Face-slapping Distant Relatives [Loose Tongues 2]

"Oh, I planted some too. Thanks, Sister-in-law." Yue Meifen looked at the noticeably wilted, undersized vegetables in the basket, feeling somewhat displeased. Watching from beside her, Chi Qing felt uncomfortable too. What did she mean, we had no vegetables to eat? Even if we didn't grow any, we could buy them. Besides, these vegetables were just too...

It wasn't that Chi Qing and her mother were ungrateful, finding fault with something someone had given them. Radishes and cabbages really were the cheapest vegetables in the north, costing only a few mao per jin.

And in the countryside, people usually grew their own, so they had more at home than they could eat. When villagers sincerely gave things away, they usually picked out the good ones; at worst, they gave something average. Vegetables like these were rather embarrassing to offer.

Despite thinking this, Yue Meifen still took the vegetables out and transferred them to her own basket. She could hardly embarrass someone to her face.

When the woman in her fifties, whom they called Third Sister-in-law, saw Chi Qing standing nearby, she said, "Oh, isn't our college graduate over thirty now? Still not getting married? Your parents must be so anxious."

Before Chi Qing could speak, Yue Meifen finished putting away the vegetables and came out carrying a package of sea cucumbers Chi Qing had bought. "What's there to be anxious about? Her dad and I aren't worried at all. Young people are busy these days, and they don't think the same way we do. As long as she's happy, anything's fine."

As she spoke, Yue Meifen placed the sea cucumbers in the woman's basket. "Here. Qingqing's always buying us sea cucumbers and things, saying we should look after our health so we can enjoy life. These things have no flavor, and neither of us is used to eating them, but she insists we eat them anyway. Take this package to your mother-in-law. They may be tasteless, but they're good for your health. Thanks for your radishes and cabbages."

The woman's face instantly flushed a little. At the sight of the sea cucumbers, she couldn't hide her surprise and delight. "Th-this... How could I accept these? They're expensive."

Speaking quietly, the woman took out the sea cucumbers and tried to push them back into Yue Meifen's hands, but she was also reluctant to part with them, so she didn't put much force into it.

"Oh, stop pushing them back. These are for my Second Sister-in-law"-the woman's mother-in-law-"to build up her health. She's always been in rather poor health. These will do her good."

During their back-and-forth, the gold chain bracelet on Yue Meifen's wrist slipped into view. The woman paused. "Oh, Fifth Aunt, that bracelet is lovely. Did you just buy it?"

Yesterday, Yue Meifen had decided to keep a low profile, so she had put away her bangle. But she really couldn't resist, so she had worn the chain bracelet.

Now that the woman had noticed it, Yue Meifen couldn't help praising her daughter. "Yes, it's new. Qingqing bought it for me."

"It really is beautiful. It just goes to show, getting an education really does help you make something of yourself. And your ring is lovely too." This time, the woman's compliments were noticeably more sincere, and her eyes practically brimmed with envy.

Yue Meifen made modest remarks, but Chi Qing thought that if her mother had a tail, it would surely have been sticking straight up by now.

Chi Qing accompanied her mother as they saw the woman out through the front gate, and Yue Meifen returned inside humming a little tune.

Sure enough, failing to return home after making your fortune was like wearing fine brocade in the dark.

Once you had money, you still had to show it off to get any real happiness out of it. Chi Qing looked at her visibly happier mother.

"Mom, we really lost out today."

Chi Qing had initially watched her mother's back-and-forth with the woman with interest, finding it amusing. But she had been shocked when her mother brought out the sea cucumbers. She hadn't expected her mother to be so lavish today. Showing off their wealth had been rather satisfying, but hadn't they taken a huge loss?

"What loss?" Yue Meifen said.

"Her mother-in-law, my cousin's wife, has always been good to our family. When we first moved to the city and were short of money, she even lent us some. And during the first year after your dad and I moved back to the village, practically all the vegetables we ate for the whole year came from her household."

"Huh? But those vegetables didn't look very good," Chi Qing said in surprise. "With your temper, I thought you'd just find an excuse not to accept vegetables like those today."