Liu Fang had come to make peace, not to create more animosity, and wasn’t foolish enough to voice her true thoughts.
She suspected the new house had something to do with Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend.
That crafty girl Xiaolan was quite capable – not even married yet, but already had someone defending her and paying for a new house?
Something wasn’t right – that wretched girl had also taken ten thousand yuan from her family. The money thrown into the courtyard was like feeding a dog with meat buns – gone forever. Realizing that some of her family’s money had gone into this beautiful new house, Liu Fang gripped the doorframe, her chest tight with pain.
Liu Yong paid her no attention and strode into the house next door.
Liu Fang lifted her foot to follow but hesitated, mindful of Xia Xiaolan’s feelings. Old Liang had advised taking an indirect approach – she couldn’t afford to offend Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen again.
Hearing the commotion, Liang Huan ran to the door from inside:
“Mom, what did Uncle just say?”
Liu Fang gave her a light smack, “Lower your voice. Remember what your father and I told you at home?”
Liang Huan nodded, “I know!”
Liang Bing’an and Liu Fang had discussed it – they needed to utilize Xia Xiaolan’s “resources,” or they’d never surpass her. Liang Huan certainly didn’t want that to happen. Despite her pride, she had no choice but to suppress her temper.
“I’m just concerned about Second Aunt and cousin.”
Though others might not have heard, Liang Huan remained cautious.
Liu Fang smiled with satisfaction, “Your Uncle said they’ve built a new house.”
Liang Huan also thought of the ten thousand yuan their family had given. They’d spoken nicely at the time, refusing the Liang family’s four thousand yuan, but ended up giving more than that… Liu Fang and Liang Huan had forgotten why Xia Xiaolan had demanded ten thousand yuan from the Liang family.
The Liang family’s scheme had backfired, and Xia Xiaolan had made them pay to ensure they wouldn’t forget the lesson.
Xia Xiaolan had taken the ten thousand yuan without hesitation. The Liang family had been well-off before and didn’t miss the money. But now things were different. Liu Fang thought of her meager monthly salary, with her in-laws supporting most of the household’s major expenses. Looking at the house before her, she wondered if those red bricks had been bought with her family’s money. The sight was unbearable!
While Liu Fang and Liang Huan were stewing in their discomfort, Liu Yong emerged with Liu Zitao, followed by Li Fengmei.
“Sister-in-law, sorry, but we haven’t prepared any food at home – no rice, flour, or oil. We can’t host you for lunch. Let’s just go tend the graves and not delay your return home.”
Li Fengmei’s words were harsh, but Liu Fang had to endure it.
Liu Fang peered behind them but saw neither Xia Xiaolan nor her second sister.
They couldn’t avoid each other at the grave-sweeping – unless Xia Xiaolan planned to hide from Liu Fang. Only Liu Fang herself might try to avoid the others.
She and Liang Huan stood at Liu Yong’s doorway. Liang Huan was on high alert when Xia Xiaolan emerged wearing just a cotton jacket, her hair casually tied back. Compared to Liang Huan’s elaborate outfit, Xia Xiaolan was too casual. Yet the gap in beauty and bearing couldn’t be bridged by Liang Huan’s aesthetics alone… Liang Huan’s chest ached with jealousy.
Then Liu Fen came out.
Liu Fen acted as if Liu Fang and Liang Huan were invisible.
Liu Fang forced a smile. Her second sister was ruthless, not even glancing their way.
How could Liu Fen look at her?
Liu Fen was nervous herself, her palms sweating… When they’d mentioned grave-sweeping earlier, Tang Hongwen had naturally offered to pay his respects too.
Liu Fen had hurriedly declined – each family should tend their own ancestors’ graves. What business did Tang Hongwen, an outsider, have there?
Only in one capacity would it make sense – as a son-in-law!
No, no, no – even real sons-in-law rarely visited ancestors’ graves. When she married into the Xia family, relatives would visit on the second day of the New Year. If Liu Fen wanted to visit her own family, Old Mrs. Xia would scowl in disapproval, let alone having Xia Dajun accompany her to sweep graves.
Xia Dajun had only paid respects to his deceased parents-in-law during the two years before Xia Xiaolan was born.
After Liu Fen gave birth to a daughter and couldn’t have more children due to complications, Old Mrs. Xia must have said something, because Xia Dajun never came to sweep the graves of Xiaolan’s maternal grandparents again.
Tang Hongwen had so naturally offered to pay respects, but Liu Fen disagreed.
“If I don’t offer incense, I’d feel uncomfortable staying here. Don’t overthink it – we’re friends, and it’s normal to pay respects when encountering grave-sweeping ceremonies, right?”
Liu Fen couldn’t argue with Tang Hongwen.
She couldn’t drive him away either. Mayor Tang had been so helpful to the Liu family. Grandmother Yu had mentioned that Mayor Tang’s ex-wife was mentally ill, and his son wasn’t close to him – how pitiful to be alone during New Year’s!
Liu Fen happened to know both facts were true about the ex-wife’s influence and the distant son.
Xia Xiaolan wanted to say Tang Hongwen shouldn’t take advantage of her mother’s good nature, but Grandmother Yu pinched her under the table… Xiaolan grimaced in pain and jumped up: “Let’s go, time for grave-sweeping.”
Under these circumstances, Liu Fen was too anxious to care about Liu Fang and Liang Huan standing there.
But Liu Fang was stunned – walking behind Xia Xiaolan and her mother was a man.
Liu Fang didn’t know Tang Hongwen, but she’d seen enough officials to recognize he wasn’t ordinary. Coming from their house during New Year’s, planning to join the grave-sweeping – heavens, was this her second sister’s new man?!
It had been barely over a year since her divorce from Xia Dajun, and she’d already found someone new.
Liu Fang studied her second sister carefully. Compared to last May, she looked quite different. She appeared years younger, her skin fairer, dressed fashionably and elegantly. Just from her appearance, it was clear Liu Fen was living well.
A woman’s contentment shows on her face.
Natural beauty isn’t rare, but maintaining it requires care. Even the most beautiful woman, living hand-to-mouth and weathering hardships for twenty years, would lose her beauty!
Liu Fang used to take good care of herself while Liu Fen struggled.
Now, with the Liang family’s troubles, Liu Fang often furrowed her brow, developing lines between her eyebrows.
In contrast, Liu Fen’s cheeks were fuller, she had fewer worries, and her wrinkles seemed to have smoothed out.
Shocked by her second sister’s transformation, Liu Fang hesitated and fell behind. While Xia Xiaolan’s group went ahead to the burial ground, Liu Fang and Liang Huan remained behind. Fourth Sister Chen came along, munching on sunflower seeds, and seemed to finally recognize Liu Fang:
“Ah Fang, you’re back for grave-sweeping today? Where’s Official Liang?”
Liu Fang nodded casually, “Huan’s father is busy with work. The unit trusts him, can’t be helped.”
Stubborn as a dead duck. Everyone in the village knew Liang Bing’an had been dismissed, yet here she was pretending.
Fourth Sister Chen spat out some seed shells, “No wonder I didn’t see your official’s car. You sisters have such good fortune though – did you see your future brother-in-law? He’s a big shot, a real leader!”
Fourth Sister Chen gave a thumbs up, saying that on New Year’s Eve, when Tang Hongwen arrived, many cars had come to the village.
“Even our Anqing County Magistrate came! But your future brother-in-law didn’t even meet with him…”
What nonsense – what future brother-in-law? Liu Fen was on her second marriage, what kind of high-ranking official would she find?! Liu Fang refused to believe it, not even one in a thousand chances!