Witty Wife, Better Life-Chapter 791 - 781: Don’t Be Frugal

Shen Yunfang was busy cultivating Lingzhi mushrooms, and back in her old home, there was also a flurry of activities, a variety of conflicts to be precise. It was only when Wang Dan found some time to call her that she learned about it.

"Yunfang, you have no idea how lively it has been at the old house recently... hey, are you free? Call me back when you can, we need to have a good chat." Wang Dan was as shrewd as ever, never allowing herself to be taken advantage of, even in her beloved hobby of gossiping.

"Sure, just wait for me." Shen Yunfang certainly didn’t care about the cost of a phone call, besides, she also wanted to know what was happening back home, for knowing both friend and foe is essential for never-ending success, isn’t it?

Since Wang Dan was no longer under the pressure of having to pay for the phone bill, she took the opportunity to fill her sister-in-law in on all the recent happenings at the old house over the phone.

It must be said that Qiu Shuping had definitely evolved into an old lady capable of being humble as well as assertive. After listening to her close friends analyze the situation, she didn’t cry or make a fuss. Instead, she acted as if she was unaware of the issue, and by the time she left, she had already figured out how to deal with her husband and that vile woman’s affair.

Qiu Shuping, who had learned patience, didn’t make a scene upon returning home. She acted as if she knew nothing about the incident.

"Why are you back so late, weren’t you at the eldest brother’s house?" Mr. Li heard the clanging noise of the Zheng family mother and daughter cooking next door and felt hungry himself. But his wife always went out and didn’t take care of home, which somewhat irritated him.

"Yeah, I haven’t seen the kids for such a long time, I just talked to them a little longer. That’s why I’m back late, you haven’t eaten yet, right? I’ll go and cook for you," Qiu Shuping said calmly, which was rather surprising for Mr. Li, who knew his wife to be increasingly overbearing with age.

Qiu Shuping tidied up a bit and went to the storeroom. Their family’s grain was all stored there.

She hadn’t had the chance to check what was left in the house just yet.

At her sisters’ place, she learned that her husband had been going to that wretched Xue’s house to eat, taking all their grain with him, but from the looks of the several sacks in the room, he must have known she was returning and brought all the grain back.

Hmph, the old man still had a bit of conscience.

Pleased, Qiu Shuping thus worked more efficiently and quickly prepared lunch.

"Oh, what are we having for lunch today?" Zheng’s mother was already aware of the noises coming from the main hall due to her envy of their continued married life despite her own divorce. She deliberately came out to provoke them. "Mother-in-law, you’ve just come back today and you’re just having sliced cabbage? That’s not really fair, you should have at least sliced a few pounds of meat for mother-in-law to taste."

Qiu Shuping maintained aloofness and did not respond to her, letting her continue her antics.

Mr. Li shared the same sentiment, allowing her to talk all she wanted, because once she finished, she’d fall silent.

However, Zheng’s mother wasn’t so easily dismissed. Seeing that the couple paid her no heed, she continued to nitpick, "I’m telling you, don’t be too thrifty, you two. Your second son runs such a big farm, you both should be living the life, enjoying the best of food and drink. We’re halfway in the grave already, who are we saving for? Enjoy what you eat and drink; what counts is being happy yourself." freёwebnoѵel.com

Qiu Shuping had only been back for a short time and wasn’t yet aware that the second daughter-in-law of the Li Family had started a farm. Hearing about it from Zheng’s mother, she found it hard to believe.

"Who told you that? My second son is a military officer; how could he start farming?" She spoke dismissively, mainly because she hadn’t grasped the difference between starting a farm and farming.

"Who else would I hear it from except your little girl? Your second son might be in the army, but isn’t your second daughter-in-law not in the army? Your little girl wrote to me saying that your second daughter-in-law has opened a pretty big farm right next to the military district. She hired quite a few long-term workers to do the work for her, just like the old landlords, not having to do any work herself and just waiting to collect money every year." Zheng mother’s words were filled with resentment. She used to covet the wealth of others, which had led to her current plight, but Zheng mother never reflected on her actions, always blaming others — in this case, the prosperous and wealthy second daughter-in-law of the Li Family, and Qiu Shuping, this old lady.

Qiu Shuping felt her head spin after hearing this; the information was a lot to process. What landlords and long-term workers? The Li Family had been poor for eight generations.

"Why would Xianghe write to you?" Qiu Shuping also didn’t know that Li Xianghe had gone to join the military.

"Oh my, look at me, I forgot you’ve just returned and there’s so much you don’t know." Zheng mother feigned a slap on her own head, "You might not know this, but your son-in-law has been transferred to the same military district as your second son. Therefore, a while back, your little girl went to join the army with him. At that time, she didn’t even have the money for a train ticket, so I kindly lent her fifty yuan. As soon as she got to Z Province, she wrote me several letters. Speaking of which, your girl still hasn’t paid me back."

In the letters, Li Xianghe said she had just arrived and everything was not yet settled, so she couldn’t pay back the money for the time being. However, her second sister-in-law had opened a farm there and was hiring workers, so she could get them jobs there to offset the fifty yuan she owed.

Zheng mother and Zheng Huilan did not trust Li Xianghe much, and they were not very interested in the idea of working on the farm. Thus, in their reply, they refused, insisting that the money must be repaid, though if it could not be repaid all at once, it could be paid back monthly.

However, once that letter was sent, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no word back. For many months, they didn’t see a dime of money mailed back from Li Xianghe. Zheng mother and daughter realized that Li Xianghe was planning to default on the debt.

But they weren’t worried, for while the monk may run away, the temple won’t. They lived at the Li Family home and weren’t afraid that the Li Family would deny the debt. Besides, they had the IOU signed and sealed by Li Xianghe herself.

"Xianghe went to join the army?" Qiu Shuping didn’t let the latter words sink in; she only heard what she wanted to hear. This time, she turned her head to look at the old man of her house.

Old Man Li nodded, "Chengbin wrote back saying Xianghe should take Niuniu with her. It would be a good opportunity for Niuniu to see a doctor at the hospital." Niuniu was already of a considerable size yet couldn’t speak; it had become a local joke. It would indeed be beneficial if she could be taken to a big city hospital for a check-up.

Qiu Shuping was stirred up by the confirmation, eager to immediately ask about her daughter’s situation with the army. As for her granddaughter’s illness, she wasn’t worried. Whether the child improved or not, it wasn’t of the Li Family’s bloodline. Any embarrassment would be on the Sun Family, not her concern. She also wanted to inquire about the farm her daughter-in-law had started—was it really like being a landlord?

However, she didn’t plan to ask Zheng mother about these matters; she intended to discuss them in private with her husband.

"Alright, we’re about to eat, so we won’t keep you," Qiu Shuping said as she dished the food into bowls and carried them inside.

Old Man Li knocked his tobacco pipe a few times and followed her in.

Zheng mother watched the couple enter their home and shut the door behind them. She spat disdainfully and cursed, "Decency!" before heading into her own house.