Comrade Su Youfu got basically drunk after one beer.
Half-conscious, he gave his daughter some winter melon candy, then went to Old Lady Qi's house to sleep.
The gentleman from the ancient Mulala Village was often mocked by everyone on a daily basis. Every time he participated in some activity, this would basically be his state - after one beer, he would go to sleep.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qi's several uncles were particularly good at drinking. They could easily finish a case of beer.
The Third Uncle in particular could really hold his liquor. He could drink two jin of baijiu by himself. When drinking beer, he felt like he was just drinking water.
For a brother-in-law who could get dead drunk after one beer, they were really at a loss for words...
Sheng Juanhua didn't care about the mockery at all. If they weren't all her relatives here, she might even retort back sharply. But since this was her parents' home, she held back a little, only laughing.
In her heart, she didn't think there was anything wrong with getting drunk after one beer. Her husband also didn't crave alcohol. At most, at most he would only drink one bottle of beer. He was also very good to their daughter, never favoring sons over daughters. Others felt not having a son was a big deal, but her husband had never said anything like that. He wholeheartedly treated her and her mother well.
Also, even when drunk, he didn't make trouble or say nonsense.
In fact, some were envious. Sheng Juanhua's younger sister Sheng Meihua had disliked her elder sister ever since she was little. She was the youngest, but wasn't as pretty as her sister, and her personality wasn't as cheerful either. Her several older brothers all liked her elder sister more. Even as the youngest child she didn't get to enjoy that status at home. She finally got married, thinking she could hold her head high, but it turned out her elder sister married a disabled poor man, while she herself married into the city. She thought she would be able to act arrogant, but the warmth and coldness of married life is something only the people going through it will know. After seeing her elder sister for over a decade, there was basically no change to her smile. But she herself had become much more petty. She was several years younger than her sister, but now when the two sisters stood together, people would often mistake her for the elder one.
Her husband sold clothes. They even had a car. When they were busy she would go along to help sell things, haggling with customers over prices. They earned quite a bit when business was good, making several hundred yuan a day. But businessmen were extremely stingy no matter how much they earned, unwilling to part with anything. They only put on an impressive and wealthy appearance on the outside, but were actually petty misers on the inside. Her husband also didn't like her going back to visit her parents' home, complaining that she would take things back to her countryside hometown.
The two of them had sharp personalities, constantly fighting and bickering in their daily life. In recent years when they set up their stall at night to sell things, her husband would disappear somewhere during the day, always going out drinking and gambling with his friends. He also didn't let money flow through her hands.
She saw how her elder sister lived, with her brother-in-law's money certainly all under her control. Although there wasn't much money, she lived freely and unrestrained.
Also, her elder sister had been married over ten years, but the way her brother-in-law looked at her-- heh heh. As a fellow woman, Sheng Meihua knew what that gaze meant. They had been married over ten years, yet her brother-in-law looked at her elder sister the same way as when they first met and were in love. Her own husband barely glanced at her normally, and if he did look, it would be with disgust on his face.
Yet her brother-in-law hadn't changed one bit after so many years. Her elder sister was simply a vixen who had somehow managed to capture her husband's heart even after more than ten years of marriage. It was like they were still in a honeymoon phase. Sheng Meihua looked at them enviously and sourly.
She didn't harbor immense hatred or wish her elder sister immense misfortune. But seeing her elder sister living so well, she just felt displeased. Seeing Xiao Qi leave, Sheng Meihua suddenly spoke up, "Sis, I heard Xiao Qi's college entrance exam scores were just average. Will there be enough money for tuition fees? If there's not enough, I can ask my husband Zhi Liang and see if he can lend some. In my opinion, if it really won't work out, it'd be better if Xiao Qi didn't go to college after all. Look, Jinghua didn't go to college either, but she still married into a good family."
The banquet was already wrapping up, but these women who worked in the kitchen certainly couldn't just roll up their sleeves and leave. They still had to stay in the kitchen to clean up--wash all the bowls, tables, chairs and whatnot and send them to other families.
For events held in the village, people would bring their own things for communal use.
Sheng Juanhua was helping to collect bowls and chopsticks while Sheng Meihua had not left. She also didn't show any intention of helping. Ever since she married into the city, she had regarded herself as a city dweller, so she generally didn't assist with laborious tasks. She sat to the side cracking melon seeds while eating them.
The daughters-in-law did have some opinions, but she was a married-out daughter who only came back once a year. So they were too lazy to control her.
However, as soon as Sheng Meihua finished speaking, the buzz of noise in the room inexplicably quieted down a little. Almost everyone pricked up their ears and subconsciously listened in to the gossip.
Some more familiar elders felt that so many years had passed since Meihua married out, yet she was still as tactless as when she was little. Was it necessary to speak of such matters so openly? The sisters could have discussed it privately.
Sheng Juanhua also didn't expect her own younger sister to say something like this.
Her heart involuntary thumped. Fortunately, she didn't need to borrow money. Otherwise, even if it meant crying, today she would have had no choice but to nod her head at her sister's suggestion to ask her brother-in-law.
"Meihua, who did you hear that from? Xiao Qi did very well on her exams. The school she tested into has a high employment rate after graduation and it's easy to find work. Jinghua marrying into a good family was because she herself was outstanding and it was her own good fortune. It has nothing to do with whether she went to college or not. Don't worry about the tuition fees. When Xiao Qi is on school break she tutors students as a part-time job and makes over 2,000 yuan per week. I forgot to tell you, Xiao Qi is also the Jingnan Province swimming champion. She participated in a competition the day before yesterday and got first place on television, on Lvshan Channel 5 and Lvshan Channel 1's news. She also earned a 15,000 yuan bonus prize, which is enough to cover her entire tuition. Our village secretary even said Xiao Qi has brought honor to the city. After Xiao Qi got the money she bought new clothes for her maternal grandparents."
Sheng Juanhua rapidly said everything in one breath, still feeling it wasn't enough.
She picked up the leftover sweet soup on the table that no one had finished drinking and took a big gulp before continuing, "In my opinion, don't ask your husband to lend us money. Ask him to buy you some new clothes instead, new shoes or something. Look at yours--you've worn them for years right? While mine were filially bought for me by Xiao Qi."
Sheng Juanhua stretched out her foot, showing off beautiful red leather shoes on her feet.
Shiny bright red, rarely worn by the married women present. Only young newlywed brides would wear such a vibrant red.
But they looked especially good on Sheng Juanhua's feet. As she stretched out her foot, revealing her fair ankle, it was an extremely attractive sight. The leather had a matte finish, so while eye-catching, the red shoes didn't seem vulgar at all.
In fact, when many of the daughters-in-law first saw them earlier, they wanted to ask where she bought them from. Sheng Juanhua simply gave people the impression that she was good-looking and knew how to dress herself well. It wasn't just the shoes, but her entire outfit today looked nice.
Sheng Meihua's face alternated between pale and red. She didn't expect her elder sister to respond so straightforwardly and decisively. The past few years when she came back, her elder sister was always silent as a mute no matter how she tried to provoke her.
She had forgotten how sharp-tongued her elder sister was before her marriage.
Seeing that the atmosphere had become awkward, a few daughters-in-law swiftly changed the topic.
"Juanhua, where did you buy your shoes? The leather looks really soft."
"Juanhua, your clothes look good too, really crisp. This jacket is so pretty."
"It's a two piece outfit right? Looks great matched like this."
A few of them swiftly came downstairs and started chatting about clothes and dressing up, while continuing to work busily with their hands.
Sheng Meihua didn't do any labor. At the moment, she couldn't even pretend to be busy.
But still dissatisfied seeing everyone gather around her elder sister, she said, "A young tutor can earn that much money? Don't let yourself be fooled. Xiao Qi looks pretty good, who knows what she's doing in the city since you can't keep track? "
Sheng Juanhua was washing a chopping block and no longer wanted to bother with her younger sister. Hearing those words, she firmly chopped the vegetable knife down with a loud clang, making the entire room jump in fright from the resounding noise.
The chopping block was made of ironwood, hence the loud and clear sound.
Sheng Meihua had always been loose-tongued, so although she was the youngest, she didn't have the most favored treatment. Now seeing her elder sister get angry, she shrank back her neck, wanting to leave.
"Sheng Meihua, stop right there! What kind of elder slanders their niece like that? Xiao Qi is good at English. She tutors 7 students in English. Each student pays 150 yuan per class. She teaches two classes per week. Go try tutoring if you have the capability! My daughter fair and square appeared on television and even specially went to the TV station for an interview yesterday after winning first place. I was too lazy to show off to you. You apologize to me today. If you don't apologize, we're going to have a good talk in front of our parents."
"I just casually said a few words..." Sheng Meihua mumbled.
Seeing things were not right, everyone else swiftly advised her and saw Sheng Juanhua off, since she had gotten truly angry.
Your sister is even using a knife now after your nonsense.
A dispute thus came to an unresolved end.
Sheng Meihua avoided seeing her elder sister at her own home, but the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She hadn't said anything out of line, just asked an extra question about what was going on. She had originally planned to stay for dinner, but in her anger she grabbed her bag and yelled for her husband that they were leaving. Her husband had never wanted to stay in the countryside for long anyway, and didn't think very highly of these rural relatives. Every time his wife wanted to stick around and chat for a long time, he would listen for the word that they were going, and would immediately drive off.
When they got home, their children were not there, having gone to their aunt's house.
The whole family should have attended the eldest brother's daughter's wedding, but in the end it was only her and her husband who went.
Her in-laws looked down on her rural hometown, her father-in-law and mother-in-law even more so. They didn't even want to let her bring the kids back to visit, which of course influenced the children's mindset as well.
As soon as her husband got home he disappeared again, off to play cards.
She was left alone, fuming, and turned on the TV. She actually fell asleep watching it.
When she opened her eyes, it was already dark outside and the TV was still on. Sheng Meihua rubbed her eyes and saw that her niece had somehow ended up on the TV screen, sitting properly in a chair. Next to her was Jiang Yiru, Lvshan City's hottest host.
Could she be dreaming?
