Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Mrs. Zhang didn’t like plucking the feathers from her beloved chickens. Seeing that only Uncle Lin had come over from the third household and not Li Shi, she thought about going to the village to call her.

However, whether it was genuine concern or simply a desire to see Li Shi’s embarrassment, no one could tell.

The third household's house was in the center of the village, not particularly large, with two locust trees planted in front. As she approached, Zhang Xiaoniangzi came out from the Village Headman’s home.

Zhang Xiaoniangzi recognized Mrs. Zhang. She held an embroidery basket and gave a hasty bow, eager to leave due to the strong sunlight.

Mrs. Zhang wouldn’t let her go, instead stepping forward to hold Zhang Xiaoniangzi’s hand, insisting on asking why she was there and if she had come to learn embroidery.

Zhang Xiaoniangzi couldn’t break free, her face turning red. She had heard about Mrs. Zhang’s temper and feared a scene. She nodded hurriedly, almost on the verge of tears, excusing herself with some family matter and running off as if something were chasing her.

Previously, Mrs. Zhang had begged Li Shi to take her two daughters to learn embroidery here but was refused. Unexpectedly, a few days later, she found out that Li Shi was teaching the Village Headman’s granddaughter instead.

Li Shi’s actions felt like a slap in the face to Mrs. Zhang.

Mrs. Zhang felt a surge of anger, and the satisfaction of getting back the money vanished. She knocked on the door, entered, and sat down on a stool in the courtyard without going into the house.

Although Li Shi was teaching Zhang Xiaoniangzi, her mind was preoccupied with the affairs of the first household, causing her to feel uneasy. Several times, the embroidery needle pricked her fingers.

Lin Fengdie had just bandaged her hand when Mrs. Zhang arrived, quickly nudging Li Shi.

Li Shi came out of the house, calling her "elder sister" but unsure of Mrs. Zhang’s intentions. She craned her neck to look behind Mrs. Zhang but saw no sign of Uncle Lin.

"Don't bother looking; everyone is eating at our place. I came to invite you since you seem to have forgotten us."

Mrs. Zhang spoke with a sarcastic tone, which Li Shi couldn’t miss. Her brows furrowed slightly, and the dimples on her face disappeared.

This delicate appearance always irritated Mrs. Zhang, who felt a stab in her heart. She emphasized how generous their two households were for returning the money.

Hearing this, Li Shi nearly fainted, feeling dizzy and clutching onto a tree in the courtyard for support.

"What did you say?" Once the dizziness passed, Li Shi asked Mrs. Zhang urgently, her voice strained and sharper than usual.

Mrs. Zhang didn’t sit on the stool, nor did she answer Li Shi. Instead, she glanced into the house, seeing only Lin Fengdie’s shadow, adding, "Your eye for apprentices isn’t very good.

I thought you’d choose someone heavenly, but I’ll ask the Village Headman’s family if their granddaughter has ever done any work, judging by her soft hands without a single callus."

Li Shi knew Mrs. Zhang must have seen the Village Headman’s granddaughter earlier. She didn’t dwell on the matter but persisted in asking about the silver money.

That was nearly two strings of coins—how many handkerchiefs would she need to embroider to earn that back!

"Your husband has already agreed. He’ll probably come back after dinner to collect the money. I came to invite you to join us, but seeing your reaction, I doubt you want to come."

Mrs. Zhang started to leave, but Li Shi, never one to be outdone, called out, "Elder sister, I’m not sure if I can still call you that. After all, my elder brother has given you a divorce letter. Calling you ‘elder sister’ would disrespect him and embarrass the new sister-in-law. From now on, I’ll call you elder sister."

In the past, Mrs. Zhang would have jumped up and argued with Li Shi in the courtyard, but today, with many people waiting and the relief of getting the money back, she ignored the comment.

After all, being an elder sister wasn’t a hat everyone wanted to wear.

However, halfway through her walk, the scorching sun made her sweat, and her anger flared. Recalling Li Shi’s frequent complaints, she pinched her own waist.

With age, Mrs. Zhang’s figure had changed, and her waist had gained some loose flesh. Though it felt soft, pinching it still hurt.

Tears welled up as she walked silently into the courtyard, joining the women.

Aunt Lin knew Li Shi would never come over. When Mrs. Zhang went to invite Li Shi, she hoped they would argue, providing entertainment.

Seeing Mrs. Zhang’s demeanor, Aunt Lin immediately stopped plucking chicken feathers, her expression solemn but eyes twinkling with amusement, "What happened, elder sister?"

Mrs. Zhang’s tear ducts had long dried under the sun. With so many people around, she couldn’t pinch herself again, regretting having done it too soon.

She said dryly, "Third sister-in-law won’t come and says I’ve been divorced, so she won’t call me elder sister anymore but will call me elder sister."

Patriarch Zhang and Uncle Zhang’s expressions darkened upon hearing this. Uncle Lin hastily stood up, unsure where to put his hands and feet.

Mrs. Zhang seemed oblivious to their reactions, holding Aunt Lin’s hand and complaining, "I know she looks down on me, but I’ve been her elder sister for years.

A few days ago, I told Third Sister-in-Law I wanted to send Yan Niang and Hong Niang to learn embroidery for future marriage prospects, but she said they couldn’t because their hands had calluses. Today, I saw the Village Headman’s granddaughter learning embroidery there."

Uncle Lin hadn’t known about this. He only heard from Li Shi that she would teach the Village Headman’s granddaughter for three hundred coins a month.

For ordinary folk, three hundred coins were significant, and Uncle Lin had been happy about it.

Now, realizing there was more to the story, he felt a twinge of resentment towards Li Shi. Teaching one person wasn’t different from teaching others, especially since Yan Niang and Hong Niang were also part of the Lin family. If she had decided to teach, why not include them?

Under the high sun, Uncle Lin felt a layer of sweat on his back. Patriarch Zhang’s gaze had turned menacing, as if ready to beat him up.

Terrified, Uncle Lin swallowed hard, desperately seeking help from Uncle Lin.

Uncle Lin wasn’t pleased either, considering their own Lin Cuixiang had also been rejected.

Li Shi had offended both households.

Uncle Lin apologized, "She’s being unreasonable. I didn’t know about this. Elder sister, please don’t be angry. I’ll talk to her later."

Despite his words, no one believed him, knowing Li Shi earned more from embroidery than he did from farming.

Mrs. Zhang reveled in the pit she had dug for Li Shi, her previous frustration evaporating. She continued, "My two daughters don’t have the fortune to learn from Third Sister-in-Law."

Aunt Lin chimed in, "Yes, they’re so high and mighty, always looking down on us..."

She spoke bluntly, not just to help Mrs. Zhang but also thinking of Lin Cuixiang.

The atmosphere in the courtyard soured once more, but the instigator, Mrs. Zhang, remained oblivious, drawn by the increasingly fragrant smell wafting from the kitchen.

Lin Chunyan heard every sound clearly. She had no idea about this before, only thinking that Mrs. Zhang was someone without much foresight. But it turned out she had also considered the future for her two daughters.

It seemed she had underestimated Mrs. Zhang.

"What are you doing?"

Mrs. Zhang sniffed the air for a while, unable to resist asking.

Seeing her drooling, Lin Chunyan's previous disgust faded, and she pointed to the dishes already prepared.

Following her gaze, Mrs. Zhang saw that in just a short while, four or five dishes were laid out on the kitchen counter.

A plate of cucumbers, a plate of stir-fried eggs with prickly ash sprouts, the previously pan-fried tofu, a clay pot of small river fish, and the freshly cooked san xian from eggplant, green beans, and green peppers.

There were no potatoes available at this time, which always felt like a great pity.

Each dish was divided into two plates, indicating they would be sitting at two separate tables.

The cucumbers were bright green, seasoned with wild herbs and drizzled with garlic sauce, looking refreshingly appetizing.

"Let's bring them out then."

Lin Chunyan nodded; the tables outside were already set up.

The adults, seeing her actually bringing out the prepared dishes, all stretched their necks to get a better look.