Lin Chuxia nodded, indicating she did not want to continue this topic.
She unbuttoned her coat and saw Sister-in-law Feng still chattering endlessly, showing no intention of taking a bath.
“Sister-in-law, aren’t you going to wash?”
The public bathhouse was rudimentary, without even separate stalls.
But as a true Northerner, Lin Chuxia didn’t mind and boldly took off her coat.
Sister-in-law Feng, seeing her undress swiftly, had a flickering gaze and then looking at Lin Chuxia’s fair skin, felt some envy.
Lin Chuxia didn’t hear her reply, turned her head and saw she was still looking at her, frowned slightly, “Sister-in-law, weren’t you going to take a bath?”
Sister-in-law Feng came back to her senses, under her scrutinizing gaze, awkwardly smiled while trying to undress, “I… I seem to have forgotten my towel, you go ahead, I need to go back home first.”
Without waiting for Lin Chuxia to say anything, she hurriedly left the bathroom.
Lin Chuxia: “…”
Is she kidding?!
She clearly saw a towel in her basin.
Having interacted with Sister-in-law Feng a few times, Lin Chuxia had a pretty good idea of what kind of person she was and guessed she wouldn’t be coming back, so she locked the door.
Meanwhile, Sister-in-law Feng headed home, still thinking about Lin Chuxia’s pale body.
How can someone be so fair and yet claim they are from the countryside? Who are they fooling?
These city people always have ulterior motives, claiming to be from the countryside to get special attention from their work units?
“What are you doing with a basin in the middle of cooking?”
As Sister-in-law Feng entered the house, she saw her husband, who had just come home from work, fussing in the kitchen, visibly impatient.
Sister-in-law Feng quickly put the basin aside and asked, “Do you know who I just saw?”
Seeing Da Jun frowning, knowing he was getting impatient, she didn’t wait for him to answer and continued.
“I saw Mr. Qin’s wife, the really beautiful woman.”
Hearing it was about this again, Da Jun frowned and said, “Shouldn’t you be cooking instead of always watching what others are up to?”
“I’m telling you, it wasn’t intentional this time, you don’t know, this afternoon Mr. Qin and his wife were very busy, came to our residential area several times, carrying a lot of things to give away, I even saw Mr. Qin taking stuff to Minister Wang’s house.”
“His wife just brought some local specialties from her hometown for her colleagues to try, what’s so surprising about that? Isn’t it the same with any family member who visits…”
Da Jun stopped mid-sentence, looking at his wife with a strange expression.
When his wife came from her hometown with their child, she came empty-handed except for a few clothes for herself and the child.
Feeling sorry, he bought candies and snacks from the supply and sales cooperative to share with colleagues.
Because of that, his wife nagged for a long time.
Sister-in-law Feng, unaware of her husband’s expression, exaggeratedly waved her hand, “It’s not like what you think, what local specialties? I saw from a distance, they were all canned goods, they looked expensive, what kind of local specialties are canned?”
Seeing that Da Jun still didn’t take it to heart, Sister-in-law Feng took another step forward, lowering her voice, “Are you truly clueless or just pretending? Didn’t they say that you all would have the opportunity for a transfer after finishing the work here? What if there are only a few opportunities, and Mr. Qin has already brought gifts to Minister Wang’s home…”
Her words were cut off by Feng Dajun, “Don’t talk nonsense, Mr. Qin is not that kind of person.”
“How do you know he is not that kind of person? There’s a saying, ’You can know the face but not the heart.’ Initially, Mrs. Qin told me they were from the countryside, but does she look like she’s from the countryside at all? Just now, when we went to the bathroom together, her skin was so white; have you ever seen anyone in the village with skin as white as hers?”
“Enough, enough, go cook the meal. From now on, mind your own business and just take care of the children at home.”
Da Jun, not wanting to hear her words, left the kitchen irritably.
Sister-in-law Feng pursed her lips, thinking that her husband was as dense as a log, so she must keep a tight watch on things for him.
Others looked down on them because they came from a village, so they had to prove themselves even more.
When the time came for transfers, it would be better if her husband’s transfer was better than the others, to firmly shock those who looked down on them.
Turning her head, she saw her daughter at the door and immediately furrowed her brows tightly, reaching out to tap on Feng Jingjing’s forehead.
“Why are you just standing there foolishly? Can’t you help with the cooking? What did I tell you when I left earlier, how could you still let your dad enter the kitchen? Do you take my words as wind past your ears?”
Jingjing covered her forehead, a look of grievance on her face, “Dad told me to go play elsewhere, that he would cook, saying I’m too young and don’t know how.”
“You’re already 8 years old, what’s too young? When I was your age, I did all the household chores, not like you, even making a meal but still acting finicky. Do you think it’s easy for your dad to work hard all day? Keeping you at home, still not knowing to help out more, be careful that you might be sent back to our old home one day.”
Upon hearing she might be sent back to her old home, Jingjing’s eyes instantly reddened, “Then I’ll help you cook now, don’t be angry at me, please don’t send me back.”
Sister-in-law Feng scoffed coldly, “Now you know to be afraid? How many times have I told you, you’re not like the children in the city, don’t always try to imitate them, also not looking at whether you have the fate for it, what your dad says you can just listen to, but honestly thinking you are a boy who could win your dad’s affection?”
…
Lin Chuxia arrived in the Northwest just in time for the grand opening of Yuanliang Steamed Bun Shop, the next day being Yuanliang Steamed Bun Shop’s opening day.
After breakfast, Lin Chuxia tidied up a bit and prepared to go into the city.
Qin Yang had inquired for her, and just today there was a car going to the city for supplies, and she could hitch a ride.
Worried that Lin Chuxia might not find the place, Qin Yang even personally took her to the meeting spot.
By the time they arrived, they saw quite a few people already waiting there.
The location of their workplace was remote with few buses, but importantly, hitching a ride with the workplace’s vehicles saved money on transportation, as there would always be people catching a free ride whenever the vehicle went into the city for supplies.
Lin Chuxia had already spotted a few familiar sister-in-laws in the crowd and turned to say goodbye to Qin Yang, “I’ll be fine by myself, you should go to work.”
Qin Yang also saw Sister-in-law Song and the others, nodded, “Then, take care on the road.”
From afar, Sister-in-law Song saw Lin Chuxia and waved at her.
Once Lin Chuxia approached, she teased with a smile, “Mr. Qin really can’t set his mind at ease about you, such a short trip yet he still insists on escorting you over. In my opinion, you might as well come and reunite with Mr. Qin soon. Look, Jiang Hong has come too; in our group, it’s just you left.”
Jiang Hong was standing next to Sister-in-law Song, having met the day before.
Lin Chuxia greeted several people, “After a while, still have some matters at home that I can’t leave.”
Hearing this, Sister-in-law Song’s smile grew even bigger, “Well, that’s a promise, you have to come over after you’re done with your home affairs, we’re all waiting for you.”
Just as the group finished chatting, the car arrived.