Chapter 558: Sowing Discord – Daily Life of the Delicate Aunt in the Courtyard

Chapter 558: Stirring the Pot—The Daily Dose of Drama of the Sickly Young Aunt in the Compound

Today was another weekend off, but Lin Qing didn’t go out with Cen Xi. Not that she minded—it was just that he had to work overtime today. He had been quite busy lately.

Still, Lin Qing thought staying in wasn’t so bad. After all, their compound was buzzing with drama, with everyone seemingly like characters in a soap opera. She found it thoroughly entertaining.

It was still spring, and the weather carried a slight chill. Lin Qing had deliberately moved her lounge chair out to the corridor under the eaves to soak up some sun.

She felt that these days without needing medicine made the air seem fresher, and her mood was on top of the world.

Her medicine had run out half a month ago, and from now on, as long as she was careful, she wouldn’t need to take any more—just eating right would do the trick.

This made her over the moon.

Right now, she was holding a book Old Liu had given her in one hand and a pen in the other, diligently crunching numbers.

To outsiders, her leisurely demeanor was the epitome of chill—especially for those young wives who were constantly busy with household chores.

Lin Qing paid no mind to what they thought. Just as she finished solving a problem, she stretched like a cat in her chair and glanced up to see Zhou Qin walking out of his room with his legs awkwardly pressed together.

Every time she saw this, Lin Qing couldn’t help but laugh. There was no particular reason—it was just that Zhou Qin, this burly man, walking like that was simply comedy gold!

After several exhausting days at work, Zhou Qin and Jin Jianhua had finally gotten their day off. At last, they wouldn’t have to walk to the factory with their thighs clamped together anymore.

Those past few days had been absolute hell for them.

Zhou Qin was a bit better off, as he was widely known for his thick-skinned and hot-tempered nature, so hardly anyone dared to tease or mock him to his face, fearing he might just smash their nuts in one swipe.

However, Zhou Qin’s security job didn’t allow him to sit all the time. Even though Director showed him some consideration, he still had to get up and walk around occasionally—but those few steps were sheer torture for him.

As for Jin Jianhua, he was different from Zhou Qin. He came across as a soft-looking guy, and given that he had been the one beaten up before, coupled with the fact that everyone in the workshop had grip strength way above average, hardly anyone was afraid of him.

So, people were even more bold around him, some even teasing him right to his face.

But just as everyone expected, Jin Jianhua wasn’t brave enough to confront these burly men. He could only clench his jaw and take it.

Unfortunately, this very image of his made people treat him even more casually and carelessly.

Jin Jianhua was absolutely miserable about it!

Finally, when the holiday arrived, he finally caught a break.

Zhou Qin hadn’t planned to go out, but he really needed to use the toilet. The chamber pot in his room was already full, and with Eldest Master Zhou and Auntie Zhou not at home, he had no choice but to step out to relieve himself.

Compared to him, Jin Jianhua was much more comfortable, still living like a king at home.

Even though Zhang Mengyun was now pregnant, she still treated Jin Jianhua as her top priority, even going so far as to invite Jin’s mother over to help.

Of course, this had been their plan all along. However, Jin’s mother had originally intended to milk the situation, but Zhang Mengyun’s words quickly shut that down fast.

"Mom, no matter what, the child in my belly is still part of your Jin family. Can’t you spare some decent meals?

Besides, Brother Jianhua has been transferred to the workshop now, and his salary has been cut. The ten yuan we give you every month is already squeezing blood from a stone for us—what more do you want?"

After hearing this, Jin’s mother couldn’t argue further and backed down grumbling.

After seeing Zhou Qin leave the yard, Lin Qing noticed another person emerging from the small Jin family room—it was Old Mrs. Jin.

She carried the bedpan outside.

The young married women nearby were once again seething with envy.

Lin Qing was someone they could never compare to, but Zhang Mengyun—she was someone who really got under their skin, someone they wanted to give a hard time.

For example, Lin Shu, who was also far along in her pregnancy at eight months, felt particularly indignant. Why should Zhang Mengyun get to be pampered like this?

Even at eight months, Lin Shu still had to wash her own clothes and empty her own bedpan. Why?

Bracing herself against the sink, Lin Shu looked at Old Mrs. Jin and asked, "Hey there, auntie, are you Zhang Mengyun's mother?"

Old Mrs. Jin paused. "Huh? Are you talking to me?"

"Yes! I don’t think I’ve seen you around before."

"Oh! No, I'm her mother-in-law!"

"Ah! So you're her mother-in-law! You're so kind! Going out of your way like this for them—what a wonderful mother-in-law! Not like mine..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Not like my mother-in-law..." she muttered.

Lin Qing had perked up at the sound the moment Lin Shu called out to Old Mrs. Jin.

She was quite curious about Lin Shu's sudden move.

Buttering her up right off the bat? That didn't sound like Lin Shu at all.

Lin Qing kept listening.

Ugh, she was practically whispering—any quieter, and she wouldn’t have heard a thing.

But was this an attempt to belittle Mother Jiang?

"Your daughter-in-law is so lucky! Getting taken care of like this while pregnant. Not like me—eight months along and still doing all the work myself." Lin Shu put on a pained smile.

Old Mrs. Jin was flattered, but at the same time, she couldn't help feeling resentful. Why could this eight-months-pregnant woman still manage chores?

Meanwhile, her own daughter-in-law barely had a bump yet and was already ordering her about?

The more Lin Qing listened, the stranger it seemed. Was Lin Shu airing her grievances to a stranger?

And why did Old Mrs. Jin seem uncomfortable too?

Lin Qing didn’t realize—some things only make sense when you see the contrast.

Lin Shu thought to herself: *If I'm bitter about Zhang Mengyun's cushy pregnancy, then Old Mrs. Jin must also resent that Mother Jiang, whom she’s barely met, for having it better than her.*

She wanted to stir up trouble between them.

And indeed, their already tense relationship between Old Mrs. Jin and Zhang Mengyun was further strained.

As Old Mrs. Jin walked out with the bedpan, her back was practically steaming with resentment.

Lin Qing was totally lost.

Shaking her head, she figured it wasn't her problem and buried herself back in her book.

"Ah!!!"

In less than two minutes, Lin Qing was startled by a sudden scream from outside.

Her nosy instincts kicked in, and she immediately grabbed her book and hurried out.

Lin Shu was also startled. Clutching her belly and leaning against the sink, she took deep breaths as a sudden cramp twisted through her belly. Fortunately, it only lasted a moment before she recovered.

She trailed behind at a slower pace.

The scream didn’t just attract the two of them—others in the courtyard who hadn’t gone out were also drawn by the noise.

One by one, they came rushing out.

Lin Qing was among the first to run out. After exiting the courtyard gate, she slowed her pace, mainly because she caught a whiff of a rank, nasty stench that stopped her in her tracks.

Those behind her also smelled it and similarly slowed down.