Chapter 046: Envy, Relatives Arrive

When Jing Qingxin and Li Xiaomei arrived at the meeting spot, the other four were already sitting on the ox cart, waiting. Jing Qingxin hurriedly apologized, “Sorry for keeping you waiting!”

“Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s head back,” Uncle Zhou said, waving his whip and raising his voice.

Jing Qingxin and Li Xiaomei didn’t dawdle; they quickly climbed onto the cart, took off their baskets, and placed them in the middle of the cart, where there was just enough room for both.

“Oh my, girls, what did you buy? Two big baskets, even the baskets are filled to the brim,” said the aunt in gray, her smile friendly, but her eyes slyly darting over the baskets. The baskets were covered with coarse cloth Jing Qingxin had bought.

“Not much, just some household items. I’ve just come here, so I didn’t have anything. Bought some necessities and a few things for health,” Jing Qingxin replied with a smile, but her hands remained firmly on the baskets, with no intention of uncovering them for inspection. She saw no reason to display everything she’d bought.

The aunt in blue muttered, “You’re really generous, buying so much. Must have spent a lot.”

The four women kept staring at the baskets, their eyes full of curiosity, envy, and jealousy—almost resentment! Whenever they went to the market, they scrimped and planned, wishing they could split every penny in two. Who dared to buy freely? Only at the end of the year, for New Year’s, would they allow themselves to buy a little more.

Jing Qingxin felt speechless. Whether she spent much or little, what did it have to do with them? She wasn’t a member of their families. Why did their words sound so sour?

“Not much, really. Just ordinary household items, they only look bulky,” she said with a smile.

The four withdrew their gazes, each with a different expression.

Jing Qingxin shifted sideways, losing interest in further conversation. She knew this era was poor, especially in the village, but surely such a small purchase wouldn’t provoke envy and resentment.

They say three women make a drama—now there were four. Jing Qingxin had no interest in joining their performance!

Ah, they say a woman’s thoughts are subtle; one moment they’re laughing and chatting with you, the next, their face changes instantly. Especially these women, whom Jing Qingxin barely knew, she treated them with normal courtesy, but the looks and the sour words left her with no desire to get closer.

Soon, the ox cart reached the fork in the road leading to the commune. It stopped. Jing Qingxin and Li Xiaomei quickly shouldered their baskets, politely bid farewell, and headed toward the team’s direction.

“Sister Jing, did you see their eyes? As if they could see right through the baskets,” Li Xiaomei said with a laugh. She could actually understand them a little. When Sister Jing was paying for all those purchases, she herself was startled. In these times, who wouldn’t wish for a more prosperous life at home?

“Alright, let’s hurry home, it’s already noon.”

With that, the two hurried home. At this hour, every household was busy with lunch, smoke curling from chimneys everywhere, carrying faint scents of cooking—just a hint of vegetable aroma, nothing to expect much from.

At that moment, Gao Shen was sitting at the door of the main room, anxiously waiting, stretching his neck now and then to look. At last, he caught sight of a bright figure, and his worries melted away.

Jing Qingxin wiped sweat from her brow, happily opened the wooden gate, and called out, “Gao Shen, we’re back!”

“Brother Gao,” Li Xiaomei greeted him quickly.

“Mm,” Gao Shen nodded in response.

Jing Qingxin and Li Xiaomei hurried into the main room, put down their baskets. Li Xiaomei quickly pulled out her things and placed them on the table, then said, “Sister Jing, Brother Gao, I’ll head home now!”

“Xiaomei, stay for lunch before you go. You’ve worked hard all morning with me,” Jing Qingxin tried to persuade her.

Li Xiaomei shook her head immediately, “No need, my mother is probably waiting for me at home.”

Without waiting for another word, she grabbed her basket and ran home.

“Let her be. We live close. We can send something over later,” Gao Shen said, seeing Jing Qingxin’s expression, trying to comfort her.

“Yes, that’s all we can do,” Jing Qingxin sighed. Li Xiaomei had spent most of the morning with her, helping carry things, and she felt a bit guilty.

“I figured it was lunchtime and you weren’t back yet, so I cooked some sweet potato porridge and stir-fried some shredded potatoes,” Gao Shen said. He could cook, but only simple dishes.

“Alright, let’s make do for lunch. It’s late already. I’ll cook something nice for you tonight,” Jing Qingxin replied with a smile.

After lunch, Jing Qingxin and Gao Shen sat in the yard, basking comfortably in the warm sunshine, occasionally enjoying a gentle breeze.

But the idyllic scene was soon shattered by a shrill female voice.

“Oh, little brother, basking in the sun, are you?”

A woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight pushed open the wooden gate and walked into the yard with a smile. Behind her was a man about thirty, slender and tall.

“What brings you here?” Gao Shen’s face turned stern, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

“I came with your big brother to see you, of course!” The woman replied with a broad smile, but her gaze flickered with calculation.

Jing Qingxin didn’t know these two who had entered the yard, so she quietly sat aside. But hearing the way she spoke, it seemed she was Gao Shen’s relative. Judging by Gao Shen’s cold demeanor, the relationship probably wasn’t good. Jing Qingxin said nothing, simply observed.

“I’m fine, not dead. No need for you to visit,” Gao Shen replied coldly.

The woman put on a fawning smile. “Why say that, little brother? We mean well. Heard our family had a relative from the city visiting, so we came to welcome her.”

Before Gao Shen could respond, the woman leaned close to Jing Qingxin, scrutinized her, then said, “Gao Shen, when did our family get this relative? I’ve never seen her. Hello, I’m Su Juan, Gao Shen’s sister-in-law. This is Gao Wei, Gao Shen’s elder brother. Young lady, what’s your name? Where are you from?”

“What do you want, big brother?” Gao Shen ignored Su Juan and addressed the man who had silently entered and stood aside.

“Your sister-in-law heard from the neighbor’s wife that you have a relative from the city visiting, so we came to check,” Gao Wei answered honestly. That’s what his wife said, so he repeated it.

—Extra note—

Sorry for the late update!

This book was originally published by Xiaoxiang Book House. Please do not reprint!