After Big Brother and Tian Jing left, Li Min saw her mother asleep and felt restless. After much hesitation, she decided to visit her uncle's house.
Zhang Fangcao was surprised to see Li Min. "Minmin, why did you come over? I'll finish tidying up for Da Niu and be right there."
"I..." Li Min wanted to ask directly, but Tian Jing's incessant, foolish words echoed in her ears. She decided to ask her aunt herself.
"My mother is asleep, so I came to ask Auntie some private questions. You know my mother doesn't have the energy to talk, and there are many things I still don't understand." Li Min spoke ambiguously, feigning shyness.
Zhang Fangcao smiled. "I've been through it too, you can ask me."
"No, no, I'm asking about some old customs that only elders like Auntie would know." Li Min waved her hands, afraid she might not be able to resist Fangcao's persuasion and reveal her intentions within a few sentences. "Fangcao Jie, I'm worried my mother might wake up and not find me. Could you go check on my mother for me?"
"Okay, I'll go right away." Zhang Fangcao left without asking any questions, picking up Da Niu. *This capable and kind Fangcao Jie must not be the bad woman Tian Jing described. Fangcao Jie, once I find out the truth, if Tian Jing has wronged you, I will make her pay.*
Hu Hongju had heard Li Min's voice long ago. She pretended to be busy and reluctant to leave her room. No household was wealthy, and there was a limit to help. Hu Hongju felt frustrated by the endless subsidizing of her deceased cousin's family. However, her husband always said that her cousin had saved him back then, otherwise, her cousin wouldn't have died. Moreover, Zheng Guo's fiancée had married their youngest son, making them feel indebted to their cousin's family. Whenever there was an issue, they were expected to send things. She really didn't want to deal with the Li family at the end of the village anymore.
"Auntie, Auntie." Li Min called out twice before Hu Hongju lazily responded, "Minmin, why are you here? Didn't Fangcao say she was going to your place?"
Li Min glanced outside and asked in a low voice, "Auntie, tell me honestly, how can you let Fangcao Jie go to my house every day?"
"This..." Hu Hongju hadn't expected Li Min to ask such a question. She paused, a little embarrassed, and said, "We are real relatives, it's only right to visit each other, it's only right." *These words sound so fake.*
Li Min continued, "Auntie, my elder brother is also at home. Shouldn't there be some avoidance? Right?"
"Yes, yes." Hearing someone share her opinion, Hu Hongju felt like she had found a kindred spirit and poured out all her grievances. "That's what I think too, but your uncle and cousin say it's okay. If it weren't for Fangcao saying... *cough cough*, of course, you told Fangcao about this, otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to her going every day. Which family's young wife constantly goes to a single man's house? It doesn't sound good."
"Because of this, quite a few people have gossiped behind my back. I'm so worried. Now that you have an elder sister-in-law, no matter what happens with your elder brother, at least the outside gossip is less. Your elder sister-in-law is also capable, so Fangcao won't need to help anymore."
"Your mother's health, alas, Fangcao is also working hard. Every time she comes back, she can't even help with household chores. Your eldest sister-in-law already has opinions. With two daughters-in-law not sharing household chores equally, how can I, as a mother-in-law, manage the family affairs?"
Li Min's brow furrowed. There was a lot of information in her aunt's words. "Auntie, what did I say to Fangcao Jie? And, when Fangcao Jie goes to my house, she only talks to me or my mother. Are you implying that she worked hard taking care of my mother?"
Hu Hongju was stunned. "No, Minmin, what do you mean? Fangcao, my daughter, goes to your house every day to chop firewood and light fires, and sometimes even rubs your mother's legs. You just act like you don't see it? You just dismiss it all?"
"No, no, no." Li Min waved her hands, denying it. "Fangcao Jie goes to my house every day just to chat with me. I haven't told her anything. Isn't it strange hearing you say that? Normally, no family would let their daughter-in-law constantly visit her former fiancé's house, right?"
"I didn't understand before, but this morning, when I saw my elder brother and sister-in-law acting as lovey-dovey as honey, I finally understood. Which couple isn't clingy?"
Li Min understood that her aunt was complaining about not being able to control her two daughters-in-law, and Fangcao Jie had gone to her house to play, but claimed it was to help with chores. How would outsiders see her mother? How would they see her? Wasn't this clearly saying she was lazy? This not only stole her credit and hard work but also put the label of laziness on her. Her aunt was complaining for her "hardworking" younger daughter-in-law, implying she thought it was too much for Li Min to hand over all the household chores to Fangcao Jie?
Hu Hongju pondered carefully and realized something was amiss. "Your elder brother and your sister-in-law?"
"Yes." Li Min nodded. "My elder brother even brought in two basins of water for my sister-in-law. He dotes on her like she's his own eyes. I'm even jealous. My elder brother has never been this good to me, and I'm the one working hard every day."
Hu Hongju thought for a moment and confirmed again, "Did you really not tell Fangcao about your elder brother's physical issues?"
"No." Li Min shook her head. "My elder brother has no physical problems except for his lame leg!" Speaking of his lame leg, Li Min recalled Tian Jing's words. At this moment, she also found them awkward. Zhang Fangcao broke off their engagement because her elder brother's leg was lame. This was heartless and unrighteous. How could she blame her elder brother for his lame leg? He didn't want it either. *I'm really stupid!* Her mother had told her many times to interact less with Zhang Fangcao, but she never listened. She had been led around by the nose for so long, she was so foolish.
While Li Min was regretting, Hu Hongju regretted even more. "So, your elder brother is very normal, very normal?"
"Of course!" Li Min nodded vigorously, then saw her aunt's unpleasant expression and quickly explained for her elder brother. "My elder brother treats her like air. Yesterday, he told her not to come to my house again. Today, if I didn't have something to ask you, I wouldn't have asked her to go."
"Oh dear, I have to go now. My elder brother and sister-in-law are going to dig for wild vegetables. If they come home and see her, they'll scold me again. Auntie, I'm leaving."
"Wait, I'll go with you." Hu Hongju rarely went to the end of the village. She worried that seeing the desolate state of the village would make it hard for her to be firm. Therefore, even though Fangcao said taking care of people was tiring, she still told her eldest daughter-in-law to bear with it. Who knew that all of this was just a lie?
Li Min looked troubled. "Auntie, I... I don't want to be the spark that ignites conflict in your family."
"Don't worry, I won't say a single word of our conversation today to anyone outside." Hu Hongju patted her chest and guaranteed it. How could she dare to speak? Her youngest son was almost cuckolded. Would it sound good if she spread that around? Moreover, before, when people gossiped, she had said her youngest daughter-in-law was kind-hearted and was repaying a debt of gratitude for their family.