Chapter 408: Chapter 408: Bringing Along

Chapter 408: Bringing Along

Shen Yixiang happily carried a few apples the next day to visit Lu Haijun’s mother.

Chen Guizhi gave her a couple of instructions, saying she needed to behave herself when there.

Yang PeiMin chuckled and shook her head as Chen Guizhi spoke with a face full of hesitation. Was she worried that her younger daughter might speak out of turn and offend someone?

She didn’t pay much more attention to it. With Chen Guizhi, the mother, watching over, Shen Yixiang might not handle everything perfectly, but she wouldn’t mess things up too badly, right?

But to her surprise, Shen Yixiang really did make a mess of things. In the afternoon, she didn’t wait for Shen Yiguang to come back together; instead, she returned home with Lu Haijun’s sister.

As it happened, Yang PeiMin only had one class that afternoon and had returned home early, just in time to see Chen Guizhi asking about the visit.

And Lu Haijun’s sister stood somewhat embarrassingly to the side, seemingly wanting to explain as well.

Seeing Yang PeiMin’s return, Chen Guizhi’s face showed a trace of guilt.

Shen Yixiang then called out to her and began the introductions, “Sister, this is Lu Haijun’s sister, Hailing. She’s come to stay with us for a couple of days. Hailing, this is my sister-in-law.”

“Hello, sister-in-law,” Lu Hailing said to Yang PeiMin, greeting her with restraint.

Yang PeiMin smiled and nodded, “Hello.”

Chen Guizhi quietly tugged at Shen Yixiang’s sleeve and said with a smile on her face, “You child, is Hailing supposed to leave tomorrow, and you still brought her home with you? What if it delays her trip back? How would that be good?” Although she didn’t know the reason behind the visit, she had a premonition that this girl had certainly stirred up trouble.

And when did it become customary for someone to bring their prospective brother-in-law’s sister home to stay?

Shen Yixiang said, “It’s fine, there’s plenty of space at home, and Hailing can go back later if she needs to.”

Chen Guizhi gave her a covert glare.

Lu Hailing looked like a quiet and gentle girl, about seventeen or eighteen years old, pretty and unassuming with two thick braids hanging in front of her chest, giving her a simple yet vibrant appearance.

She looked up and explained to Chen Guizhi and Yang PeiMin, “My mother is angry with me, wanted to kick me out, so Sister Yixiang brought me here. Please don’t blame Sister Yixiang, auntie, it was my fault for being unreasonable and angering my mother.”

“It’s really not about you, it’s just your mother, it’s just your mother wasn’t thinking straight for a moment. Don’t worry so much; just stay here for a couple of days. Once your aunt has cooled down, you can go back,” Shen Yixiang said.

Chen Guizhi and Yang PeiMin were completely befuddled and couldn’t help but ask about what had led to this.

The two of them took turns explaining, complementing each other’s accounts. Upon her arrival at the battalion, Shen Yixiang had met with Mrs. Lu in the reception room.

Mrs. Lu was very pleased, holding her hand and relentlessly praising her, saying that the Lu family had become distinguished for having married such a capable bride.

Mrs. Lu, like Chen Guizhi, inquired about Shen Yixiang’s background. Upon learning that she had graduated from high school and currently had a stable job, she couldn’t be more satisfied. She held her hand even tighter, reluctant to let go, and then began to praise her own son, declaring them to be the most perfect match in the world.

Shen Yixiang had come prepared and had also checked the facts with Chen Guizhi, but she could hardly withstand the barrage of questions from Mrs. Lu. Fortunately, just when her smile had frozen on her face, Mrs. Lu ended the topic. But before she could catch her breath, Mrs. Lu began to discuss her family’s troubles.

She said that Lu Haijun was the most accomplished in the Lu family, while his siblings had only worked the fields at home and hadn’t attended school for long, doomed to be unremarkable for life. She hoped that if Lu Haijun advanced further, he would also give a hand to his siblings.

Shen Yixiang nodded; this was all too common. She didn’t mind and would be willing to assist any less fortunate siblings if she could, let alone Lu Haijun. If she were to become successful, she would also want to provide more help to her older sisters.

Seeing that she had no objections, Mrs. Lu smiled even more broadly, insisting that Lu Hailing bring some snacks for Shen Yixiang to eat, treating her as if she were her own daughter.

Lu Hailing took the snacks from a paper bag hanging on the wall, but accidentally dropped them on the floor, covering them in a layer of dust. Now inedible, Mrs. Lu was both upset and angry, scolding her, “You’re so grown-up and still can’t do anything right. What use are you? See if the Huang family still wants you. Your brother bought these, and I haven’t even had a bite; I was saving them for Yixiang. Look at what you’ve done, you wastrel. I really shouldn’t have brought you here, embarrassing us like this!”

Shen Yixiang hurriedly intervened.

Mrs. Lu then started complaining to Shen Yixiang about her daughter, “She looks lively enough but just can’t do anything right. When it comes to work in the fields, isn’t each girl her parents’ little helper? We didn’t dare let her do the tough stuff, only asked her to weed a little and water the crops. But guess what? She managed to uproot the seedlings and drown the crops. Even hauling water, she’d end up spilling it in the field. It’s not just once or twice; it happens every single time. You’d think she’d learn after being taught so many times. Even a pig would have learned by now! She just can’t handle farm work; it’s like she’s not even from the countryside! Eventually, we stopped letting her go to the fields; we had no choice. A mistake once or twice might only be known to the family, but if it keeps happening, others will notice, and what then? What will her in-laws think?”

“We told her to go home, where there’s plenty to do indoors, to let her tidy up. But a rural girl who can’t do farm work? How can that be acceptable? Do you think she could marry into a city family and avoid farm work completely? You wouldn’t believe it, but all the village girls her age have found matches already, except her. Her inability to do farm work couldn’t stay hidden forever; it got out. As family, I don’t mind telling you, but those young men don’t want her. It’s driving her father and me insane. Is she to remain a spinster forever?”

“Then her aunt suggested a pretty good family. They said that after Hailing married over, she wouldn’t have to do farm work, just cook twice a day, something within her capabilities…”

Before Mrs. Lu could finish, Lu Hailing began to cry and came over to pull on her mother’s sleeve, pleading, “Mom, please, I beg you, don’t send me to the Huang family. I promise I’ll learn to work better in the future.”

This stunned Shen Yixiang.

Mrs. Lu scolded Lu Hailing angrily, “What’s wrong with the Huang family? They haven’t deprived you of food or clothing; what more do you want?”

Shen Yixiang also asked Lu Hailing why she was unwilling.

Lu Hailing said that the man was already divorced.

Shen Yixiang was taken aback and, looking towards Mrs. Lu, advised, “Auntie, it would be such a pity for Hailing, who’s both handsome and gentle, to marry a man who’s been married before.”