NOVPUB
Chapter 720: Chapter 720: Let me tell you something.
Everyone quickly returned home, the two kids dashed into the house and yelled joyously. They must’ve been deeply influenced by Zhang Lijuan and Si Boyi, both the children had a sound outlook of the world.
Although they were a bit naughty usually, they were not annoying, and were very polite to adults. They were also fond of Aunt Tong Yao.
Tong Yao brought out snacks for the children they’d just bought on the way. Holding their snacks, the kids happily ran off to play with other kids in the village.
Seeing there were snacks at home that Tong Yao hadn’t brought out for her to enjoy, Si Xiaohui became a little unhappy.
"Sister-in-law, you’re so rich now, why have you become so stingy? You can’t even bear to share your snacks with us, instead you keep on squirreling them away."
Tong Yao gave her a glance and said bluntly, "If I bring them out, I’m afraid they will all be eaten by you. Will there be any left for the children?"
The snacks were specifically purchased that day for the kids to eat. Si Xiaohui had a penchant for snacking and had previously devoured all the snacks at home. Not only did she hoard them all, but she also didn’t care for others and would often take them all and eat in her room.
Her behavior was so annoying that Tong Yao didn’t indulge her at all.
Si Xiaohui rolled her eyes at her, "All this fuss over some snacks? Seriously?" She snorted and then went back into her room. Knowing that they disliked her, Si Xiaohui didn’t want to stay in their presence.
Zhang Lijuan watched her go back to her room and said, "Good she left, if she hadn’t, I was about to have a run-in with her."
Si Chen called Si Boyi and Gu Hongwei into the study to chat, so the three of them wouldn’t interrupt the women’s conversation.
As soon as they entered the study, Zhang Lijuan became more open. She beckoned Tong Yao and Guo Jinnian to sit on the sofa, and whispered, "I have something to tell you."
Tong Yao and Guo Jinnian both loved to gossip, their eyes sparkled with anticipation, waiting to hear the story Zhang Lijuan was about to share.
Zhang Lijuan glanced towards Si Xiaohui’s room to check if she was coming out and, confirming that she wasn’t, she whispered, "A few days ago, a girl came to my shop to buy milk tea. She said she knew Si Xiaohui."
Guo Jinnian was confused, "What’s wrong in someone knowing Si Xiaohui? That seems normal."
Zhang Lijuan hinted mysteriously, "Indeed, it’s very normal, I thought the same way too, after all, she is quite famous in the county town. But do you know what else she said?"
"What did she say?" Tong Yao joined in the gossip.
Zhang Lijuan glanced towards Si Xiaohui’s room again, then looked at the door of the study to make sure nobody was coming out. She then said, "She said her brother runs a small business in Kyoto. He came back some time ago and she overheard her brother talking to someone, saying that Xiaohui is involved in an indecent business in Kyoto. Her brother even patronized Xiaohui’s business."
Guo Jinnian widened her eyes in shock, "No way? Has Si Xiaohui discarded all shame? Or does she no longer see herself as a human being? Why is she ruining herself like this?"
Tong Yao also frowned. Over the years, Tong Yao had presumed that Si Xiaohui was leading a life far from honorable. But, she’d assumed Si Xiaohui would merely become someone’s mistress, not stooping to this level...
"She is completely degraded, she will never change in this lifetime."
"Isn’t that the truth!"
Zhang Lijuan sighed, "I thought she went out to be someone’s mistress, or to seduce a wealthy man. But I didn’t expect her to be this shameless."
Guo Jinnian commented, "Even if she wishes to work, she won’t starve in Kyoto working any decent job. Why resort to this?"
Isn’t this tarnishing the reputation of Si Chen and Si Boyi?
Zhang Lijuan sighed, "If she was willing to work hard, she wouldn’t have ended up like this. Back then, if she had obeyed, she could’ve married into a good family. At that time, both my sister-in-law and I were planning to arrange a dowry for her. Who’d have thought she’d be such a disappointment. She secretly got a marriage certificate with Song Yu, then cozied up to Si Weimin. She didn’t think highly of Song Yu, and also caused harm to him. Even now, after all these years, we still don’t know his whereabouts, we don’t even know if he’s dead or alive."
If he hadn’t died, he should’ve been back by now. Since Song Yu hasn’t come back yet, chances are he’s dead.
We don’t know in what filthy ditch his body was buried in. It’s horrifying to even think about it.
There’s a saying that there’s a hundred days of grace in a day’s marriage, but Si Xiaohui has a heart of stone.
"This Si Xiaohui, that’s really too hateful!" Guo Jinnian was shocked. She hadn’t expected Si Xiaohui to not only have a low moral compass, but also harm her own husband. "She really deserves it."
"Even though I’m her sister-in-law, I also feel she deserves it. We grew up together and honestly, when we were young and ignorant, she was quite annoying. However, I never thought of doing what she did. If I had done this, my mom would have beaten me to death."
Parents’ traditional thoughts can’t accept their own daughter doing such things. At the time, when she eloped with Si Boyi, she was nearly beaten for it.
Tong Yao thought back to those days and couldn’t help laughing, "At that time, I didn’t imagine we’d become sisters-in-law."
Zhang Lijuan also laughed shyly, "Actually, thanks to my mom, she said Boyi was a good man, so I tried to connect with him. After getting to know him, I found that Boyi was truly a good man. It was fortunate for me in this life to have married a man like Boyi."
Over the years, Zhang Lijuan had met many beautiful women in the city. Gradually, she realized that she was quite average-looking. The idea of marrying Si Chen at that time was a complete wild goose chase.
"Boyi is indeed a good man." Tong Yao smiled, "Although he doesn’t speak sweet words, he is a responsible and good family man."
"Yes, just look at Boyi and me over the years, we both have grown plump with each passing day." Zhang Lijuan looked at Tong Yao enviously, and said, "On the other hand, you haven’t changed at all over the years, you still look like an unmarried girl."
Guo Jinnian chimed in, "I know this, usually you use some skincare products to maintain your skin, avoid getting a lot of sun. This way, you’ll look younger. A fair complexion hides many flaws. Just look at Yao Yao, her skin is so fair and smooth, it’s like a baby’s skin. It’s no wonder Si the doctor likes her, even I like her."
"I can’t use those products. I feel uncomfortable smearing anything on my face." Zhang Lijuan said.
Tong Yao laughed, "That won’t work, women should maintain their skin. You might not look younger with skincare, but you can maintain your current looks for longer."
After hearing the two women, Zhang Lijuan was instantly convinced to start taking care of her skin. She started to enquire about which skincare would be best. The three women then got engrossed in their topic, chatting with enthusiasm until dinner time. The three men exited the study, only to find them still engrossed in their conversation. n𝚘𝚟pub.𝚌o𝚖
After so many years, it was their first time they sat and chatted like this. They were left wanting more.
