Chapter 24: You Are No Saint Either

While Huan Ya was listening to her parents' stories and husking corn, Mother Liushun, on her way back from the Song household, ran into Sister-in-law Guiying.

Guiying lived toward the back of the village center. She was notorious for being a loudmouth who loved nothing more than gathering people at the village entrance to gossip about everyone’s business. She had been present when Mother Song quarreled with Mother Sun earlier, and seeing Mother Liushun coming from that direction, she was certain she had been visiting the Song family.

The mere thought of how Mother Song had shut Mother Sun down earlier, leaving her looking so stifled and frustrated, made Guiying want to laugh. She hurried over and asked, "Mother Liushun, you went to the Song place, didn't you? How is it? Is Song Tiancheng any better? Can he get out of bed yet?"

Mother Liushun knew exactly what Guiying was after. She glanced at her sideways and replied curtly, "It’s only been two months—how could he be up and about? My Liushun was laid up for ten days just from a sprained ankle."

Guiying gave a sheepish smile. "I was just asking out of concern!"

"Whether you're concerned or just digging for news, you know that better than I do," Mother Liushun rolled her eyes. "If you were really concerned, why haven't I seen you helping them harvest their corn?"

"Well, I haven't even finished my own..."

"Then you’d better get back to work! Oh, and I just saw Mother Meng heading home. If you don't hurry back, your mother-in-law is going to scold you again!"

"My mother-in-law is back?!" Guiying’s face went pale. Without waiting to ask anything else, she turned and sprinted toward home. Watching her panicked retreat, Mother Liushun scoffed, "Doesn't do a lick of honest work all day, just knows how to pry! Scared you out of your wits!"

When Guiying reached her house, she realized she had been tricked, but it was getting late and she dared not go back out.

She called for her son to help start the fire; she had to get dinner ready. The sky was darkening, and her mother-in-law would be home any moment. No sooner had the meal been pulled from the pot than the sound of the gate opening echoed through the yard.

Guiying sighed in relief, but the breath caught in her throat as a voice boomed from outside: "Guiying! Little Guiying! Why isn't the food ready yet? Are you trying to starve my whole family to death?"

"Coming, coming!"

Without a second to think, Guiying had her son help carry the food out. A table was set in the courtyard. Mother Meng’s expression softened slightly, though her face remained as stern as ever. At the table, Mother Meng took the first bite, and only then did her three sons and three daughters-in-law dare to touch their chopsticks.

After swallowing a bite, Mother Meng frowned. "How much salt did you put in this?"

Guiying’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly put down her chopsticks and said, "I—I didn't taste it..."

"Enough," Mother Meng interrupted impatiently. "I see your cold is mostly cleared up. You’ll be back in the fields tomorrow."

"Exactly, sister-in-law," chimed in the third sister-in-law. "You've had it easy these past few days. The second sister-in-law and I have been dizzy with all the work, and yet you had the time to stand at the village entrance gossiping."

Seeing the third sister-in-law’s gloating expression and her own husband’s indifferent demeanor, Guiying realized her mother-in-law was intentionally picking on her. She dared only to nod, not daring to speak back.

*Slap!*

"That’s enough." Mother Meng slammed her chopsticks onto the table and glared at the third daughter-in-law. "A whole day, and you only finished half an acre. That little girl at the Song house did over an acre in less than a day. Do you have any shame?"

The third daughter-in-law muttered a defense: "I just..."

"Save the excuses. Don't think I didn't see you slacking off under the trees." Mother Meng picked up her chopsticks again. "Eat, and be quick about it. Before it gets completely dark, get the corn from the fields back here. We need to husk it and get it to the mill."

Neither the sons nor the wives dared to speak; they simply lowered their heads and ate. Guiying felt a surge of resentment, but she dared not vent her anger at Mother Meng. Instead, she shifted her fury toward the Song family. If it weren't for that girl, she wouldn't have been scolded! And Mother Liushun wouldn't have dared to scare her! It was all that wretched girl’s fault!