Chapter 61: Out of tune, Chang Jia is in trouble

As the days passed, Lin Jianqiu's arrival was like a small stone thrown into the not-so-calm pond of the family compound.

Her incompatibility was obvious.

She didn't know how to use the big stove in the kitchen, and the fire filled the house with smoke, making everyone cough.

She was used to her own meticulous style, and even washed dishes slowly and methodically, which was completely out of sync with the hurried pace of her sisters-in-law in the family compound.

In addition, she always spoke softly, with some literary and old-fashioned words.

When others say "eat", she says "have a meal"; when others say "work", she says "do some work". It makes people feel awkward and thinks she is "pretentious" and "putting on airs".

The worst thing is her feet.

Whether walking in the yard, fetching water from the public pool, or even just standing at the door, the unsteady and obvious steps always attract undisguised stares and whispers.

"Look at that foot...tsk tsk, what a sin."

"Landlord wives are different. They walk like they're singing opera."

"Deputy Battalion Commander Chang Jia is such a spirited man, how could he marry such a..."

These words, like small knives, scratched Lin Jianqiu's ears, and also scratched Su Tang's heart who occasionally heard them not far away.

Su Tang saw that Lin Jianqiu’s face turned pale instantly and he lowered his head even lower.

She hurriedly tried to dodge, but she lost her balance and almost fell.

She subconsciously wanted to help, but she was a little far away.

"What are you talking about? You have no work to do?"

But they happened to meet the impetuous Zhang Cui. She put her hands on her hips and cursed, and everyone dispersed in a swarm.

Zhang Cui, who left Wang Jianfeng, now has her own job and no longer has to suffer humiliation.

The whole person feels like being reborn from Nirvana.

Zhang Cui came over with a smile, took Su Tang's hand, and said she would treat her to something delicious.

The two of them walked away arm in arm, not noticing Lin Jianqiu hiding in the dark in the distance.

She looked down at her feet with envy in her eyes.

When I wore a skirt before, the long skirt could cover it up and it wouldn’t show anything.

But now...

A look of loneliness flashed across Lin Jianqiu's eyes, and he turned and left.

That afternoon, the sun was setting.

Lin Jianqiu was carrying a small wooden basin filled with a few freshly washed underwear and was carefully trying to cross the open space in the middle of the family compound to return to his own little house.

Several half-grown children were chasing and playing nearby. One of the naughty boys ran too fast and bumped straight into Lin Jianqiu.

"oops!"

Lin Jianqiu screamed and his body shook violently.

In order to steady herself, she subconsciously tiptoed on her injured foot, and her posture instantly became extremely awkward and ugly. The wooden basin in her hand almost slipped out of her hand, and water splashed on her trouser legs.

“Puff…”

Among the sisters-in-law who were sitting and talking nearby, someone couldn't help but let out a clear sneer.

This was followed by a few suppressed laughs and discussions.

"Oh my god, even walking here feels like going to a place of execution..."

"That's right, that ankle is twisted..."

Lin Jianqiu froze in place, his face flushed all the way down to his neck.

A huge sense of shame overwhelmed her like a tide.

She wished she could disappear into the crack of the ground immediately.

She bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes quickly turned red, the knuckles of her fingers holding the basin turned white from the force, and her whole body was shaking slightly.

"Stop crying, stop talking."

Just when it was getting extremely embarrassing, a figure walked over quickly, bringing with it a gust of wind, and directly stood between Lin Jianqiu and those gazes.

It was Su Tang who was getting off work.

She didn't look at the sisters-in-law who were talking, as if they didn't exist. She walked straight to Lin Jianqiu and naturally reached out to take the heavy wooden basin.

"Sister-in-law, are you done washing?"

Su Tang's voice was not loud, but it was particularly clear in the suddenly quiet open space: "There is an open space over there where you can hang clothes."

Her tone was so natural, as if she was saying that the weather was nice today.

There was no comfort, no blame, but Lin Jianqiu felt a warmth in his heart.

Lin Jianqiu was completely stunned and stared at Su Tang blankly.

"Ah? Oh... okay, okay..."

Lin Jianqiu reacted, his voice a little hoarse from sobbing, and hurriedly followed Su Tang's footsteps.

She looked at Su Tang's back as he held the basin steadily. His tall and straight posture was like a wall, temporarily blocking out those suffocating gazes and words.

Su Tang didn't walk fast, as if trying to accommodate her pace.

The two walked in silence for a while.

"Thank...thank you."

Lin Jianqiu's voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible. His head was still lowered, but his fingers that were twisting the corner of his clothes loosened slightly.

"Thank you for what?"

Su Tang didn't even turn his head, and said in a relaxed tone: "It's just a matter of convenience. The sisters-in-law in this courtyard... are used to speaking their minds, so don't take some of their words to heart. After a long time, they will know what kind of person you are."

She did not say that those sisters-in-law were wrong, nor did she deliberately belittle Lin Jianqiu's "difference".

It's just an understatement to put it down to "getting used to it," something that takes time to get used to.

Lin Jianqiu felt his nose getting even more sore as he listened.

She didn't expect that she would encounter obstacles everywhere and feel at a loss as to what to do in this place.

The first person who reached out to her and helped her out was actually the "Miss Capital" Su Tang, who she had always been inexplicably wary of and secretly comparing herself to.

"This is it, sister-in-law, you can take a ride, and we will go back together later."

Su Tang gestured to Lin Jianqiu to dry the clothes, while he drew water from the well nearby and filled a cup with it.

Lin Jianqiu was stunned when he saw Su Tang's habit of blending completely into the family compound.

Isn’t it said that city people pay the most attention to etiquette?

Su Tang didn't care about that. She was almost dying of thirst.

This well water tastes very sweet.

After Lin Jianqiu hung up the clothes, the two went home together.

I had not walked far when I saw Chang Jia and Lu Xiao coming back together.

"Lu Xiao!"

Su Tang called her, Lu Xiao looked up, smiled and walked over to them.

"Why are you leaving get off work early today?"

"I have an operation tomorrow afternoon, and Vice President Jiang asked me to come back and rest."

The two of them were talking as if no one else was around, and the intimacy that surrounded them made it impossible for anyone else to interrupt.

Lin Jianqiu was a little envious, but he just stood timidly beside Chang Jia.

For her, husband is the God, and when a man is around, she has to stand beside him obediently.

"Then it's settled. We'll leave in two days and complete the mission as soon as possible."

Lu Xiao took the bag from Su Tang's hand, held her hand and said this.

Chang Jia nodded, and the four of them left in different directions.

On the way back, Chang Jia thought of how Lu Xiao and Su Tang got along, so he reached out to shake Lin Jianqiu's hand.

But when Lin Jianqiu saw Chang Jia extending his hand, he took a step back.

"There's someone outside."

Lin Jianqiu lowered his head, his eyes gentle, but at that moment, Chang Jia felt a fire burning in his heart...