Chapter 5: It's Not for Outsiders to Talk About My Sister-in-Law

She had completely forgotten about the weight loss she had mentioned earlier, and the idea of taking things slowly.

After the meal, Fang Youyou was about to go wash the clothes, but Mother Fang took them from her. "You rest, Mom will go wash them for you."

Over at the educated youth dormitory.

A gentle and pretty-looking female educated youth said to a refined and scholarly-looking male educated youth, "Educated Youth Zhao, will that Comrade Fang be alright?"

The male educated youth addressed as Educated Youth Zhao let out a cold snort. "She’s so fat, she’ll be fine."

Zhao Yiming, the educated youth in question, disliked the brigade leader of Qingshi Brigade’s chubby daughter very much.

This Comrade Fang often pestered him, which he found very unpleasant.

How could he possibly like a Comrade Fang who was ugly, extremely fat, and lacked any education?

"Educated Youth Su, she fell in herself; it has nothing to do with us."

The female educated youth called Educated Youth Su by Zhao Yiming was named Su Xue. Both of them were educated youths who had come down to the countryside this year.

"But if the brigade leader finds out we were with Comrade Fang and she ended up falling into the river, he might suspect us. What if he makes us do the exhausting labor?" Su Xue’s eyes welled up with tears that refused to fall, making her look pitiful and helpless.

It made Zhao Yiming, standing to the side, want to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but it wouldn't be good if someone saw them.

"Educated Youth Su, if the brigade leader dares to maliciously ostracize us, then I will definitely report him to the Educated Youth Office. We came to the countryside to build up the rural areas."

Su Xue wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Educated Youth Zhao, hearing you say that, I’m not afraid anymore. Thank you." After she finished speaking, she looked at Zhao Yiming with an expression of pure admiration, which left the latter feeling immensely satisfied.

"Educated Youth Su, there is no need for you and me to say thank you."

The two exchanged a look, an ambiguous atmosphere enveloping them. They didn't notice at all that someone was watching the scene coldly from not far away, though that person soon left.

"Eldest daughter-in-law of the Fang family, I heard your sister-in-law fell into the river. Who pulled her out?"

"Yeah, she’s so fat, it’s not like just anyone could have hauled her onto the bank."

Fang’s eldest sister-in-law looked at these aunties. When she first married into the family, her mother-in-law was pregnant. Furthermore, after they got married, they moved out. She hadn't conceived for several years, and it wasn't until the year her second brother’s wife married in that she finally got pregnant. Yet, her parents-in-law didn't say anything, and when she was in confinement, her mother-in-law even came to take care of her. It could be said that she had married into a good family. Although her parents-in-law doted on her sister-in-law, and they inevitably felt a bit uncomfortable about it, her sister-in-law was not someone for outsiders to gossip about.

"My sister-in-law has good fortune; it’s not every family that can afford to raise someone to be plump."

"My sister-in-law climbed out on her own; no one pulled her up. She went to the riverside to play and accidentally slipped in."

The other aunties curled their lips upon hearing this.

They really didn't know how the brigade leader’s wife had taught these daughters-in-law.

Fang’s eldest sister-in-law felt satisfied, but she still liked her sister-in-law less and less. She was so fat—who knew how many good things had been fed to her to make her that way? Only her own husband treated the sister-in-law like a treasure.

She also hated that her own belly was uncooperative, producing a string of boys. Who even cared for boys?

She envied her younger sister for having three daughters.

If Fang’s eldest sister-in-law’s younger sister heard this, she would surely be so angry she’d foam at the mouth.

The younger sister envied the eldest sister-in-law for being able to move out and live her own little life as soon as she married, and for giving birth to three sons in a row, whereas she had only managed to have a son after struggling to give birth to three daughters.

The Fang family had a bit of an imbalance—too many men and not enough women.

"Auntie, we’ve come to see you."

Wishing all the big friends and little friends a happy holiday!

(End of chapter)