Chapter 6: The Annoying Aunt

Liu Chunhua realized she’d said the wrong thing. She’d accidentally let her daughters-in-law know she had money tucked away.

“Mom,” Qiao Ran said in an exaggeratedly sweet, lilting voice, “could you lend me a little?”

She’d never sounded so coy in her life. Xia Xiaoqi broke out in goosebumps.

Liu Chunhua immediately covered her pocket. “No, no. Where would I get money? I’m a village woman. I can’t earn any. I don’t have a cent.”

“You just said you did,” Qiao Ran pointed out.

“Yes, I heard you,” Xiaoqi added.

Caught out, Liu Chunhua grew annoyed. “Now you’re thick as thieves, aren’t you? Joining forces to swindle me out of my money? Enough nonsense. Get inside and cook.”

Qiao Ran casually raised a hand to her forehead. “Oh, my head hurts.”

Xiaoqi clutched her belly. “My stomach hurts.”

“Has it dropped down or something?” Qiao Ran moved Xiaoqi’s hand higher. “Your stomach’s here.”

“Mom, should we lie down for a bit, or go to the doctor and get some medicine?” Qiao Ran asked.

Liu Chunhua puffed with anger. “The moment I ask you to cook, one has a headache and the other a stomachache. Who knows if it’s true?”

Xiaoqi linked arms with Qiao Ran. “Come on, let’s see the doctor. We’ll put it on credit.”

Seeing they really were heading out, Liu Chunhua hurriedly called after them. “Oh, just go inside and lie down! What do you need a doctor for? Why are you so delicate? A little rest will do it.”

“Oh.” Qiao Ran nodded and told Xiaoqi, “Let’s listen to Mom. She says to lie down, so we should.”

“All right. We’ll save Mom some money.”

Liu Chunhua watched them go into the side room, her mind struggling to keep up again.

Something was wrong. Very wrong. They were shirking the cooking, so how had they made it sound as though they were being considerate?

Back in the room, Xiaoqi flopped onto the kang, perfectly content to be lazy.

Qiao Ran lay down on the other side and started doing sit-ups.

“Sweetie, what are you going to do about buying the chickens?”

Qiao Ran thought for a moment, stopped exercising, and turned to her. “I’ll borrow the money.”

“From whom? We don’t know anyone here, and people are poor.”

“My husband.” Qiao Ran thought of her handsome young man and grinned. “He’s a teacher. He earns a salary, so he must have savings.”

Xiaoqi nodded. “He definitely has some. The question is whether he’ll lend it to you.”

“If he won’t, I’ll divorce him.”

“If you do, I will too.”

“Right. We’ll leave both their sons single.”

“Oh my! Just thinking about it is a little exciting.”

They were chatting happily when a bicycle bell sounded in the courtyard.

Qiao Ran stopped her sit-ups and hurried off the kang to put on her shoes. “Could my handsome young man be back?”

Xiaoqi scoffed. “You’re obsessed.”

But the visitor wasn’t Lu Xiangnan. It was a woman in her forties. Not only did she ride a large bicycle, she also had permed curls and looked quite fashionable.

As soon as she entered, she called, “Chunhua! Chunhua, come help me carry this.”

Liu Chunhua came to the kitchen doorway with a ladle in her hand. She clearly disliked the woman but had to force a smile, twisting her face into an ugly expression.

“Sister-in-law,” she said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “what brings you here?”

“I’ve brought you some good things.” Yang Xiufen steadied her bicycle. “Come on, help me carry them.”

Liu Chunhua thoroughly disliked her elder brother’s wife. The woman was vain and loved showing off, flaunting the few lousy coins her family had wherever she went.

So what if her husband was the village Party secretary? He was still Liu Chunhua’s own brother.

But they were family, and Chunhua couldn’t—and didn’t dare—fall out with her. Reluctantly, she went over to help.

The bag Yang Xiufen handed her was heavy, though she couldn’t tell what was inside.

“What is it?” Chunhua asked.

“Clothes. All things my third girl doesn’t want anymore, and they’re lovely. It seemed a shame to give them to strangers, so I thought, we’re close family. Your daughters and daughters-in-law can wear them.”

None of the households around here were well-off, so people took hand-me-downs whenever they could. Liu Chunhua was no different. Both her sons drew state salaries, but her elder daughter had a difficult situation with her husband’s family and lived here with her two children. Her younger daughter was unmarried and depended on the household too, and there were two daughters-in-law. With seven mouths at home waiting to be fed, there never seemed to be enough money.

Still, accepting someone else’s castoffs was one thing. Taking her sister-in-law’s made Liu Chunhua uncomfortable, as though it put her a rung below the woman.

Yang Xiufen’s third daughter, Sanya, had married well and moved to town. Her husband was a junior manager at a state-owned enterprise, so she never lacked food or comforts and could even help her parents.

Lu Hongli ran out of the house, beaming. “Auntie, you’re here!”

“Yes.” Yang Xiufen waved her over. “Come look. There are lots of clothes for you and your sister. Pick what you like.”

Compared with the country villagers, Sanya, now living in town, had a fashionable air, and her clothes were rather pretty.

Hongli was delighted. She rushed over and began rummaging. “This one’s nice. Oh, and this one’s nice too!”

Seeing her daughter act so eager made Liu Chunhua even angrier. *Useless girl,* she thought. *No pride at all.*

Hearing there were pretty clothes, Xiaoqi came over to see.

She pulled out a little red vest and curled her lip. “It’s ugly.”

Next came a plaid shirt. She curled her lip again. “So tacky.”

Standing nearby, Liu Chunhua lifted her chin, inexplicably pleased.

Yang Xiufen frowned. “You used to fight over these clothes, Xiaofang. Last time Hongli took that skirt, you came crying to me. Have you forgotten?”

“I was blind before.” Xiaoqi gave Yang Xiufen a sweet smile. “I’m cured now.”

Yang Xiufen was speechless.

“Fine, don’t take them!” She shoved Xiaoqi aside. “Don’t expect any clothes from my family in the future. You won’t get a single thing.”

*She’s angry. She’s actually angry.* Liu Chunhua let out a breath, feeling even better.

Xiaoqi curled her lip in disgust. “I don’t want them anyway. Don’t bring them to our house again. What do you think this place is, a dump?”

She’d compared the clothes Yang Xiufen brought to garbage. Yang Xiufen was furious enough to burst.

“Fine! You don’t know a good thing when you see it.” She grabbed the sack and heaved it onto her bicycle. “I won’t bring your family another stitch.”

She lifted it awkwardly and wrenched her back.

“Oh dear.” Qiao Ran shook her head. “Careful, Auntie. You don’t want to strain those old arms and legs.”

“Who are you calling old? I’m two years younger than your mother!”

Xiaoqi looked from Yang Xiufen to Liu Chunhua. “You don’t look it. Mom looks younger than you. Auntie, have you been worrying too much? It’s aged you.”

Good heavens! Yang Xiufen couldn’t stand another minute in this miserable place. Ignoring her aching back, she pedaled away.

“Auntie! Auntie!” Lu Hongli chased after her. “Don’t go! If they don’t want the clothes, I do!”