managing a household. I just can't stand her style; it has nothing to do with anyone else."

Zhou Xiaomei pressed her temples.

Her sister-in-law already held hostility toward Comrade Shen, and now she was saying the woman wasn't good at managing a household.

This was clearly prejudice.

No matter how good Comrade Shen was, under this kind of prejudice, she would never see her virtues!

Besides, the woman was using her own money; what right did outsiders have to point fingers?

Zhou Xiaomei felt that if she continued talking, she would cough up blood from anger.

Not wanting to entangle herself further, she picked up her bag and prepared to leave.

"I'm going to work first. You watch Xiaobao. When your brother gets back, talk to him yourself. If he agrees to let you go to the county town, then you can go."

This was Lin Zhidong's biological sister; whatever happened, the two siblings should resolve it themselves.

Zhou Xiaomei didn't want to deal with it anymore.

Lin Fengmian didn't give her the chance to leave first.

She directly shoved the baby into Zhou Xiaomei's arms.

"Take care of your own child. Besides, I am already twenty years old; I don't need my brother's permission to go out."

"We asked you to come here to help with the child. I have to go to work now; why are you still acting out?"

Lin Fengmian hesitated for a second. "Even childcare has holidays. I am going to the county town today!"

Having said that, she went into the room, put on her army-green single-shoulder canvas bag, grabbed her saved private money and coupons, and hurried out the door.

No matter how much Zhou Xiaomei called out to her, Lin Fengmian did not look back.

Before Lin Zhidong even reached home, he saw his wife standing downstairs holding the baby, looking anxious.

"It's this time of day, why haven't you gone to the art troupe yet?"

Zhou Xiaomei irritably shoved their son into his arms. "It's all because of your sister. She's abandoned her duties."

Lin Zhidong looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"I heard Comrade Shen went to the county town, so she chased after her."

Many times, Zhou Xiaomei truly could not understand her sister-in-law's thoughts.

Shen Qingqing hadn't provoked her; even if she liked Jiang Zhixun, she couldn't go looking for trouble with his wife.

She should be thanking heaven that Comrade Shen hadn't come to warn Xiaomian.

Instead, she was running off to cause a scene in front of the woman!

Holding his son, Lin Zhidong opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

Finally, he said seriously, "If she dares to make a mistake, I will send her back to the hometown immediately."

Zhou Xiaomei was unwilling to send her sister-in-law back to the hometown.

Childcare could not be neglected; although the sister-in-law was being unruly, she had been the one looking after the child since he was a month old.

The baby had never been bumped or bruised, and she kept him clean and tidy every day.

In this regard, Zhou Xiaomei was satisfied.

"Let's see how the situation goes first. She's not stupid; she shouldn't do anything to break up a marriage."

Disciplinary issues regarding conduct were strictly enforced.

Interfering in someone else's relationship would have very serious consequences.

Lin Zhidong thought to himself that while Lin Fengmian might not break up a marriage, she would find all sorts of ways to pick fights with Comrade Shen.

If Comrade Shen felt distressed and didn't want to stay here, Old Jiang would end up living apart from his wife again.

Their relationship already looked quite bad.

If they continued to live apart like this, there would surely be major problems.

Then wouldn't Xiaomian become the culprit?

He let his wife go to work first. "I'll take Xiaobao to chase after her."

"Alright then, go quickly. There's still time."

Lin Zhidong nodded. "If she insists on going to the county town, then I'll take her. It's a good chance to buy some ingredients to entertain guests tomorrow."

Zhou Xiaomei was in a hurry for work and couldn't worry about so much.

Anyway, with Lin Zhidong there, his sister shouldn't cause a catastrophe.

After kissing her son's little cheek, Zhou Xiaomei went to work.

When Lin Fengmian went to catch a bus, she unexpectedly ran into Jiang Zhixun.

A bright smile appeared on her face, and she instinctively wanted to cling to him and talk.

But the moment she remembered that Jiang Zhixun was a married man, she could only forcefully suppress the urge to be close to him.

Lin Fengmian told herself that she disliked Shen Qingqing not because of Big Brother Jiang.

She just couldn't stand Shen Qingqing's mannerisms.

She had no intention of breaking them up!

Lin Fengmian did not speak to Jiang Zhixun, instead sitting far away to prove her innocence.

When Jiang Zhixun saw Lin Fengmian, he merely flicked his eyelids.

This was Lin Zhidong's biological sister; whenever they met, she would always try to cling to him to talk.

Out of respect for his friend, he would reply a few words.

The fact that she wasn't talking to him didn't affect him at all.

Lin Zhidong was about to take his son out, but unexpectedly, just before leaving, the baby peed all over him.

By the time he cleaned up, it was already too late to chase after Lin Fengmian.

(End of Chapter)