Chen Sani was talking with Yang Peimin. They were close friends but hadn’t seen each other in years. It was rumored that she had gotten married two years ago, had even asked Yang Peimin to set her up with soone before her marriage. After getting married, she seed to have no intention of keeping in touch, and Yang Peimin had long forgotten about her. Now that she approached her again, Yang Peimin only then rembered her.
"Minmin, are you living in a college dorm or at your husband’s place now?"
"We bought a house there because there are many kids, and my mother-in-law helps out too. Otherwise, we couldn’t manage."
"Really?" Chen Sani looked at Yang Peimin in complete surprise then scrutinized her from head to toe. She began to believe her sowhat, as Yang Peimin’s own attire, as well as that of her three children and her younger sister-in-law, were styles she had never seen before, made from materials that looked particularly nice.
But her doubts still piled up. "Minmin, did your husband get a promotion? I rember you haven’t graduated yet, and you don’t have a job now while needing to take care of children. Buying a house isn’t cheap, right? Your clothes look really nice. Where did you buy them from? How much did they cost?" She had only married a soldier who was from the countryside, even if he got promoted it wouldn’t be a big boost. She knew well the power of connections like her own husband had. If you don’t have anything, you just wait to get trampled on. No opportunity would co your way either. Where did she get the money from for a new house and clothes? Maybe sothing happened that she didn’t know about.
Yang Peimin just smiled. "We had no choice. Initially, we were renting monthly, and we figured since we’d be living there for a few years, we might as well buy it all at once. It turns out cheaper than paying rent every month. If you don’t live there in the future, you can always sell it. So it’s not about capability. Everything costs money in the city, our family is big so expenses are high, and we’re just barely getting by." Though much was said, in truth, no specifics were disclosed.
Chen Sani eyed her pink down jacket; such material would cost nearly 100 in a departnt store. She scoffed, "Minmin, you really must be joking. If you say you’re just getting by, then the rest of us don’t stand a chance. Look at the coat you’re wearing, and those deerskin boots and cashre sweater inside. All these must’ve cost a few hundred? So people don’t make that much in a year."
When Chen Sani brought up these matters, everyone pricked up their ears and stared over.
Yang Peiyan listened and disapproved. She knew Yang Peimin’s personality well—always wanting to show off even if it was just a penny in her pocket. Who knows how long that country soldier could indulge her ostentation.
Perhaps her paternal family is wealthy. Her uncle’s family always did foolish things, treating her like a treasure even though she was a liability, always prioritizing her needs. To think now, even after getting married, she’s still financially supported by them. Her uncle must have stepped in so dog shit to suddenly co into money, heard he took up a craft and sold it, even built a new house, apparently found so success.
Thinking this, Yang Peiyan blurted out, "You’ve been getting quite the supplent from your uncle, haven’t you? I’m not trying to criticize, cousin, but you’re married now and still coveting what belongs to your parental ho. Let’s face it, how much could a soldier possibly earn? It’s all thanks to our uncle’s generosity. Everyone knows, when we were kids, because you were a premature baby, uncle and auntie doted on you more. And now it seems they still do, I wonder if your sisters-in-law have any issues with it."
Yang Peimin laughed out loud, her gaze icy, "You speak as if you were eavesdropping under my window. How do you know so much? Co on, tell , how much exactly has my family given ? How did my family get that money?"
Yang Peiyan was at a loss for words. It seed she was just guessing and couldn’t really say why. She could only stiffen her neck and retort, "Isn’t it obvious? What capabilities do your in-laws have? Can’t you tell? Your man is nothing but a countryside soldier; where would he get so much money to splurge?"
Yiyue couldn’t hold back anymore. "You’re just a frog in a well, thinking everyone else is the sa. What do you know when you can’t even pass a college exam? Who says my sister-in-law can’t work? My sister-in-law can’t earn her own money? Do you even know what her major is? Do you know what she and her classmates have invented? You don’t know anything and blabber here calling her ’cousin cousin’—I think you’re worse than an outsider. You’re like an enemy who can’t stand to see others succeed!"
"Peiyan might’ve guessed wrong, right? Didn’t Yingzi and Peijun also go to Peimin’s place? I heard they both found jobs there, and quite good ones at that. The money they saved to build their house, it seems Peijun also contributed half. When they ca back, they even brought watches for everyone in the family. Yingzi ca back carrying big and small bags, and she has changed so much. I almost couldn’t recognize her; she looks like a city person now..."
"Yeah, I think so too. Look at the captain’s family, they’re all so successful. I once heard the captain’s wife say Peimin is a promising person, always willing to help her brothers and sisters. The jobs Yingzi and Peijun have, wasn’t it her who helped them find those..."
"College students are exactly that, very promising. It wouldn’t be surprising if Peimin becos a big boss in the future." Several won sitting nearby all nodded in agreent.
It’s a small village, where secrets don’t keep. Everyone has eyes to see, and it’s only Yang Peiyan who disdains the village folk, having little contact with them and caring little about village affairs, so there are widely known things that she is simply unaware of!
With several people taking turns to speak up for Yang Peimin, Yang Peiyan’s face flushed red. Big deal, she couldn’t believe Yang Peimin was that capable! Just her, always lazy and gluttonous, what could she achieve? It must be sheer luck.
Yang Peiyan subtly pulled on Yang Peiqiong’s arm, motioning her to speak up on her behalf.
Yang Peiqiong sat at the table with a deep, pensive look, her eyes unfathomable, lost in thought.
Peidi saw Yang Peiyan losing face and felt sowhat lost. The guests, especially Yang Peiyan and her family, had done her a huge favor once. She couldn’t let Yang Peiyan be slighted.
She looked at Yang Peimin and gathered courage, whispering to her, "Sister Minmin, why don’t you go sit out in the yard? There’s a banquet set up there too..."
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