Chapter 40: Kneeling, Always the Eldest Sister-in-law

Chapter 40: Even Begging, She’s Still the First Daughter-in-Law

"After they registered their marriage, Qin Yizhou had to return to the military for duty, and his wife stayed at her parents' home," Mother Qin said.

"They were already married, so why didn’t you bring her home?" Eldest Aunt Qin asked.

"..." Mother Qin looked at the quilts hung out to dry in the yard and patted them lightly.

At the time, Mother Qin had been very unhappy with Song Fenglan and didn’t want Qin Yizhou to marry her. But Yizhou refused to listen to his parents and insisted on marrying her. Mother Qin thought that if Song Fenglan wanted to live outside, then let her stay out there.

Back then, Qin’s eldest daughter-in-law had even said: *Mom, it’s good she lives outside. Maybe soon she won’t even be our daughter-in-law anymore.*

Qin’s eldest daughter-in-law and others had hoped Qin Yizhou and Song Fenglan would divorce soon, believing that being with Song Fenglan would only hold Yizhou back and ruin his future.

"Feng Lan never said she wanted to live here," Mother Qin said, patting the quilts again.

"She didn’t say it, but couldn’t you have asked?" Eldest Aunt Qin said. "No wonder Yizhou and his wife resent you. His wife never lived here, and when you sent chickens, your eldest son’s family took them. When you sent money, they took that too."

Eldest Aunt Qin believed Mother Qin had failed in her duties—she shouldn’t have let Qin’s eldest daughter-in-law take those things.

"That’s all in the past," Mother Qin said. There was no way to undo what had already happened, and they had no way to fix it. "When Yizhou called, I told them they could stay here. If not, they could stay in the house we bought for them—it’s theirs, under Yizhou’s name. But he just said his in-laws had already prepared a house. What could I say?"

Mother Qin had long known that the Song family had prepared a house for Feng Lan—a three-story house with an attic and a decent-sized yard. The Songs had gone to clean it up, and she’d heard they’d even changed the curtains and bought all-new bedding.

When Mother Qin heard about the preparations the Song family had made, she couldn’t very well go to them and say: *In-laws, stop preparing things!*

That was impossible—it was their dowry for their daughter.

The fact was, Qin's parents hadn’t given Song Fenglan a bride price.

Not only did the Qin family know, but so did all the neighbors.

Back when Qin Yizhou and Song Fenglan got married, Mother Qin and Qin’s eldest daughter-in-law had made sure everyone knew. Mother Qin had watched Qin’s eldest daughter-in-law tell the neighbors and hadn’t stopped her—she’d even chimed in herself.

Mother Qin believed Song Fenglan’s family background was bad and that she was an unacceptable daughter-in-law. Even after the marriage was official, she refused to acknowledge her. She didn’t scold Qin’s eldest daughter-in-law for spreading the news—she thought it was good for people to know they disapproved of Song Fenglan. After all, it was her own fault for having a bad family background.

Mother Qin just said less about it herself. As an elder, it was better to keep quiet.

Qin’s eldest daughter-in-law, however, wanted everyone to know that *she* was the most important daughter-in-law of the Qin family.

"Back then, who could’ve predicted things would turn out like this?" Mother Qin said. At the time, they had avoided families like the Songs as if they were the plague—why would they have gone out of their way to accommodate them? "Times have really changed."

"Changed? Yes, they have," Eldest Aunt Qin said. "Get the room ready, and when they come back, let them decide for themselves."

"Hmm," Mother Qin nodded.

"You’re not thinking of letting the eldest Qin son’s family move back in, are you?" Eldest Aunt Qin asked.

Over the past few months, perhaps Qin's father had calmed down, and Eldest Aunt Qin wondered if Mother Qin was considering letting the eldest Qin son’s family return.

"Don’t you dare let them move back now," Eldest Aunt Qin said. "Even if Yizhou wouldn’t say much about it, it would still be hurtful."

Any punishment would just be pretending—the Qins were only putting on an act for the Song family. If the eldest Qin son’s family had been made to move out, they should stay out. Unless Qin's parents were truly ill and needed the eldest Qin son and his wife to care for them, then they could return.

"You need to be mindful. Yizhou and his wife aren’t fools," Eldest Aunt Qin said. "They’ll see right through your actions and know what you’re thinking. What will you do then?"

"I’m not letting the eldest son’s family move back," Mother Qin said.

"Not even for a few days during the New Year," Eldest Aunt Qin said. "Yizhou’s leave is brief, and they’ll be gone soon. If you pull a stunt like this, you’ll just push them further apart."

"Even further. You didn’t do well before, and now you still need to think twice."

"Sigh." Qin’s mother sighed. After hearing her youngest son’s words on the call, it broke her heart.

Her youngest son wanted to live in the house prepared by the Song family for Song Fenglan, but he wasn’t a live-in son-in-law.

Qin’s mother preferred her youngest son and his wife to live at their own home, or at least in the house they had bought for the couple.

"These quilts are all new," Qin’s mother said. "They were originally prepared for Yi Zhou's wedding."

"So you didn’t give the new quilt to Yi Zhou’s wife?" Qin’s aunt widened her eyes.

"She’s staying at her parents' home—it’s not like she doesn’t have quilts to use," Qin’s mother said. "Her aunt’s isn’t the place to store these things either. This quilt is very nice."

"..." Qin’s aunt, a fence-sitter, hadn’t been keeping a close eye on the Qin family’s affairs. She didn’t know everything. Qin’s aunt had long since married out—how could she always be watching her in-laws? Whatever they did was their business; she stayed out of it.

Now, it turned out the new quilt hadn’t even been given. If Sister-in-law Qin had taken those things, it was her fault, but Qin’s mother was also to blame.

"We gave Fenglan money—she could buy a new quilt herself," Qin’s mother said, unable to bear giving up this good quilt.

"But most of that money was taken by your eldest daughter-in-law," Qin’s aunt said.

So, in truth, the Qin family hadn’t given Song Fenglan much at all. It was perfectly normal for others to think the Qin family was stingy. This wasn’t given, that wasn’t given—Qin’s aunt thought that if she were treated like that by her in-laws, she’d hit the roof and would definitely talk to her husband about it, asking what his family was playing at.

"..." Qin’s mother fell silent. If she had known her eldest daughter-in-law would take so much money and things, she would’ve sent someone else.

"Your eldest daughter-in-law has been married into your family for so long—haven’t you noticed anything at all?" Qin’s aunt said. "She’s a real thief."

In Qin’s aunt’s own home, she could usually guess what her daughter-in-law was up to. She would never tolerate her daughter-in-law making such a big mistake—wouldn’t people talk?

The family wasn’t starving her—why would she do such a thing?

Qin’s aunt didn’t even want to talk about Sister-in-law Qin anymore—it was pointless. They kept getting shocked, but such things happening with Sister-in-law Qin were all too normal.

On the train, Qin Yizhou told Song Fenglan she didn’t need to hold Qin Zihang the whole time—her legs would fall asleep. It was better to let Qin Zihang sit by himself.

"I’ve let him sit," Song Fenglan said. "He rarely takes the train, so I hold him occasionally."

"Let him sit by me," Qin Yizhou said, scooting Qin Zihang over. There was no one else in their sleeper berths—just Song Fenglan’s family and the soldier, Cao Fang.

Qin Zihang sat next to Qin Yizhou and looked out the window. "It’s nighttime outside."

"It’s nighttime, but we’re not there yet," Song Fenglan said.

"Will it take a really, really long time?" Qin Zihang was getting restless in the cramped space, with no other children to play with.

"It’ll take quite a while," Song Fenglan said. "Try to nap—it’ll be a while."

"Such a long time," Qin Zihang said. "Longer than a worm."

"Take it slow," Qin Yizhou said. "With Mom and Dad here, what are you afraid of?"

"I’m not afraid," Qin Zihang shook his head, hugging his panda. "I’m a big boy."

"Yes, you are," Song Fenglan nodded.

Seeing Qin Zihang busy with the toy, Song Fenglan wanted to use the restroom.

The soldier, Cao Fang, was top-notch in training and had been chosen to protect Song Fenglan. The military filled her in on Song Fenglan’s situation—Cao Fang knew that Song Fenglan’s uncle had been assassinated by foreigners. She immediately told her superiors that she’d keep Song Fenglan safe, no matter what.

When Song Fenglan went to the bathroom, Cao Fang followed to protect her.

Song Fenglan wasn’t unaccustomed to this—she had been similarly protected in her past life. The state placed great importance on researchers like her. Despite her young age, Song Fenglan had won numerous national and international awards, including recognition as a young scholar, along with bonuses.

A senior colleague at the same research institute joked that Song Fenglan had "sent her boyfriend to the heavens," as she was married to her work.

Song Fenglan didn’t have a boyfriend—what her colleague meant was that she wasn’t interested in dating, not that she had broken up with someone. It wasn’t just that senior colleague who thought Song Fenglan didn’t want a boyfriend; even some male coworkers believed she was crazy, choosing work over men.

In truth, it wasn’t impossible to balance work and romance. Some people tried matchmaking for Song Fenglan, but she never had time. She believed that time was better spent in the lab—those bonuses were a sweeter deal.

With those rewards, who needed a man? Men just cause arguments, but money never would.

"You can rest for a bit," Song Fenglan said to Cao Fang.

Since Qin Yizhou was still up, Cao Fang could take a break.

"Alright," Cao Fang naturally understood the need to rest. She and Qin Yizhou had already agreed to spell each other.

Qin Zihang was a child, and children woke at unpredictable hours. The train berths were too cramped for an adult and child to sleep comfortably together. Even for a couple, they couldn’t both sleep at the same time—someone had to stay awake to watch the child. With Cao Fang around, Song Fenglan could rest a little more.

When Sister-in-law Qin learned that Qin’s mother was tidying up the room and even took out that treasured quilt, she felt a sour feeling. But she couldn’t criticize Qin’s mother—instead, she had to return to her in-laws’ home to help with the cleaning.

After all, Sister-in-law Qin’s uncle had been convicted as a counterrevolutionary, and she no longer dared to act as arrogantly as before. Her father had lost his job, and her siblings’ careers had also been affected—some were denied promotions, while others were demoted or had their salaries cut.

Her siblings came to her for help, but Sister-in-law Qin had no solutions. Her in-laws refused to lift a hand to help, and no matter how much she begged, it made no difference.

If she pressed further, the Qin family would say, "We didn’t help the Song family, so we certainly can’t help your family either."

Qin’s parents insisted they were impartial—since they hadn’t assisted the Song family back then, they couldn’t help the Tian family now. Sister-in-law Qin’s family situation wasn’t trivial—it involved counterrevolutionary activity, after all.

"Mom, I’ll scrub the floor," Sister-in-law Qin said.

Early in the morning, she arrived to prove her diligence. At the very least, she needed to make a good impression now so her in-laws couldn’t accuse her of being selfish later.

Carrying a bucket and a rag, Sister-in-law Qin went to clean the room. It wasn’t the one Qin Yizhou had originally slept in, nor the one she and her husband had used, but another, larger room with better sunlight. Kneeling on the floor with a damp rag, she scrubbed hard—this way, the floor would be gleaming clean.

When Qin’s mother came upstairs and saw Sister-in-law Qin kneeling to clean, she said, "You should get up. It’s tiring like this."

"It cleans better this way," Sister-in-law Qin replied. "It’s good to scrub thoroughly to avoid mold. This room hasn’t been used in a long time."

Once, Sister-in-law Qin had imagined this room would go to her own child, not Qin Yizhou and his wife. She had planned many things—none of which included Qin Yizhou’s family, as if he weren’t Qin’s parents’ child at all, and her own family could claim everything.

"I added some warm water—it’s not too cold, so it’s easier to clean," Sister-in-law Qin said. "Mom, at your age and with your health, leave this to me. The bed frame needs a good wipe too..."

"No need for the bed frame—it’s being replaced," Qin’s mother said. "I ordered a new bed; it’ll arrive soon. Once it’s here, we’ll just wipe it down. You should get up now. Wait until after the bed is moved in to scrub again—the deliverymen will track in dirt."

Her brief hope that Qin’s mother still cared for her faded when she heard about the new bed.

Oh well. Sister-in-law Qin could only console herself—Qin Yizhou and his wife were only here for Spring Festival, and Qin Yizhou had already said they wouldn’t stay long. Maybe, just maybe, this room would eventually go to her own family. It was fine—the new bed might still end up being theirs.

"This room is reserved for Yi Zhou and his family," Qin’s mother said, as if reading Sister-in-law Qin’s thoughts. "Even when they’re not home, it’s theirs. Once we’re gone, this house will go to you, and you won’t need to keep a room for them."

"We’re all family. With so many rooms here, it’s only right to keep one for them," Sister-in-law Qin managed a thin smile. "Some families even keep a room for their married daughters, let alone sons."

Her hands clenched the rag tightly as she knelt and scrubbed, keeping her head down to hide any displeasure from Qin’s mother.

Now, Sister-in-law Qin had to make everyone believe she had changed—that she no longer intended to snatch what rightfully belonged to the Qin family. Qin’s mother would never let her deliver anything to Song Fenglan now, so she had no chance to take anything for herself.

"Then remember to scrub again later," Qin’s mother said. "Make sure it’s shining clean."

"Absolutely," said Sister-in-law Qin.

The new bed arrived quickly, sturdy and with just the right bounce. Sister-in-law Qin looked at the new bed and thought about the one in her bridal chamber when she first married into the Qin family. That bed wasn’t as nice as this one, and she couldn’t help but wonder how much this one must’ve set them back.

Once the new bed was assembled and placed, Sister-in-law Qin brought water to mop the floor again.

The wardrobe in the new room had been freshly built and left to air out for a while.

Whenever Sister-in-law Qin saw these things, she couldn’t help but think back to what her own bridal chamber had looked like and compare it to the room she lived in now. However resentful she felt inside, she had to suppress it. Even when Song Fenglan returned, she couldn’t pin anything on her.

The Song family had already tidied up their house. By this time, the flowers and plants in the yard had withered, so they moved some potted plants indoors. They had also bought New Year supplies in advance and stored them there, including rice and oil.

Mrs. Song had hoped Song Fenglan would stay at their home, have meals with them, and have her son-in-law and grandson stay as well. But Song Fenglan refused, saying they would stay in their own house.

Song Fenglan had never lived with her sister-in-law before and was afraid she might speak without thinking and accidentally say something wrong. Sisters-in-law butting heads was nothing new, so it was better to live separately—a little space went a long way.

Since her daughter insisted, Mrs. Song didn’t force her to stay with them.

Sister Song had brought it up more than once that Song Fenglan should stay at their home, but since Song Fenglan refused, she stopped mentioning it. Sister Song thought it was better for Song Fenglan’s family of three to live in their own place, where they’d have their own space, free of others’ judgments.

In the evening, Sister-in-law Qin made dinner for Old Man and Old Mrs. Qin before returning home.

"The room is all cleaned up. When your brother Qin Yizhou comes back, they can move right in," Sister-in-law Qin said. "Ma even dug out her prized quilt."

"That quilt was always meant for Yi Zhou," said Big Brother Qin. "We have one too."

Big Brother Qin was aware—their parents had played fair.

"..." Sister-in-law Qin couldn’t shake the thought that the quilt they got when they married wasn’t as nice as the one Mother Qin had prepared today.

"You’re the first daughter-in-law—step up more," Big Brother Qin said.

"Got it," Sister-in-law Qin replied. "When buying New Year goods, I even got an extra portion for Mom and Dad. At their age, they shouldn’t be hauling heavy loads, so I’ll do it."

Big Brother Qin nodded. "That’s the way."

Lately, Sister-in-law Qin had kept her temper in check, which pleased Big Brother Qin greatly. That’s how a wife ought to be—more emotionally stable. As the eldest brother and sister-in-law, they couldn’t fly off the handle constantly.

"I also made some preserved meats and sausages," Sister-in-law Qin said. "I hung them to dry in Mom and Dad’s courtyard since our space is too small. We’ll save some for your kid brother and his wife to eat too."

Soon, it was time for Song Fenglan’s family to arrive at the capital’s train station. Old Mrs. Qin and Auntie Qin headed to the station.

The Song family also arrived at the station, but the train was delayed by over an hour.

The Qins and Songs crossed paths. Despite her poor health, Mrs. Song insisted on coming, accompanied by Second Brother Song. Sister Song stayed home to prepare a meal so that when Song Fenglan’s family arrived, they could go straight back to eat.

"Mother-in-law," Aunt Qin greeted Mrs. Song warmly. "Are you here to pick up Yi Zhou and the others too?"

"Yes, we’re here for them," Mrs. Song replied.

"We’ve already agreed—they’ll come to our place first for a meal, then stay at their own house," Second Brother Song added.

Second Brother Song didn’t want to see Old Mrs. Qin and the others. These people had never given his sister the time of day. Now that the Song family had been rehabilitated and was doing better, they were only pretending to care about Song Fenglan.

The Qin family was too pragmatic and selfish.

Second Brother Song didn’t think his sister would be happy living with the Qins. Fortunately, their family had their own house, so she didn’t have to stay with them.

"We’ve got a room ready at ours too," Aunt Qin said.

"Hangbao has his own room now," said Second Brother Song.

"Is that so? Hangbao is only a little over three years old, already sleeping alone?" Aunt Qin said wistfully. "Time flies. Hangbao’s already grown so much."

Qin Yizhou’s mother stood there, hesitant to speak, at a loss for words. She had originally thought that after their family picked up Qin Yizhou and his family of three, they could have them stay at the Qin residence. She didn’t like the idea of them staying at the Song family’s place.

Aunt Qin tugged at Qin Yizhou's mother’s sleeve and whispered, "Speak up."

"Mother-in-law, have Yizhou and his family stay with us. We can easily prepare another room," Qin Yizhou’s mother said. "We have spare rooms."

"No need," Feng Lan’s mother said. "Your house is for your eldest son’s family. Better not have Fenglan and the others stay there. The property has already been divided—let’s keep things clear."

"Then let them stay in the newly bought house," Aunt Qin suggested. "Our family also bought a small apartment for the couple. It’s a bit cramped, probably not as nice as yours..."

"If it’s small, wouldn’t renting it out be better?" Second Brother Song said. "A small place isn’t comfortable. A bigger house can even have a study. By the way, we’ve tidied up Feng Lan’s study—some of her old books have been returned, and we’ve placed them all in there."

Qin Yizhou’s mother clenched her fists, feeling snubbed. She wanted to turn away.

"That’s true. Renting it out is better. For living, comfort is what matters," Aunt Qin said with a smile, showing no displeasure. "You’ve handled this well. We don’t know much about these things—it’s best they live comfortably."

"Once my sister gets here, she’s coming home with us," Second Brother Song stated.

"Alright, alright. We’ll wait too. Now that we’re here, we should at least see them before leaving," Aunt Qin said.

Qin Yizhou’s mother shot Aunt Qin a look, thinking how easily she bent.

Aunt Qin didn’t feel upset. The Qin family had mistreated their daughter and sister first, so the Song family’s attitude was understandable. If the Song family showed no resentment at all, that would be strange.

If you’re in the wrong, you swallow your pride.

"Suit yourselves," Second Brother Song said, not bothering to send them away.

He wanted to send a message to the Qin family—they wouldn’t ignore Song Fenglan, nor would they let the Qin family bully her.

Twenty minutes later, the train pulled in.

Qin Yizhou’s family of three came out, Cao Fang in tow. Feng Lan had given her family a heads-up that Cao Fang would be accompanying her, and the Song family had no objections.

When Qin Yizhou’s mother saw the family emerge, she remained rooted in place while Song Fenglan’s mother and Second Brother Song walked forward. Aunt Qin started forward, then yanked Qin Yizhou’s mother along when she didn’t budge.

"That’s your daughter-in-law," Aunt Qin urged, dragging her forward. "Don’t make that face. Now’s the time to act like a proper mother-in-law."

Like she hadn’t thrown her weight around enough already.

"Hangbao, say hello," Song Fenglan said, resting her hands on Zi Hang’s shoulders.

"Grandma, Uncle," Zi Hang peered at Second Brother Song. "Uncle, are you the eldest uncle or the second uncle?"

"Second uncle," Second Brother Song replied with a smile.

"Zi Hang," Qin Yizhou’s mother approached.

At the sight of her, Zi Hang shrank behind Feng Lan. Qin Yizhou moved to shield his son.

Qin Yizhou’s mother hadn’t expected this reaction and looked embarrassed.

"Zi Hang, don’t you recognize Grandma?" she asked.

Zi Hang didn’t want to call her Grandma. He couldn’t stand her—she doted on his older cousins and ignored him.

"Mom, I'm hungry," Qin Zihang looked up at Song Fenglan.

"Come on, let Uncle Song give you a ride home. Let's go home for dinner, okay?" Uncle Song reached out to Qin Zihang.

Qin Zihang glanced at Song Fenglan. Seeing his mother nod, he then walked up to Uncle Song.

"Look what I got you." Uncle Song took out a small toy airplane model, which he had bought especially for Qin Zihang.

"Wow, an airplane!" Qin Zihang smiled, clutching his panda toy.

"Do you like it?" Uncle Song asked.

"Yes," Qin Zihang replied.

Uncle Song picked up Qin Zihang and then looked at Qin Yizhou. "Yizhou, let's head back first."

"Mom, Auntie, the child is hungry. We’ll go ahead now and visit you another day," Qin Yizhou said.

"We’ll head back," Song Fenglan said, addressing Auntie Qin and Eldest Brother Qin.

"Alright, go ahead. Hurry back—look, the child is probably starving," Auntie Qin said, still smiling. "Don’t fuss over us—we’re happy just seeing you. We can get back on our own."

Auntie Qin and Qin’s mother stood where they were, watching the Song family and Qin Yizhou’s family of three leave. Auntie Qin even waved at Qin Zihang.

"Hangbao, eat up and enjoy!" Auntie Qin called out.

Once Qin Yizhou and the others were a little farther away, Auntie Qin turned to Qin’s mother. "If I’d known, we should’ve bought Hangbao a toy too. Wait—don’t tell me you’ve never bought him a toy before?"

"He’s still young..." Qin’s mother admitted she hadn’t. She always bought toys for her eldest grandchildren. "I told Eldest Brother Qin’s wife to send money over."

"That money was kept by your eldest son’s family!" Auntie Qin repeated the same point. "You should stop saying you sent money through them. None of it ever reached their hands—or if it did, just a pittance. How can you even claim you gave anything? I’d be too ashamed to say it."

Auntie Qin thought Qin’s mother and her family were so insensitive, taking things too far. No wonder the Song family acted that way—if it were her, she’d have been even harsher. Anyone who dared mistreat her daughter would pay for it.

"Let’s head back," Qin’s mother said. "We’ve been out long enough."

"If we hadn’t come, the Song family would’ve still shown up," Auntie Qin said. "But if we’d skipped today... Did you see how Hangbao tried to hide from you?"

"How should I know?" Qin’s mother couldn’t recall offending Qin Zihang. "Maybe his mother told him something?"

"Not necessarily. More likely, you hurt him somehow," Auntie Qin said. "A kid that age doesn’t get grown-up talk."

Auntie Qin hadn’t paid much attention before to how the Qin family treated Qin Zihang, but she knew Qin’s mother and father favored the children from the eldest son’s family. Their attitude toward Qin Zihang was noticeably colder. She had seen their indifference firsthand—how Qin Zihang would watch his older cousins play with toys, and how she had once told him to go play with them. But Eldest Brother Qin’s children refused and even pushed him away, saying, "We don’t want a bastard like you playing with us."

That incident stuck in Auntie Qin’s memory. After Song Fenglan and Qin Yizhou registered their marriage, Qin Yizhou returned to the military. Qin’s wife had even insinuated that the child Song Fenglan was carrying might not be Qin Yizhou’s. Later, when Qin Zihang was born, he was the spitting image of Qin Yizhou.

Thinking about it now, Auntie Qin could only sigh at the mess they’d made. If it were her, she’d at least put on a front. Qin Zihang rarely visited—maybe not even once a month.

"You dug your own grave," Auntie Qin lamented.

"..." Qin’s mother truly didn’t understand what had gone wrong or why Qin Zihang acted this way.

Seeing Qin Zihang’s reaction, she felt a flicker of annoyance toward him. She thought he had drifted apart, and this grandson would never side with them in the future. They really had better count on their eldest grandson—they’d have to rely on their eldest son and his children, not the younger son and his family.

The group first went to the Song family home, where Sister Song had the meal ready. To keep the food warm, she had kept it warming in the pot. The moment everyone walked in, she herded everyone together.

"Dig in! You’re probably starving," Sister Song urged everyone.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law," said Song Fenglan.

"Sister-in-law," said Qin Yizhou.

"Aunt," said Qin Zihang, knowing how to address her.

Cao Fang sat down to eat with Song Fenglan and the others, while Sister-in-law Song wore a bright, genuine smile.

Sister-in-law Song even poked her husband, Brother Song, who was sitting beside her. "I didn’t believe you when you said Fenglan was so pretty. Now that I’ve seen her, she really is beautiful—even more so than you described."

"Fenglan has always been beautiful since she was young," said Brother Song.

"Brother, Sister-in-law, please eat too," said Song Fenglan.

"You go ahead," said Brother Song, turning to Qin Yizhou to pour him some liquor.

"Thank you, Brother, but I don’t drink," said Qin Yizhou. "I really don’t."

Qin Yizhou could drink, but he usually avoided it and didn’t do so now either. He still had to take care of his wife and son—liquor could lead to mistakes.

"Alright, then no drinking," said Brother Song.

After the meal, Song Fenglan and the others returned to their own home first. They had been on the train for quite a while and needed to rest.

Mother Song, Father Song, and Second Brother Song went along with them. Brother Song and his wife also wanted to go, but they had children at home and needed to tidy up, so they stayed behind.

This three-and-a-half-story Western-style villa had brand-new furniture, and even the curtains had been replaced. The bedding and other items were of the finest quality—Mother Song made sure her daughter had the best.

There was even a refrigerator in the house, stocked with groceries.

"This room is your bedroom," said Mother Song, leading Song Fenglan and her husband inside. They had already shown Cao Fang to the guest room.

Cao Fang set down her things and followed along to familiarize herself with the layout of the house, ensuring she could better protect them.

"What about mine?" Qin Zihang appeared.

"Your room is right next to your parents'," said Mother Song with a smile. "If you ever need them, just call out, and they’ll hear you."

"Let’s go see Hangbao’s room first," said Song Fenglan.

Brother Song and the others had bought Qin Zihang many toys. Aside from a separate playroom, his own room was also filled with toys, and the floor was covered with a plush rug so he wouldn’t feel cold while playing.

"Many of these things were overseen by your sister-in-law," said Mother Song.

"We must thank her," said Song Fenglan.

"The pantry downstairs has rice and flour, and there are some snacks on the table," said Mother Song. "You can have some if you like. You can cook at home or eat out. You’re also welcome to come to our place anytime. If there’s not enough rice, we can always make more."

The Song family had even installed a phone line in the house so Song Fenglan could contact them anytime. When Sister-in-law Song saw how much the Song family had spent, she didn’t object—instead, she pointed out anything that might have been missed and suggested more purchases.

Though Sister-in-law Song was from the countryside, she wasn’t short-sighted. She didn’t think that even without Song Fenglan, the Song family would eventually be exonerated. Since Song Fenglan was a good person, it was only natural for her, as the sister-in-law, to treat her well. The family’s belongings had always included a share for the younger sister, and the others had received plenty as well.

"We’re family—no need for such politeness," said Mother Song, holding Song Fenglan’s hand. Her daughter had grown so much. Mother Song still remembered when they were first sent down to the farm—her daughter had been much younger then.

They had been reluctant to let her go with them to the farm. Mother Song had hoped her daughter could continue her studies, even if only through high school.

"Mom, everything is wonderful. I’m grateful for all of this," said Song Fenglan, seeing the tears in her mother’s eyes. She was deeply satisfied with her life now. "Mom, I’m doing well, Qin Zihang is fine, and your son-in-law is good too."

"If anything happens, tell me anytime," said Mother Song. "Don’t worry about bothering me. A mother should care for her children. If you don’t tell me, I’ll only worry more."

"If anything happens, I'll definitely tell you, don't worry," said Song Fenglan.

Qin’s aunt and mother returned to the Qin household, where Sister-in-law Qin had cooked a meal. She knew Qin Yizhou and his wife likely wouldn’t stay over, but she still had to do something rather than just stand around.

"They won’t be staying here," said Qin’s mother wearily. She still wished her youngest son would come back to live with them.

"It’s better for them to stay there—it’s more spacious," said Aunt Qin. "You wouldn’t believe how nice the Song family’s house is. I’ve seen it from the outside. The Songs brought over loads of stuff, everything set up for Yi Zhou’s family. I heard they didn’t just prepare furniture but also clothes and everything else they’d need. The Songs thought of every little thing, even setting up a room for Hangbao."

"Hangbao gets his own room?" Sister-in-law Qin exclaimed in surprise.

Aunt Qin and the others turned to look at her, and Sister-in-law Qin quickly shut her mouth.

"Little Hangbao can sleep on his own now—he has his own room," said Aunt Qin. "The Songs have thought of everything. It’s good for Yi Zhou and his family to stay there. After all, Hangbao carries the Qin surname, not Song. Yi Zhou isn’t marrying into their family."

"Let them stay there," Qin’s father said helplessly. The Songs had already prepared everything.

"We arrived early and ran into the Song family. I asked a few questions," said Aunt Qin. "Hangbao’s second uncle went on and on—they’ve prepared this and that, the whole clan chipped in. Even Feng Lan’s sister-in-law, her eldest brother’s wife, helped with the arrangements."

As she spoke, Aunt Qin shot a look at Sister-in-law Qin.

"Both are sisters-in-law, but worlds apart," Aunt Qin remarked. "Look at how others fulfill their role."

If Sister-in-law Qin had done things a little better—no, she didn’t even need to excel, just keep her hands to herself—things would have been much smoother.

Such shame for the family. Such shame.

Once again, Aunt Qin thought Eldest Brother Qin shouldn’t have married Sister-in-law Qin. Neither she nor her relatives were decent people—even swiping things from a new mother.

"..." Sister-in-law Qin thought that if the Qin family wasn’t scraping by, she might have treated Song Fenglan better. But with so little to go around, she couldn’t bear to let those things fall into Qin Yizhou and his wife’s hands.

As the eldest son’s wife, Sister-in-law Qin never forgot that. The old couple would surely live with them in the future.

"Hangbao looks just like Yi Zhou—he’s his own son," said Aunt Qin. "From now on, calling him names like ‘bastard’ should stop, especially not in front of the boy. Kids pick up what they hear. Cousins should be close, not act like enemies."

Sister-in-law Qin felt Aunt Qin was targeting her. She stayed silent—it was better to say less now. If she argued back, she’d only suffer for it.

"I won’t say more. I’m heading back," said Aunt Qin, giving one last look at the Qin family and their house. "They really don’t care for this place."

Sister-in-law Qin pressed her lips together. Was it only her family who cared?

After Aunt Qin left, Qin’s father turned to Sister-inlaw Qin. "‘Bastard’? Did you say that to the child?"