The speaker was a gossipy old woman from the village named Zhu Guihua. She was carrying farm tools and walking along the village road, chattering away.
The person she called "Big Plum" was Song Jiaojiao's adoptive mother, whose full name was Li Jumei.
Because Zhu Guihua and Li Jumei came from the same village and were both only daughters in their families, their lives had been completely different since childhood.
Li Jumei was spoiled by her parents and brothers as she grew up.
Zhu Guihua endured the insults from her parents and brothers, which made her dislike Li Jumei very much.
Especially since the two families are neighbors, they clearly became a contrasting group in the village.
Unexpectedly, when they reached marriageable age, both Zhu Guihua and Li Jumei married into Shisong Village, and the two became neighbors once again.
Without comparison, there will be no harm. However, sometimes it's not that you want to compare, but that the people around you use you as a comparison.
Sure enough, Li Jumei married Song Sanhe, and the day after their marriage, they separated from the family and took charge of their own household. In addition, Song Sanhe was the village accountant, so their lives were visibly better.
On the other hand, Zhu Guihua endured more than ten years of marriage before being able to live her own life. Whenever she thought about how Li Jumei was doing better than her, Zhu Guihua would get angry.
Unexpectedly, last year, something happened in the family of Li Jumei and Song Sanhe, namely the matter of Song Jiaojiao and Song Lan, which made Zhu Huahua so happy that she slapped her thigh and laughed at home.
—The daughter that my beloved raised turned out to be not my biological daughter, and she secretly went to the capital to claim her relatives; the biological daughter looked down on her parents for being peasants, and not only did she not return to her parents' side, but she did not even acknowledge them or even see them!
This was quite a novelty in the village. Whenever the villagers had free time and gathered together to chat, they would always mention that Li Jumei and her husband had not only raised an ungrateful child, but also had a ungrateful son. Although Song Sanhe, being the brigade accountant, had not made fun of them openly, he had secretly gloated over their misfortune.
Zhu Guihua felt that this was Li Jumei's weakness, so whenever she was in a bad mood and encountered Li Jumei, she would definitely make sarcastic remarks and bring up the matter of Song Jiaojiao and Song Lan to provoke Li Jumei.
But she was also someone who never forgot what she had been taught. Knowing that Li Jumei was never one to be bullied and had a fiery temper, earning her a fearsome reputation in the village, she still liked to provoke her.
Just as Zhu Guihua was getting into her rant, Li Jumei glared at her and yelled, "Zhu Guihua, can you stop talking nonsense?! If you dare spout any more nonsense, believe me, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
"I think you're the one biting the hand that feeds you!"
Zhu Guihua jumped up and down: "If it weren't for the fact that we're neighbors and grew up together, I'd be bored and give you advice so you can find that heartless brat and vent your anger!"
Before Li Jumei could retort, a affected, aggrieved female voice came from behind Zhu Guihua: "Aunt Guihua, who are you calling heartless?"
The educated youth at the settlement had to cross the only main road in the village to get to work, which was the same road where Zhu Guihua and Li Jumei were standing right now. Zhu Guihua and Li Jumei were arguing loudly, which undoubtedly attracted many passing commune members and educated youth to watch the commotion.
In addition, the villagers knew Song Jiaojiao and knew that she had returned to the village as an educated youth, but they looked down on Li Jumei and her husband, who were their adoptive parents, because they were peasants and had not returned home to show their faces. As a result, there was a lot of gossip in the village.
Upon seeing Song Jiaojiao and several other educated youths approaching, some people couldn't help but point out Song Jiaojiao's faults.
This undoubtedly made Song Jiaojiao feel embarrassed in front of the other educated youth.
And so, this "spoiled girl" who refused to acknowledge her adoptive parents and considered herself a city educated youth got angry and stood up to Zhu Guihua and said something.
"Oh! Jiaojiao, you still recognize your Aunt Guihua! I thought you became a city dweller and recently came to our village for a rural resettlement program. You didn't want to acknowledge your adoptive parents, and you didn't even acknowledge us villagers anymore!"
Zhu Guihua spoke sarcastically, and seeing Song Jiaojiao's unpleasant expression, she spat on the ground and said, "Alright, don't call me Aunt Guihua anymore. After all, you're a high-ranking female educated youth, how can I, a peasant, possibly have a relationship with you? As for what I said about being heartless and ungrateful, of course I was talking about you. But it's not just me who thinks so; the whole village thinks you're an ingrate. Do you admit it?"
With tears welling up in her eyes, Song Jiaojiao looked aggrieved: "How could I be an ungrateful wretch? I just don't want my biological parents to be sad. They've been separated from me for over ten years, and they finally managed to bring me back. If they find out... if they find out that I can't forget my adoptive parents in the countryside and only want to be close to them, and if they get too heartbroken and it takes a toll on their health, then I'll be unfilial!"
Besides, my adoptive parents have their own daughter named Song Lan. Before I went to the countryside, I specifically asked if she wanted me to pass on messages or things to her biological parents, but... but my second sister, Song Lan, completely ignored me..."
When Li Jumei heard Song Jiaojiao mention Song Lan, her eyes lit up, but the light faded as soon as she heard what Song Jiaojiao said next.
Those watching the commotion all perked up their ears to listen to Song Jiaojiao's explanation of her predicament and her attempt to smear Song Lan.
Of course, only Song Jiaojiao herself knew about this smear campaign against Song Lan. The onlookers were unaware and simply thought that Song Lan was truly a snob who didn't want to acknowledge her biological parents or return to her parents in the countryside, and that she was too selfish and heartless.
"Don't you get tired of putting so much effort into acting?"
A clear, melodious female voice, tinged with a cool tone, suddenly drifted into everyone's ears.
Almost instantly, all eyes turned to the source of the sound.
Did they see a fairy?
The girl was slender and had fair and pretty features. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt with dark blue pants and white sneakers like those worn by city students. She had a loose, side braid tied with a black hair tie, and her bangs were thin and fluttering gently in the wind.
She looked so beautiful. Even though she was just standing there, pushing her bicycle behind a crowd that had made way for her, she was as beautiful as a painting.
Even among the female educated youth from the city, none of them were as pretty as this girl.
She is very special, but they are from the countryside and haven't received much education, so I don't know how to describe her.
The educated youth knew that, regardless of gender, their gazes toward the girls were full of amazement.
It would be no exaggeration to say she was stunningly beautiful, and the aura she exuded was quite unique.
Elegant and dignified, gentle and intellectual... she even exuded a dignified and upright aura, like a green flower in the army...
"mom!"
Pushing her bicycle into the crowd, the girl, who was actually Song Lan, stopped two steps away from Li Jumei: "I am Song Lan. I'm sorry, I just came back to the village to visit you and Dad!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
