NOVPUB
Chapter 278: Chapter 268: Shen Yunxiu Wants to Enter the City
"Can your eldest cousin and her be the same? Your eldest cousin found herself a proper city man," the Second Aunt said, raising her eyebrows and speaking with undisguised pride.
This had been her boast in the village for several years. Among the villagers, her daughter had made the best marriage. Shen Yunxiu’s affair with the educated youth wasn’t mentioned, although more than a year had passed since then, but privately, people still gossiped about her. It was true that few women were bold enough to sneak into the cornfields with a man like she did. Let’s not talk about that now; recently, there was Shen Yingxue, who was sent back home a few days ago and has since been causing quite a stir. That’s why she had started walking around with her head held high again.
Shen Yunfang didn’t join in, as her eldest cousin had indeed married a proper family, and she had a good impression of her cousin-in-law. However, she wasn’t too fond of her eldest cousin herself. It would be best if her elder cousin kept up her act. If her in-laws found out about her private indiscretions, Shen Yunfang figured her good days would be coming to an end soon.
"Let’s not talk about this. I came especially to let you know, since you might be unaware. Aren’t you going to visit your eldest uncle?" The Second Aunt had ulterior motives. She knew about the near-miscarriage Shen Yunxiu almost caused for Shen Yunfang and how the two would fight whenever they met. She figured Shen Yunfang certainly wouldn’t want to see Shen Yunxiu well off; if she heard Shen Yunxiu was heading to the city, she would surely go and cause trouble. With her sly intentions, she had come to inform Shen Yunfang of this, hoping Shen Yunfang would make a scene at the eldest Shen’s house so she could enjoy the drama.
"I’m not going. What’s there to see? I’m not close to her," Shen Yunfang said without hesitation. Why should she go to her uncle’s house if they were all happy? Was she supposed to take their joy away? Although she disliked Shen Yunxiu, she wasn’t mean enough to stoop so low.
"Ugh, that’s what I can’t stand about you—always so passive, letting people walk all over you. Fine, my trip here was a waste. I’m leaving," the Second Aunt said, disappointed that Shen Yunfang wouldn’t stir trouble. She couldn’t resist slinging a few insults at Shen Yunfang as she left.
Once the visitor had left, Shen Yunfang snorted through her nose. Did they really think she was stupid? If she were really provoked into disturbing Shen Yunxiu, the Second Aunt would surely be the first to rush to the scene. Why should she sacrifice herself for others’ entertainment? Did they pay her an admission fee? Besides, Fang Chengjian’s return to the city might be a good thing for him, but not necessarily for Shen Yunxiu. The real fight was still to come, just wait and see.
After Li Hongjun returned, Shen Yunfang recounted everything the Second Aunt had just said.
"Why would they suddenly send Fang Chengjian back to the city? Did he really find someone influential?" Shen Yunfang wondered, convinced that Shen Uncle couldn’t possibly let go, which meant Fang Chengjian’s choice to pursue Shen Yunxiu was his biggest mistake.
Shen Uncle might not be the brightest, but he had a good eye for people. He had never thought much of Fang Chengjian, so to secure his daughter’s welfare, he would never loosen his grip and let the man leave.
"I’m the one who found that person for him," Li Hongjun said.
"What?" Shen Yunfang exclaimed in shock, "When did you and Chengjian become such good friends? Weren’t you the one telling me to keep my distance from him?"
"No, I hardly know him. I just saw Shen Yunxiu having too much idle time and meddling in our affairs, so I found her something to do," Li Hongjun replied nonchalantly.
However, Shen Yunfang read between the lines.
She smiled slyly, her mind whirring. Although Shen Yunxiu had done wrong and Shen Yunfang had been furious, wishing she could tear her apart—well, that’s an exaggeration, but she truly despised her—she restrained herself because of her uncle’s sake and had just watched Shen Yunxiu continue to cause trouble. Now, with Fang Chengjian returning to the city and based on her superficial understanding of him, it seemed unlikely he would bring his rural wife back with him. And Shen Yunxiu wasn’t someone to back down easily either. If the couple started clashing, maybe they would be too busy to bother others.
"Stop worrying about this and take a nap with our son," Li Hongjun said as he stuffed the neatly folded clothes into a large black leather bag, telling his wife to rest while he went to take care of the mushroom logs in the other room.
They were leaving tomorrow. Many of the mushroom logs in the western room had already been used, and it was fine to throw the spent ones away. However, several were still producing mushrooms, which would be a waste to discard, so they had to be packed up for the trip.
Both of them were uninterested in the spectacle, but that evening, Old Lady Shen ran over in a panic, grabbing Li Hongjun’s clothes and crying out, "Hongjun, come quickly and take a look. Your uncle and Chengjian are about to fight. Zhiwen and the others can’t calm them down no matter what we say. Please help me go and persuade them. Your uncle listens to you the most."
Li Hongjun thought for a moment, then instructed his wife who was on the bed, "I’m going to take a look. You stay home, lock the door, and don’t worry about anything. When it’s time, just quickly cuddle with the child and go to sleep, we still have to get up early to hit the road tomorrow."
This meant she wasn’t supposed to join the commotion. Shen Yunfang nodded in understanding. In such situations, Shen Yunxiu probably least wanted to see her, so it was better for her to stay at home with the child rather than stir up any resentment.
It wasn’t long before Dashuan’s wife came over for a visit, also bringing up the issue with Old Shen’s family.
Shen Yunfang hadn’t expected that the afternoon’s events would spread this fast. Before the evening came, the whole village knew.
After chatting for a while, Dashuan’s wife went back home, telling Yunfang to rest early since they were in for a tiring day tomorrow. She also mentioned that she and Dashuan would come over in the morning to help them move.
Once the visitor had left, Shen Yunfang tossed and turned on the bed, unable to sleep. It was almost nine thirty in the evening when Li Hongjun returned home, his body cold.
"You’re back, are you hungry? Shall I make you something to eat?" Shen Yunfang asked as she lit the oil lamp in the room.
"You haven’t slept yet? No need, I’m not hungry, and it’s cold, so just lie down and don’t move," Li Hongjun said as he took off his cotton-padded jacket and sat down on the bed. 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
"How did it go? Did they end up fighting? What was it all about?" Shen Yunfang was so curious.
Li Hongjun briefly recounted the events that had occurred at Old Shen’s house.
As Li Hongjun had figured, once Fang Chengjian learned he could return to the city, Shen Yunxiu immediately started packing to follow him back. But after some consideration, Fang Chengjian suggested that Shen Yunxiu shouldn’t go back yet. He would arrange everything after returning alone and then come back for her.
Shen Yunxiu wasn’t entirely oblivious: several people from the village who were sent-down youth had already returned to the city under various pretexts, only to abandon their wives in the countryside. She was adamant she wouldn’t be left behind and insisted on leaving with him.
Upon learning of this, Old Shen remained silent. He knew under such circumstances, his daughter must accompany her husband, or else she would truly be abandoned.
The Shen family was unanimous in their opinion, so the conflict escalated.
Fang Chengjian’s intention was to return to the city first, and after his work and housing were settled, he would come back for Shen Yunxiu and her child. The Shen family insisted that Shen Yunxiu and her child must leave with Fang Chengjian, willing to suffer hardships if needed. Old Shen even declared that if Fang Chengjian did not take his wife and child, he wouldn’t be allowed to leave Gaijiatun.
Each party was steadfast in its stance, leading to an unmanageable argument, which eventually escalated into the Shen family threatening to beat up Fang Chengjian. Shen Yunxiu, always siding with her husband, found herself in the awkward position of defending him against her own brothers and father. By the time Li Hongjun arrived, the situation was a complete mess.
Li Hongjun didn’t bother to mediate; his only responsibility was to ensure that Old Shen didn’t get hurt, letting the others argue and fight as they would. That’s why he had returned so late.
In conclusion, Li Hongjun summarized, "We should just watch others’ dramas for amusement. It’s late; let’s sleep."
