CHAPTER 112: CHAPTER 106: EVIL INTENT

Qin Ming didn’t dare delay and went straight to find his parents. They were expecting a second snowfall soon.

When the snow falls frequently in the coming days, the road will be blocked, making it difficult for them to leave.

The weather still allows it now.

Jiang Yue’s condition still allows it too; if they don’t leave now, they might not make it.

When he entered his parents’ room, he saw his youngest brother lying on his parents’ kang bed.

"Mom, don’t mention that again. I don’t like my sister-in-law’s sister. Who would want such a fierce woman? I’m telling you, I’m fond of that Liu Zhi from the educated youth spot. Liu Zhi is not only good-looking but also gentle and well-spoken. I want to marry her.

Mom, have some pity on your son. You put so much effort into my big brother’s marriage, and my sister-in-law was tricked into marrying him. So why can’t it be the same for Liu Zhi?

I want to marry Liu Zhi. If I can’t marry her, I’ll stay single for life!"

He Guixiang looked at her youngest son pouting on the kang.

She felt both sorry and angry.

This son is brainless.

"I’m telling you, Liu Zhi isn’t suitable. Look at her frail frame—she looks like she’d blow over with a gust of wind. With a wife like that, what if she can’t have children? Wouldn’t the Qin family come to an end?

Let me tell you, if you marry your sister-in-law’s sister, you won’t even have to pay a bride price. A wife like that is hard to find even with a lantern. Besides, your sister-in-law’s sister may be fierce, but only a strong woman can manage this.

Don’t you realize your own shortcomings? You can’t shoulder burdens, or lift anything heavy. If you marry another wife who can’t handle this either, what will you do when your father and I are gone? Live on air?"

He Guixiang and her husband discussed it and felt that Jiang Xiaoxiao was a better match.

Even though this girl is fierce and sharp-tongued, such a girl can support a family.

They knew their son well.

By bringing home a wife like that, their son would lead a good life, especially with their help as the elder couple.

How could their family life go wrong?

Thus, the couple felt even more strongly that Jiang Xiaoxiao was suitable.

Qin Hao glared, "Mom, I’m telling you, if you don’t get me Liu Zhi, I’ll stay single forever. Just wait for the Qin line to end! I’m not interested in that Jiang Xiaoxiao.

Do you want me to be unable to hold my head up in front of a woman for a lifetime? Do you think I want to marry a woman as fierce as a tigress?

My sister-in-law may be naive, but her sister isn’t. They live far from us, so what can you do?"

Qin Ming entered and cleared his throat.

Talking about him behind his back, and his sister-in-law’s comments were heard by him, her brother-in-law. Although they were his own brothers, it was still inappropriate to speak like that.

And why did his brother say that his parents tricked Jiang Yue?

Was there something he didn’t know about his own marriage?

Qin Dazhi and He Guixiang both skipped going to the production team today.

There’s nothing much to do in winter; they just took a stroll in the morning and then returned home.

Every family was like this; even the village cadres were relatively free in winter.

"Eldest, why have you come by? Is there something going on?"

Ever since the eldest got married, they’ve been living separately, but it wasn’t a big deal.

The eldest son was obedient.

Whatever they said, he listened.

Separate or not, it made no difference.

It was just nice in name.

"Mom, Dad, I want to take advantage of the winter break to visit Jiang Yue’s parents with her. As their son-in-law, I can’t stay invisible forever. In the past, we might have kept it under wraps. But now, Jiang Yue’s sister already knows. If she writes home to tell her parents,

I’m worried that if the parents-in-law suddenly come to our farm by train, and don’t give us a warm welcome, it could be awkward. So I’m thinking of taking Jiang Yue to see her family while she’s still able to move around.

It’s also good to establish some formalities."

Qin Ming felt a bit uneasy; his parents were usually authoritative, and he feared they would be displeased if he went against their wishes.

As expected, Qin Dazhi frowned upon hearing this.

Qin Ming felt a little anxious, knowing his father would be unhappy since he’d never defied his parents before.

"Wasn’t this settled? Why the change of heart? Is it her sister stirring things up? I knew it, the moment I saw her sister, she wasn’t someone easy to handle. Does she think she can call the shots in the Qin family?"

He Guixiang was a little upset.

"No! No, it has nothing to do with her sister-in-law. I just think it’ll be less awkward for the in-laws if we visit when Jiang Yue’s pregnant. Next year, it would be inconvenient to travel with a child. Such a young child could fall sick, making it even more troublesome."

"Alright, I understand. Go back first. I’ll think it over and discuss it with your mother before giving you an answer."

Qin Ming looked awkward, seeing no one speak in the room, and the air became tense.

He knew his parents were dissatisfied, so he had to bid goodbye.

He was used to his parents being like this.

"His dad, why are you still considering? We mustn’t change our mind! We can’t let the Jiang family’s sisters have their way. If we compromise now, what’s to stop us from backing down in everything later? People always push their limits.

We must set the rules early on to ensure the daughter-in-law understands the regulations."

He Guixiang questioned.

"One thing at a time. I’m contemplating our farm’s poor harvest this year. After supplying the grain, we don’t have much left. It’s the same in the eldest’s household. This daughter-in-law will need eggs for her postpartum diet, right?

Would you part with your eggs? If she doesn’t recover well, everyone in the farm will surely chatter. Won’t that make it harder to find wives for the younger sons?"

He Guixiang realized, "So you’re thinking of letting them go?"

"Mom, just let big brother and sister-in-law go. Sister-in-law’s family lives in the city, right? I heard her parents are workers. They have iron rice bowls and surely are wealthier than us. Do you think her mother will neglect her? That’ll save us a lot on food and drinks.

And if sister-in-law leaves, we can save all the food the big brother’s household needs. I was hoping to ask big brother to bring me back a watch from the city. Wei Guo has a Plum Blossom watch too."

The youngest daughter standing outside chimed in.

"Mom, if sister-in-law goes to the city, ask her to bring back some clothes for me. I hear city folks wear fashionable clothes. And Snow Cream, I heard the city’s version is different from what we have here."

He Guixiang and Qin Dazhi took these words into consideration.

If the eldest couple leaves, not only will their ration be saved, but wasn’t it also the sister-in-law who had brought over three bags of grain?

That grain could supplement the family’s needs.

Then their winter wouldn’t be as frugal.

Moreover, when they visit the city, even if the mother-in-law isn’t pleased, she’ll certainly see them off respectably to avoid being the subject of gossip.

They might even come back with a lot of good things.

Plus, they’d save on the postpartum supplies too.

They’d gain both reputation and material benefits—why not go for it?

The couple nodded in agreement.