Chapter 15: Picking a Fight

My heart belongs only to my husband and children.

This You Zhen did indeed have some history with their family. They were from the same village. You Zhen’s father was a shrewd man who, since her childhood, had traveled north and south with merchant ships dealing in rare goods. The You family was the most prosperous in Yanglin Village, though their wealth still paled in comparison to Butcher Liu’s household.

After Lin Guilan rejected Butcher Liu’s marriage proposal, the You family somehow managed to connect with Butcher Liu, and You Zhen married him the following year.

The reason Lin Guilan hadn’t recognized You Zhen was entirely because… how had she gotten so fat???

And Butcher Liu also seemed to have gained considerable weight compared to two years ago.

Although she hadn’t paid close attention to his face back then, his build appeared to have expanded further.

Lin Guilan forced a smile at the pair. She believed she had no particular connection with them and even less to say.

“Of course, I’m not as comfortable as Sister You,” Lin Guilan smiled again. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading home now.”

Clearly, You Zhen had no intention of letting her off so easily. She directly stretched out her arm to block Lin Guilan’s ox cart, suddenly feigning recognition: “Oh my, Sister Guilan, this ox cart looks so familiar. If I’m not mistaken, this should be the ox from our Pingyuan Ge’s family, right? You married into their family, but now you’re taking things from your maiden home too? How would that sound if word got out?”

Seeing that You Zhen was deliberately picking a fight and that mere avoidance wouldn’t resolve this, Lin Guilan’s expression turned cold. She casually tossed aside the ox’s reins: “My brother pities me and is willing to lend me this ox cart. What, Sister You, do you need to control that too? I’m not using your family’s belongings. What my family owns, we can dispose of as we please.”

“Sister Guilan, your temper is still as fiery as ever. Don’t you think so, husband?” You Zhen deliberately linked arms with Butcher Liu, putting on an intimate display. “Then again, Sister Guilan just wasn’t destined for a comfortable life. I heard that Third Jiang doesn’t know how to do anything. Sister Guilan, don’t tell me he still relies on you to support him?”

When Butcher Liu first saw Lin Guilan, he felt somewhat displeased. Back then, he had taken a liking to her, never expecting she would reject him for that useless pretty boy from the Jiang family. To him, this was nothing short of a profound humiliation!

He had been eagerly waiting to see Lin Guilan become a laughingstock, waiting for her to regret her decision. Yet upon seeing her again, she remained as stubborn as before, not yielding an inch in her words. The rejection had bruised his ego, and to save face, Butcher Liu’s mother had chosen the better-connected You Zhen for him. Since You Zhen’s family also lived in Yanglin Village, he knew his mother was trying to make a point.

Indeed, his family was one of the wealthiest in Xichun Town. That little wench from the Lin family was blind to true worth—she’d live to regret it.

But… seeing Lin Guilan again, he felt increasingly unsettled.

Lin Guilan was still as slender and beautiful as ever, even carrying a subtle, elusive charm since her marriage. In contrast, the You Zhen beside him had, in just one year, failed to conceive a child while growing considerably plumper.

You Zhen had always been plain-looking, and after gaining weight, she became even more… Unfortunately, she also had a sharp temper, constantly monitoring his movements, making it impossible for him to even visit a songstress during his leisure time.

That was why Butcher Liu had remained silent all along. But now that You Zhen spoke of Lin Guilan this way, he suddenly felt a bit better. No matter how many flaws You Zhen had, she was his rightful wife and still sided with him.

Indeed, Lin Guilan had married an “embroidered pillow”—useless despite his good looks—forcing her to work outside even after marriage. If she had married him instead, wouldn’t she be living comfortably at home by now?

“What, is it shameful for a woman to earn money outdoors?” Lin Guilan sat on the ox cart, tilting her chin up. “My husband needs to study at home. Since I’ve made up my mind to be good to him, I’ll support whatever he does. Some people are just short-sighted, only seeing immediate gains. With such folks, I have nothing more to say.”

“Oh, so you think marrying a scholar means you can put on airs with fancy words?” You Zhen sighed deliberately. “Sister Guilan, no need to be so sharp. I only meant well, thinking you might be struggling and wondering if I could help. But look at you—what do you take me for? How ungrateful.”

“I’m doing perfectly fine and have no need for anyone’s pity. Though my father passed early, he taught me self-reliance since childhood. I don’t require others’ help.”

Lin Guilan kept her chin held high. To Jiang Zhimiao, his mother seemed like an undefeated warrior, cutting down all villains in her path. Strangely, at this moment, he couldn’t hear her thoughts and had no idea what she was thinking.

Alas, this Mind-Reading Technique was too unreliable! There was no time he wanted to know his mother’s thoughts more than now—he feared she might be suffering inside!

“Self-reliance means exposing yourself to public scrutiny like this?” You Zhen deliberately covered her mouth with a handkerchief, her expression exaggeratedly delicate—though paired with her bulky frame, the scene looked rather absurd. “Sister Guilan, with all these bundles, you weren’t out doing business, were you? Where did you set up shop? I didn’t see you all day. You should’ve said something earlier—the busiest spot in town is your brother’s pork stall. Had you told me, I’d have saved the space for you, so your business could thrive and you wouldn’t have to roam around with a child in tow.”

Though his mother was plenty capable, Jiang Zhimiao didn’t want her to feel like she was fighting alone. With that thought, he propped his small hands on the ox cart and resolutely stood behind his mother.

“Mom, Mom…”

Lin Guilan turned in surprise to find her son standing. Thinking he was scared, her heart ached. She turned and patted his head gently. “Good boy, let’s go home now.”

When Lin Guilan turned her face again, her eyes had completely chilled: “Sister Zhen, out of respect for our childhood neighborly bond, I’ll call you Sister Zhen one last time. There’s no need for you to flaunt anything before me—no matter how much you boast, I won’t feel envy. My heart belongs only to my husband and children. The life I have now is the best there is for me. You take your sunlit path, and I’ll cross my single-plank bridge. From now on, let’s stay out of each other’s way. If we meet, there’s no need for recognition. Let’s just live our own lives well.”

Seeing Lin Guilan preparing to drive the ox cart away, You Zhen felt as if needles were piercing her heart.

“Lin Guilan! Everyone knows you made a poor marriage, yet you still cling to your pride here! You’ve been this stubborn since we were children! I refuse to believe you don’t have a single regret!”

By then, Lin Guilan had already urged the ox cart forward. Hearing You Zhen’s hysterical screams, she remained sitting bolt upright in the cart, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding turmoil. Jiang Zhimiao watched her mother’s straight-backed silhouette and suddenly felt that her mother had begun to embody her father’s temperament. As her mother sat in the ox cart, the resemblance grew stronger and stronger.

Truly, married couples do resemble each other.

Author’s Note: