Fu Yucheng had barely stepped out of the courtyard when Xu Runli blocked him under the locust tree.
She was carrying a floral cloth bag and moved closer to Fu Yucheng as soon as she saw him, her voice sweet and cloying: "Brother Yucheng, I've been waiting for you for a while."
Fu Yucheng frowned and took half a step back: "Is something the matter?"
"Look at you, you're always so cold to me." Xu Runli pouted, feigning grievance, and stuffed the floral cloth bag into his arms. "I made a pair of insoles the other day and brought them to you. The stitching might not be very good, but please don't mind."
Fu Yucheng put his hands behind his back, not taking it at all: "No need, my wife made me several pairs, that's enough."
“Sister is skillful, unlike me who is clumsy.” Xu Runli was unwilling to give up and moved closer. “But this is my heartfelt gift, so please accept it. Besides, weren’t we always together when we were little? Brother Yucheng, you weren’t this cold to me back then.”
“I don’t remember things from when I was little.” Fu Yucheng’s face was so dark it could drip water. “Xu Runli, I’ll say it again, I’m a married man, what you’re doing is inappropriate.”
"Why is it inappropriate?" Xu Runli suddenly raised her voice. "I just want to talk to you. Why should Yun Tangyin interfere with you? I've spent way more time with you than she has!"
Under Xu Rong's arrangement, Xu Runli did have more opportunities to meet and talk with Fu Yucheng than Yun Tangyin.
Fu Yucheng sneered, "My wife is Yun Tangyin, not you. If you have nothing else to do, go home and stop making trouble here."
"I'm being unreasonable?" Xu Runli's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes. "I just can't stand seeing you being manipulated by her! Look at her, she's already in charge of the household right after marrying in, and she's got your mother wrapped around her little finger. Who knows what she's up to!"
“I know what my wife is like, you don’t need to comment.” Fu Yucheng took a step forward, his tone warning, “If you dare to say anything bad about her again, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
"What did I say wrong?" Xu Runli wiped away her tears, her voice even sharper. "What makes her better than me?"
Uncle Li, who was fetching water, overheard this and couldn't help but chime in: "Runli, you're wrong. The other day I saw Yun buy a piece of red floral fabric for her mother-in-law and say she was going to finish making a padded jacket before the first frost. She's much better than you, always eyeing other people's men."
Xu Runli blushed with embarrassment: "Uncle Li, don't listen to her nonsense, she's just putting on an act for people!"
"Can you really keep your house in perfect order just by pretending?" Uncle Li scooped water into the bucket. "The other day, when I checked the accounts, hers was the one with the clearest records. Even the accountant praised her. Unlike some people, whose own lives are a mess, yet they're always watching other people's affairs."
Fu Yucheng took the opportunity to back away: "Did you hear that? Don't embarrass yourself here."
"Brother Yucheng!" Xu Runli grabbed his arm, her nails digging almost into his flesh. "You really don't have any feelings for me at all? If it weren't for Yun Tangyin back then, I..."
"Back then, I had nothing." Fu Yucheng abruptly shook off her hand, the force so strong that she staggered. "Now, I only have Yun Tangyin as my wife!"
Xu Runli steadied herself and suddenly burst into shrill laughter: "Give up on me? Why should I? What's so great about Yun Tangyin? Isn't she just better at accounting and better at flattering people than me? In what way am I inferior to her?"
“She’s better than you in every way.” Fu Yucheng’s voice was as cold as ice. “At least she knows the rules and has a sense of shame, unlike some people who have their own men but still covet other women’s husbands.”
These words were like a slap in the face to Xu Runli. Her face turned deathly pale instantly, and she pointed at Fu Yucheng's nose, unable to speak for a long time: "You...you actually said that to me!"
"Did I say something wrong?" Fu Yucheng took a step closer. "Last time you borrowed Aunt Li's brown sugar and didn't return it, you went to the supply and marketing cooperative to snatch brown sugar from my wife; the other day you tried to sow discord at the supply and marketing cooperative, but my wife shut you down; now you're here pulling and shoving each other, have you no shame?"
Several villagers had already gathered around to watch the spectacle, and their pointing and whispering grew louder and louder.
"No wonder her husband wanted to divorce her; his behavior was just awful."
"Exactly, the Fu family's daughter-in-law is so good, capable and sensible, how dare she steal her husband away?"
"I think she's just having a hard time at home, so she wants to stir up trouble in other people's homes."
Hearing these words, Xu Runli finally couldn't hold back her tears and they fell, but she still stubbornly insisted, "What do you know? I'm not like Brother Yucheng!!"
"What's different?" Fu Yucheng said as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "You're always trying to drive a wedge between me and my wife? Let me tell you, Xu Runli, you'd better give up on that idea and go do whatever you were doing!"
After saying that, he turned and left without even glancing at Xu Runli again.
Xu Runli looked at his back and then at the disdainful looks from the people around her. Finally, she couldn't hold back anymore, covered her face, squatted down, and cried.
Uncle Li shook his head and sighed, "Why not just enjoy a good life instead of making trouble? Isn't that just asking for it?"
Aunt Zhang next to her nodded in agreement: "That's right, the Fu family's husband is so good. He manages the household so well. Anyone would cherish him. Unlike her, she doesn't live her own life and is always thinking about taking other people's things."
Xu Runli's crying grew softer and softer until only her suppressed sobs could be heard.
Fu Yucheng had already walked far away. He touched the handkerchief that Yun Tangyin had sewn for him in his pocket and quickened his pace.
All he wanted to do now was finish his business quickly, go home, hug his mistress, and tell her that he would never let anyone bully her in this lifetime.
On the way, he ran into Fu Yuanshan, who was walking home, and couldn't help but tell him what had just happened.
After listening, Fu Yuanshan frowned and cursed, "What a troublemaker."
"If she bothers you again, just kick her out." Fu Yucheng's tone was still angry.
"I know." Fu Yuanshan nodded. "Don't take it to heart. This kind of person just needs to be taught a lesson. After what you said today, he probably won't dare to act recklessly again."
Fu Yucheng hummed in agreement, but his heart was filled with even more concern for Yun Tangyin.
He knew that Xu Runli's outburst today would surely reach Yun Tangyin's ears, and he had to hurry back to explain things to her.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Yun Tangyin sitting in the yard knitting a sweater for Song Yushuang. The sunlight shone on her, making her feel warm and cozy.
Yun Tangyin looked up and saw him, smiling as she asked, "You're back? Finished your business?"
Fu Yucheng walked over, sat down beside her, and took her hand: "Yes, it's done. Just now... just now..."
Yun Tangyin paused for a moment, then continued knitting, her tone as calm as if nothing had happened: "I know, Uncle Li told me when he came over to deliver the vegetables."
“Yinyin…” Fu Yucheng was eager to explain.
"I know you won't pay any attention to her." Yun Tangyin looked up at him and smiled, her eyes showing no doubt. "Don't I trust my own man?"
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