Fortunately, Su Xueli was there to support her, otherwise her second aunt would have been stared at so much that she couldn't walk.
Cao Maizi was at home preparing offerings for the Dragon King and Dragon Queen tomorrow, the first day of the Lunar New Year, when she looked up and saw her second aunt, looking bright and cheerful, waving at her. She clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Oh my, my second sister! I just saw you from twenty years ago again! You're so beautiful, hahaha..."
Auntie's face turned as red as an apple. She laughed and complained to Su Xueli, "Sister-in-law, don't make fun of me. It's all Ming Shen's fault for dressing me up like this. I wonder what people on the street will say about me..."
Cao Maizi came out of the kitchen, grabbed her hand, and said with a stern face, "What's there to say? Who doesn't want to look good? This old woman wants to wear a new dress for the New Year. We're good-looking, young, and rich, so we can dress up however we want."
The second aunt was somewhat moved and said, "Sister-in-law, you have always been so kind. No wonder you raised such a good son as Mingshen and married such a good wife as Xueli."
Cao Maizi laughed heartily, "My dear sister, you've praised so many people! You're truly a cultured person; even your compliments are extraordinary."
After chatting and laughing for a while, Cao Maizi asked Su Xueli to take her second aunt inside to play, as she needed to prepare the offerings in advance so she could leave early the next morning.
Longwangfang is more than forty miles away from them.
Su Xueli then took her second aunt's hand and went inside to talk.
She lit a fire, poured tea, and took out melon seeds and candy to chat with her second aunt.
Auntie was still shaken by the sight of the whole village watching her. She muttered, "I wonder what they're saying about me now. I'm too scared to go home..."
Su Xueli giggled, "Second Aunt, you didn't steal or rob anything. What's wrong with dressing up for the New Year? Everyone buys themselves new clothes for the New Year. Those who don't buy new clothes don't have the money, not because they don't want to."
Auntie was filled with anxiety. "It's not Shirley. I've changed my hairstyle every time I've dressed up in the last twenty years, and I've never worn clothes with colors. If I suddenly dress up like this, they'll start making wild guesses."
Su Xueli said dismissively, "Second Aunt, let them guess. You're innocent and have nothing to fear."
Second Aunt laughed, "Xueli, you're such a straightforward girl, you dare to say what you mean and do what you say. I'll really learn from you in the future."
Su Xueli said excitedly, "That's right, Second Aunt. It's our own life. We can live however we want, however we want to be happy. That's how I live."
Auntie looked at Su Xueli with delight, "Xueli, Mingshen is such a lucky boy. I've benefited from his good fortune too. Knowing you has been very helpful to me."
Su Xueli's heart sank; she didn't want to keep it a secret from her second aunt.
"Second Aunt, to tell you the truth, Ming Shen and I have been planning our divorce since the day we got married."
Auntie was shocked. "Sherry, is this... really true?"
Su Xueli said solemnly, "Second Aunt, this is a secret between us. You are the first outsider to know. We've been keeping it from both sets of parents."
After a long pause, the second aunt asked, "Child, is a divorce absolutely necessary?"
Su Xueli said, "Second Aunt, I've told you before, and you know it yourself, that Ming Shen loves the daughter of the town's Party Secretary, Lin Meizhi. He was forced to marry me."
I can't continue living with him like this, without any dignity. I have to release him back into the forest, let him fly to the side of his beloved.
Her second aunt looked at her and asked, "Then why did you marry him in the first place?"
Su Xueli, recalling her life of misery in her past life, smiled bitterly and said, "I was so foolish back then..."
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