Witty Wife, Better Life

Chapter 327: Chapter 317 Someone is Still Concerned

Shen Yunfang stayed in Gaijiatun for another two weeks after having dinner at Uncle Shen’s place. It wasn’t until it was nearly August that she decided to take her child and return to the military base.

"Yunfang, I heard you’re leaving?" Second Aunt, face drenched in sweat, rushed over to Shen Yunfang’s home.

"Yes, Second Aunt, you sure have a way of getting news quickly." Shen Yunfang thought to herself. She had just discussed leaving with Dashuan’s wife yesterday, so how did the news travel so fast?

"Oh, it’s just that I care about you! You’re visiting your parental home after all, and we as your relatives should treat you well," Second Aunt said, chuckling as she wiped her mouth.

Shen Yunfang found it hard to adapt to her change of attitude. She used to act so aloof, looking down her nose at everyone, and now this ingratiating expression really took some getting used to.

"Please, Second Aunt, no need for such talk. I’m no wealthy landlord for you to fuss over. Don’t put me in an awkward position," Shen Yunfang waved her hand, indicating she wasn’t interested in such flattery.

"Oh, Yunfang, you do love to joke! That’s not what I mean," Second Aunt stiffened for a moment after being called out, but immediately rallied. "Yunfang, I came over as soon as I heard you were leaving to see if there’s anything I can help with. Just tell me. We’re honest relatives here. If you ask, I’ll definitely help," she said, her shifty eyes glancing towards the backyard.

The two were currently standing and talking in the front yard.

Shen Yunfang could clearly see the unhidden desire in her eyes but didn’t understand why Second Aunt was eyeing her backyard so keenly. In Gaijiatun, where there were more land than people, every family had a vegetable garden. There were so many vegetables that one family couldn’t even consume them all in a summer, so nobody was craving them at this time of plenty.

"There’s no need, Second Aunt. I’ve only been here a few days and have nearly finished the grains I brought and traded for. I came with little and will leave light-handed, so please don’t trouble yourself," said Shen Yunfang, understanding her meaning but not intending to play along.

Apart from anything else, she hadn’t lifted a finger for the vegetables in her yard; Dashuan and his wife took care of everything. She felt embarrassed to claim all of it, having only taken a third as if she had rented the land out. How could she possibly hand over the whole yard’s produce to Second Aunt?

"Oh, look at you, being all modest. I’ve seen it," Second Aunt chuckled. "You’ve planted vegetables in your backyard, huh? Once you leave, no one will tend to them, and it’d be a waste to let them overgrow. You leave the keys to the yard with me, and I’ll take care of everything. I’ll dry the vegetables for you and mail them when winter comes. I’ll make sure everything’s handled properly," she confidently offered.

Shen Yunfang hadn’t expected Second Aunt to be so interested in her vegetables, but there was no way she would agree. "No need, Second Aunt. It hasn’t been long since I got back, and these vegetables are already grown. Obviously, I didn’t plant them. Dashuan and his wife did. Being able to enjoy them since I’ve returned is more than enough; how could I take them with me when I leave? I couldn’t possibly do that. So don’t worry, Dashuan and his wife are here to take care of the yard; it won’t be neglected," she reassured.

"Speaking of which, Yunfang, don’t think I’m nosy, but I have a bone to pick with you," Second Aunt, seizing the momentum, turned the conversation.

Shen Yunfang looked surprised, "Oh, what’s the matter? What issue do you have with me, Second Aunt?"

"Speaking of this really gets me steamed up, Yunfang, both our families share the Shen surname. Aren’t you and Uncle Er more related to me than to Wang Dashuan’s family? Tell me why after you left, you gave your reserved land and yard for her to tend? Even if you were going to leave it to someone, it should have been Uncle Er," Second Aunt complained as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Shen Yunfang almost laughed out loud. She really had the nerve to say that, even if Shen Yunfang specifically wanted to leave the land to someone, it couldn’t be her. If we’re talking about closeness, it would be her duty to leave it to Shen Dashuan’s family; it was none of Second Aunt’s business.

"Second Aunt, listen to you talking all petty, that’s unlike you. My sister Yunfeng married so well, and your family is doing so well, how could I possibly burden you with the land for you to toil over? Farming is such hard work, not meant for someone as well-off as yourself."

Second Aunt didn’t even bother with farm work, always boasting about how well her daughter had married, claiming that they wouldn’t starve even if neither she nor her husband lifted a finger. Weren’t these her usual bragging points?

"Heh, what rich or not rich, aren’t we all just peasants tilling the soil?" Second Aunt’s face soured, but she was too proud to speak of her family’s current plight.

Lately, Yunfeng’s in-laws had been quite cold towards Shen Yunfeng; initially, she boasted incessantly to them about setting up Zhao Dahai with Shen Yingxue, yet just two months later, Zhao’s father was arrested, and Shen Yingxue was sent back home. Yunfeng’s mother-in-law now often mocked and ridiculed Shen Yunfeng mercilessly. Previously, Xue Jialong would stand up for Shen Yunfeng, but in the last few months, he seemed like a changed man, simply standing by as his mother berated Shen Yunfeng. Shen Yunfeng would cry to him at night about it, but he was mostly annoyed and would leave, not even staying at home.

Shen Yunfeng wasn’t stupid; she surely sensed something wrong, but she had no solution. Her in-laws had looked down on her since she married Xue Jialong and their disdain only deepened after she had a daughter. She hadn’t gotten pregnant again in the past two years, so one can imagine how much her mother-in-law disapproved of her. Now, Shen Yunfeng found herself returning home twice a month to cry to her mother, with mother and daughter worrying together—what were they to do?

How to regain her standing in the eyes of her husband’s family? Eventually, Shen Yunfeng, at her wit’s end, had no choice but to try humbling herself and curry favor with the Xue Family.

Her maternal home didn’t have much to offer except some fresh vegetables they grew, and Second Aunt, for the sake of her daughter, would visit the county twice a week to deliver fresh vegetables to the Xue Family.

Second Aunt’s own family still needed to eat, and she was hoping to sundry some vegetables, pickle some others, etc. So the vegetable garden in her backyard was clearly struggling to keep up with the demand. Therefore, she started eyeing Shen Yunfang’s backyard vegetable patch.

But with a few words, Shen Yunfang deflected her, making it difficult for Second Aunt to directly explain her family’s situation to Yunfang. Mainly because she had been too arrogant before, and now she couldn’t quite lower her pride.

"Second Aunt, I’m leaving in a few days. You’re busy with farm work too, so I won’t visit Uncle Er this time. Next time I’m back, we’ll visit him together," Shen Yunfang expertly evaded, managing to nudge Second Aunt out of the house.

Second Aunt stared at the closed wooden door in front of her, stomping her foot in frustration before walking away begrudgingly.

Shen Yunfang returned to the room, picked up chubby Pangpang who was crawling all over the kang bed, and couldn’t help but remark, "Pangpang, oh, our house is really desirable now, isn’t it? Whether it’s people or animals, they’re all eyeing us."