Chapter 25 What a clever trick! That damned man ruined her reputation!
Zeng Fengyu and her husband, along with their daughter Qin Wenxian, came to their eldest son Qin Wutong's house for dinner. They also brought along several children from their second son's family. Including the second son and his wife, as well as Qin Wenxian's husband, the group of about ten people, young and old, made a big fuss as they headed towards the old apartment building.
The second son's family also lives in an older apartment building, but in a different area, not far away. Their daughter, Qin Wenxian, is a nurse at the hospital and lives with her husband in the hospital's family housing, which is in the city center, so it takes them some time to get here.
Qin Wenxian also benefited from the good fortune of her two older brothers, who both settled in Shanghai. In those days, household registration was not strictly controlled, and cities needed many workers. A large number of rural residents moved to the cities, and large-scale urbanization and industrialization were carried out. However, a certain country broke its promise, withdrew its aid, demanded repayment of debts, and made military threats. Experts withdrew, and many factories under construction were paralyzed, unable to provide more jobs. Economic difficulties arose, urbanization was halted, and cities could not support too many unemployed people. In the 1960s and 70s, the flow of rural residents into cities was strictly restricted, especially into the five major cities in China, including Shanghai. Therefore, the policy stipulated that all children's household registration should follow the mother. As a result, it was very precious to be able to marry a woman with urban household registration.
Even if a rural man can change his household registration to an urban one through the worker-peasant-soldier college student quota, if he marries a rural woman, his children will still have rural household registration, and because the family lacks a main labor force, they will have to spend money to buy work points.
If a woman from the countryside changes her household registration to an urban one, her children will have urban household registration regardless of whether she marries an urban or rural man. However, women who change their household registration to urban generally do not choose to marry men from the countryside.
It's extremely difficult to obtain urban residency these days, and obtaining Shanghai residency is practically impossible.
Qin Wenxian came from the countryside and didn't have much education. Her brother sent her to a nursing school, where she became a nurse and married a doctor who also came from the countryside. Ten years passed, and Qin Wenxian's family was actually the better off among the siblings because they lived near the city center, while her brother and sister-in-law worked in the suburbs.
The so-called hierarchy of contempt is like this: cities look down on rural areas, while city centers look down on suburbs. Even if both are living in cramped rooms of just a dozen square meters, living in a dilapidated house in the city center is better than living in a big house in the suburbs. This is a kind of psychological superiority.
Qin Wenxian had a great sense of superiority in previous years, jumping around in front of her mother Zeng Fengyu. Even though Zeng Fengyu favored boys over girls and preferred her second son, she still felt that her daughter was very respectable and made her look good.
The eldest son, Qin Wutong, and his wife Zhou Aodong, have the biggest house and the best material conditions, but they are good-for-nothings. The eldest son stays at home to cook for his wife and daughter, and they only have one daughter, Qin Xiangxiang, which makes her feel ashamed.
Qin Wenxian also looked down on her elder brother's family with schadenfreude at that time. She was also jealous of her niece's good conditions from childhood to adulthood. This little girl was more spoiled than the only son of three generations.
She had been advising her mother and older brother not to spoil Qin Xiangxiang too much, saying that she would have a hard time getting married and no man would want her. When it came time for Qin Xiangxiang to choose a partner, she watched the spectacle with a cold eye, thinking that Qin Xiangxiang's good fortune was over. No matter how much she was spoiled, she would still suffer from her in-laws and husband after marriage.
Qin Wenxian wasn't very sincere in introducing potential partners to Qin Xiangxiang, because she didn't want her eldest son's family to surpass theirs in terms of living conditions. Her eldest son's family already had good material and housing conditions, and if Qin Xiangxiang found someone with better conditions, that would be terrible.
Her mother, Zeng Fengyu, favored her second son, Qin Songbai's family, followed by Qin Wenxian, and lastly her eldest son's family. If Qin Xiangxiang were to find a good man who was an official, it was hard to guarantee that Zeng Fengyu's heart would tip in one direction.
Despite all her careful planning, Qin Xiangxiang still ended up marrying a handsome naval officer, much to Qin Wenxian's dismay. Fortunately, her nephew-in-law was unlucky; he was transferred to an island the year after their marriage and did not stay in Shanghai.
However, Qin Xiangxiang became pregnant, and like her, her first child was a boy. Zeng Fengyu suddenly valued this granddaughter's son, Li Qingfeng, and doted on him just as much as the second son's children. In comparison, Qin Wenxian's children were not as good as Li Qingfeng, which made Qin Wenxian very unhappy.
She knew what her mother, Zeng Fengyu, was thinking. She thought that her grandson-in-law, Li Jianzhi, was a naval officer with a promising future. Although he was currently on the front-line island, he had a high chance of being promoted and transferred back to Shanghai in the future. If he made further contributions, he would have plenty to brag about when he returned to his hometown.
Qin Wenxian sneered inwardly, thinking that her mother Zeng Fengyu was delusional. Even if Li Jianzhi had a promising future and would become a high-ranking military officer in Shanghai, Qin Wenxian thought about that little devil's temper. It was fortunate that they separated in the second year of their marriage, otherwise who could stand her?
If a man doesn't come back to visit his family even once in four or five years, doesn't that say something?
Unfortunately, Zeng Fengyu didn't believe it and said, "The conditions there are harsh. It's not like he can just come back whenever he wants. Many soldiers don't go home for four or five years. They are national heroes. With such heroic past, they will have a bright future!"
“Even if my grandson-in-law doesn’t care about Xiangxiang, he has to care about Qingfeng, his only son. My granddaughter is lucky, more blessed than her mother. Her first child was a boy. All the women in our family with the surname Qin are blessed, including you and Xiangxiang.”
That's a load of rubbish.
Qin Wenxian, who has a sense of superiority, can't stand that her niece is more fortunate than her, and she doesn't want her eldest daughter's family to surpass her own, since her family lives in the city center!
My niece's husband came back this time—he's here to get a divorce, isn't he?
Qin Wenxian's eyes gleamed as she decided to subtly sow discord later. If Qin Xiangxiang really divorced her husband, she would offer some advice and act as a loving aunt to her niece.
"Thinking about it, she's been getting more and more out of line lately. Now that her husband is back, I, as her grandmother, have to say a few words to her."
“In front of our grandson-in-law, we must make our stance clear. Xiao Bao’s surname is Li, but he is to be educated by our Qin family. We must teach him to be manly and that men should not go into the kitchen.”
Zeng Fengyu looked preoccupied. She felt that her eldest son, Qin Wutong, was bringing shame to her family by doing laundry, cooking, and taking care of the children. She was afraid that her son-in-law would also look down on this father-in-law and suspected that her Qin family would have problems educating Li Qingfeng in the future.
She was concerned about her reputation and was afraid that her military officer grandson-in-law, Li Jianzhi, would look down on the Qin family's upbringing.
Moreover, Qin Xiangxiang, that brat, really needs to be disciplined by her man!
Zeng Fengyu and Qin Wenxian arrived at the bottom of the Qin family's apartment building. Several residents downstairs recognized them as relatives of the Qin family and came over to chat.
"Old Qin's relatives have come. There are so many people."
"Of course, Qin Xiangxiang's husband is back, and it's time for relatives to get together."
"As soon as Lao Qin got back, she was busy in the kitchen upstairs. Just now, I remembered that her husband came to borrow a stool. Lao Qin's daughter's husband is really tall!"
...
Zeng Fengyu and Qin Wenxian went upstairs first. Zhou Aodong didn't like to entertain her husband's family and never gave them a good look. She reluctantly let them sit in the corridor. The tables and chairs were already set up. The men would sit at one table and the women and children at another.
Qin Xiangxiang brought out two plates of dried goods such as peanuts, melon seeds, and longan. As soon as Zeng Fengyu saw her, she immediately asked, "Your dad is busy in the kitchen, why don't you go and help?"
Qin Xiangxiang kept eating longan: "I don't need to."
Zhou Aodong glared at her several times. This girl really wasn't afraid of getting a sore throat; she had grabbed most of the longan that had just been served.
Qin Wenxian laughed from the side, "My brother is destined to be a workaholic."
"Where's Xiao Li? And Xiao Bao? Why are they nowhere to be found?"
"Dad took Xiaobao shopping?"
Qin Xiangxiang: "They're all in the kitchen."
Zeng Fengyu, Qin Wenxian, and the others were stunned. They were all in the kitchen? Qin Wenxian and Zeng Fengyu hurriedly ran to the kitchen and saw the tall man instructing the little boy next to him to wash the toon shoots.
Zeng Fengyu was dumbfounded: "Xiaobao, what are you doing in the kitchen? Didn't your great-grandmother teach you that men shouldn't go into the kitchen, it's useless!"
The chubby boy snorted, "I won't listen to you, I want to stay in the kitchen."
Zeng Fengyu: "..."
Qin Wenxian asked loudly, "Xiao Li, what are you doing in the kitchen? Why didn't you let Xiangxiang come and help?"
Li Jianzhi glanced at them, his face expressionless as usual, and said bluntly, "Thinking that she was too tired, let her sit down and rest."
Qin Wenxian's eyes widened. What was her fussy niece up to? Could a lazy bum like her really tire herself out? Nobody believed it.
“Nephew-in-law, you are too understanding. Think about it, she has been lazy since she was a child, and she is still like this after getting married. She has a stubborn temper and a difficult personality. Please be more tolerant of her.”
“You’re the one who finally comes back, and she sits there like an old man, making you suffer.”
"Why don't you stay here and I'll take care of things?" Qin Wenxian pretended to lend a hand. She was just putting on an act, thinking that if Li Jianzhi heard her say this, he would definitely blame his wife Qin Xiangxiang and say, "How can you let the elders do it? I'll call Xiangxiang over."
"This is because you're thinking of her aunt," Li Jianzhi nodded. "How could I let my elders do this? But we're really busy here. Aunt, thank you so much for coming to help out when you have time."
Qin Wenxian's smile froze: "??????"
What's the meaning behind this niece's husband's actions?
She forced a smile, "If you're so busy, why didn't you let Xiangxiang come and help?"
"Thinking about how she's been raising the child alone all these years, I feel guilty and sorry for her. I feel like I've made her suffer. Now that I'm here, I should let her have a good rest."
Qin Wenxian was dumbfounded. No way?
Qin Xiangxiang, where did she find herself tired? Where did she find herself wronged?
“Nephew-in-law, Xiao Li, have you been deceived by Xiangxiang? She’s eating and drinking well, how could she be wronged? You send so much money to her and her daughter every month. No one is wronged, but Qin Xiangxiang is not.”
"She's been spoiled by my older brother and sister-in-law. She won't do this or that. She's not a good wife. In fact, it's our Qin family that has wronged you. We raised a daughter who is not up to standard."
"Auntie, you're being too modest," Li Jianzhi said earnestly. "Thinking about her, she's the most precious and virtuous woman I've ever met."
"I am so lucky to have married such a wonderful wife."
Qin Wenxian: "??????"
No, what's going on with this nephew-in-law?
Qin Xiangxiang? A virtuous and good woman?
Is this nephew-in-law blind?
"I am very grateful to my parents-in-law for raising such an outstanding daughter as Xiangxiang."
Qin Wutong was delighted to hear this, her face beaming with joy. She worked even harder, her heart filled with anticipation. "Not at all, we should thank your mother-in-law for raising such a wonderful child like you..."
His son-in-law has excellent taste and is good at talking; he's a rare find.
The father-in-law and son-in-law flattered each other, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
Qin Wenxian, listening from the side, felt her teeth ache.
After finishing the longan, Qin Xiangxiang felt like she had cat claws scratching at her heart. Unable to resist her curiosity, she slowly walked into the kitchen and bumped into her aunt, Qin Wenxian.
Qin Wenxian looked her up and down, and said in a sarcastic tone, "Niece, you've got some tricks up your sleeve. Your aunt underestimated you."
Qin Xiangxiang: "Then I can't compare to you, Auntie."
"My nephew-in-law just said that you, Qin Xiangxiang, are the most virtuous and good woman he has ever met."
Qin Xiangxiang: "??????!!!!"
That damned man ruined her reputation!
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