Li Xianglu, sobbing, stood next to her aunt Liu Aidang without brushing the dust off herself. The crowd gathered in the Li Family's courtyard had not dispersed due to the rarity of excitement; whenever something occurred in one household, it stirred discussions among everyone.
Liu Aidang called out several times without effect, while Ge Sanmei still maintained a fierce expression. Liu Aidang glared with eyes widened; not only was her sister-in-law crude and unrefined, but she also lacked any cultural knowledge. In this day and age, one needed to be cautious about offending others, yet she continued to act inappropriately.
Just now, Xiang shouted about serving her sister well, implying that daughters married off must work like servants—was this not leading their entire family to disaster? It was as if risking her husband losing his position as the squad leader wasn't enough, now it involved the whole family.
Suddenly, the crowd parted, making way as Squad Leader Li Dafu and Li Erfu arrived, with Old Mrs. Wu, Wu Zhaodi, following behind.
Old Mrs. Wu quickly addressed the onlookers: "Oh dear, gentlemen, every household has its troubles. What's there to see? Hurry and go back, please go back." As she spoke, Li Dafu glared sternly at the crowd.
Out of respect for Old Mrs. Wu, the elder, and even more due to fearing Li Dafu who controlled their food supplies, the crowd dispersed rapidly.
Liu Aidang had already stood up, letting her mother-in-law sit on a stone bench before addressing the public softly: "Just now, my younger sister-in-law chased after Xiang, who was yelling about serving her sister well in the future. What was that about?"
The crowd did not react immediately, but Li Dafu's face suddenly changed, turning steely blue as he glared at his foolish and malicious sister-in-law, who dared to suggest his daughter serve others. Serving implied servitude; that was what servants were, a bad habit meant to poison peoples' souls.
Li Erfu was somewhat confused but aware that serving was not a commendable term; now that New China had been liberated, it needed new ideas—serving was an old societal concept.
Li Dafu, appearing upset, pulled Li Erfu aside for a quiet, urgent conversation.
Shortly after, Li Erfu's expression also darkened, glaring fiercely at Ge Sanmei.
At this moment, Ge Sanmei still didn't realize her error and was annoyed when confronted by her usually honest husband glaring at her: "What did I do wrong? She's just a maid, her sister only asked her to help with laundry, and she's lazy as a pig, even ran off. Going out was bad enough, but she also dragged Little San along, corrupting a perfectly good child." Ge Sanmei said this breathlessly.
Li Erfu coldly chuckled upon hearing this: "Little San is even older than Xiang; how could she pick up bad habits? Don't tell me you couldn't find another excuse so you started spouting nonsense? I know you—you've been looking for trouble with Xiang because you disliked her, picking fights frequently. Did you not see her carrying forage or Little San bringing firewood home? If you want to hit the child, just say so. Why all these excuses?"
Backed into a corner, Ge Sanmei felt extremely guilty; her husband shouting at her indeed made it difficult to save face, and she snapped: "Why are you protecting her like this?"
Li Erfu replied: "You indulge a married daughter and make your own daughter serve her. What are you trying to do? Plan to turn your daughter into a servant for the married one? Don't you know that's one of the Four Olds, subject to public denunciation? Are you trying to doom the whole family?"
Li Erfu continued without pause: "Ge Sanmei, since you married into the Li family, I've never laid a finger on you. You've always been in charge of household matters, and I never interfered, not even in our children's marriage arrangements. Look at the trouble you've caused! If you plan to make it hard for our family, take your lazy daughter-in-law and leave. Our Li family cannot afford a daughter-in-law like you."
Li Erfu, usually an honest man, had never spoken such harsh words before. Out of breath and red-faced from the outburst, he fell silent and squatted in a corner to smoke a cigarette.
By then, Ge Sanmei finally understood her mistake. Li Jianhong was also shocked, while Yuan Cheng, who had rushed back in the midst, also heard clearly that his wife had behaved inappropriately.
Li Jianhong had mentioned returning in the afternoon; she had barely stepped outside when her daughter-in-law exited too, looking upset, raising her hand as if to strike someone. Li Jianhong, frightened, hid behind Wu Zhaodi and narrowly avoided being hit.
Old Mrs. Wu, Wu Zhaodi, now realized the seriousness of the situation and scolded Ge Sanmei sternly: "I always thought you were sensible. How could you be so foolish? Have you not heard how others talk about you? A married daughter running back to her parents' house all the time, even having her younger sister serve her; aren't you afraid of being ridiculed?"
Ge Sanmei was overwhelmed with a sense of injustice: "Jianhong is pregnant."
Wu Zhaodi was speechless, pointing at Ge Sanmei: "Nowadays, which daughter-in-law doesn't work during pregnancy? Jianhong works on everything at the Yuan family's home, but becomes a fair lady back at her parental home. Haven't you heard what people are saying about you?"
Blushing deeply, Ge Sanmei was at a loss for words.
Wu Zhaodi, too tired to speak further, gestured for Li Xianglu, and they left promptly.
Liu Aidang then pulled Ge Sanmei into the house.
The two sisters-in-law whispered to each other for a long time before coming out. After Liu Aidang left, Ge Sanmei's face was so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it.
Upon returning, Liu Aidang saw Li Xianglu helping her younger daughter Li Xiangwei make shoe soles. The child was dexterous, smoothly cutting out a shoe pattern from neat patches, fast yet precise.
Liu Aitang sighed and walked over to sit by the kang.
Seeing this, Li Xianglu quickly put down her scissors and awkwardly wiped her hands on her apron, calling out hesitantly, "Auntie."
Liu Aidang sighed and looked closely at the child in front of her, hardly believing she was already fourteen. Her own daughter was fifteen, and had gotten her period at thirteen. She heard her own daughter say this child hadn't even had her period yet.
Looking at her, she seemed no different from a ten-year-old. Ge Sanmei always treated her as less than human, favoring her son, which isn't uncommon in peasant families where sons support aging parents. But even now that her older daughter was married off, she still favored her son disproportionately.
Still, she had to instruct Li Xianglu on some matters and sent Li Xiangwei out to pour water for her, then took hold of Li Xianglu and asked, "Xiang, who taught you to say what you said today?"
No one taught her those words today, she knew that such language should not be used concerning family, but she no longer wanted to deal with Ge Sanmei. Even though she was now living in her daughter's body, it didn't mean she could be treated less than human!
She needed to teach these people a lesson and give them a warning.
Li Xianglu lowered her head slightly, shaking it and said, "Nobody taught me. I heard the teacher at the literacy class a few days ago saying that serving as someone's maid is one of the Four Olds, a malign tumor."
Liu Aidang was surprised the child knew this, her eyes widened as her tone grew harsh, "If you know it's wrong, why did you still say it?"
Li Xianglu sighed, slightly lifting her head, her eyes full of innocence, and asked, "Auntie, am I not just a maid at home?"
Liu Aidang choked, as indeed the girl was just like a maid at home, yet that was no excuse. She continued, "Xiang, have you ever seen the neighboring village's situation?"
Li Xianglu nodded, "I've seen it. Ge Tianba in the neighboring village is in charge of village affairs, I've seen him."
Liu Aidang sighed, "Ge Tianba isn't very wealthy, just has about twenty acres of land. He brought a child bride for his son, but a few years ago, a tragedy struck, and now only he is left alive. Yet he still can't let go." She then quietly watched Li Xianglu.
Li Xianglu lifted her head, her mouth puckering as she asked, "Auntie, am I really born to Mom?"
Liu Aidang was shocked the child would ask such a question, gazing at her expression of utter desolation. She quickly reassured, "Of course, you are your Mom's own child. I was there when she gave birth to you."
Li Xianglu lowered her head slightly: "But Mom always treats me like a thorn in her eye. If I eat a little more than usual, she scolds and hits me; if I'm slow in working, I also get beaten. I'm even less valuable than the pigs at home."
Liu Aidang almost laughed out loud, unable to restrain herself; this child indeed had a point. But inside, she felt bitter, "Ah, this Ge Sanmei."
Liu Aidang said, "Xiang, you must never say such things again in the future. If your mother makes you serve your older sister again, just run to me. I'll have your grandma defend you. It's a new society now, there's no such thing as maids anymore, you remember that?"
Li Xianglu nodded, "Aunt, I know I was wrong. I didn't realize serving someone could be so severe, that's why I said it."
Liu Aidang nodded, "Mm, your mom is also confused. I've spoken to her already. Your grandma will look after you more from now on. Just try not to make her angry."
Yet, inside Li Xianglu felt restless. Even if she didn't provoke anyone, Ge Sanmei could still find an excuse to beat her. It's not just about being obedient.
But that was all she could hope for now, hoping that after this, Ge Sanmei would cause less trouble for her.