Chapter 52: A Turn in Public Opinion

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: A Turn in Public Opinion

One of the wives who was usually quite frugal happened to pass by. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but ask, "Zheng Qing, are you serious? Did I get a bad deal on that squat toilet I bought?"

"Of course. She can afford to eat fish at every meal. It’s obvious she’s making a lot of money. You all were kind enough to give her business, but who would’ve thought Su Wan would be so shameless about taking your money."

When someone makes money, it’s inevitable they’ll attract envy, and Su Wan had indeed made a good sum from her ceramics.

However, her prices were definitely lower than those in the commune store.

"Su Wan, what you’re doing is wrong. I’ve been good to you, haven’t I? How could you make money off of me like this?"

"That’s right! I said it before, four-fifty for something made of clay is just too expensive."

"I bit the bullet and bought it, but I still have to find someone to do the installation, dig the trench..."

Just as the few of them finished their gossip, Zhao Qing and Aunt Liu returned from picking up their child and grandchild, respectively. They overheard the group complaining about Su Wan.

Aunt Liu was the first to push to the front, hands on her hips. "What nonsense are you all spouting? Don’t think for a second I don’t know you’re just trying to take advantage of Wanwan."

"Four-fifty? What’s so expensive about that? When you were buying them, someone must have already checked the price at the commune store, right? Not only do you need coupons, but they might not even have any in stock. A single one costs six or even eight yuan! Those are things used in city apartment buildings. You should be glad you could buy one at all. And here you are, trying to bully Wanwan into lowering the price and giving you your money back."

"Have you no shame?"

The few wives who had been trying to take advantage were so thoroughly scolded their faces turned beet-red.

Su Wan smiled gratefully at Aunt Liu.

Her tone shifted, and she said, "Sister-in-law Zheng isn’t wrong. If it weren’t for the support of all the sisters in the compound, I wouldn’t be able to eat fish."

"It’s all because this pregnancy has been difficult, and I have to consider the cost of my studies, so I was just trying to find a way to earn a little extra."

"I won’t be in the pottery business anymore. The small kiln is still there, so if any of you sisters are interested, you can come to my place and ask my cousin how to fire pottery. You can find some clay yourselves and even make some flowerpots for fun."

Su Wan’s words made the few wives who had spoken up earlier both pleasantly surprised and ashamed.

"Su Wan, are you serious?"

"Of course." Su Wan smiled sweetly at Zheng Qing and said, "Sister-in-law Zheng, although you’re always making things difficult for me and looking for trouble, I’m still younger than you, a junior. And you haven’t bought anything from me, so how about you show some mercy and stop targeting me?"

Zheng Qing noticed everyone around her was staring, waiting for a show, and her cheeks instantly flushed red.

"Wanwan, you probably don’t know, but Zheng Qing is just taking her anger out on you. She introduced her own sister to Battalion Commander Lu for a matchmaking meeting before, but it didn’t work out. Now that she sees you living a good life, of course she’s jealous." Aunt Liu directly backstabbed Zheng Qing.

This time, she truly didn’t spare her a shred of dignity.

"Sister-in-law Zheng, how could you be like that?"

"Exactly, Sister Zheng, how can you be so petty?"

"My niece had a matchmaking meeting with Battalion Commander Lu too, and I didn’t make a fuss when it didn’t work out. It just means they weren’t fated to be, right?"

The more Su Wan listened, the more something felt off. ’Why has Lu Zhengchuan had matchmaking meetings with so many people?’ She already knew he was popular, but she’d never considered that he had so many options. Even though he chose her in the end, she still felt a little sour about it.

She couldn’t help but wonder just how many potential partners he’d had in the past.

Zheng Qing, having been thoroughly rebuked, finally left in disgrace.

"Wanwan, what are you thinking about? If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now. And don’t be silly, talking about letting them use the kiln for free. Won’t that be a lot of trouble for that girl Zhang Yun to host them?" Aunt Liu rolled her eyes.

Zhao Qing patted her on the shoulder and said, "That’s right, Wanwan. Some people just can’t help but be jealous of others. I’m going to go buy a fish today, too!"

Comforted by the two of them, Su Wan’s mood improved a little.

The next day, Su Wan was picked up by a military vehicle from the base. She would only return late each night.

Only then did the wives find out that Su Wan had actually gone to work at a research institute.

That very day, many of the wives came over and crowded around Zhang Yun to ask questions.

"Zhang Yun, hasn’t your sister-in-law started university yet? How did she get a job at a research institute?"

"Yeah, yeah, it’s not easy to get a job at a research institute."

Zhao Qing was also a little confused, but her eyes showed congratulations, not jealousy.

Aunt Liu also patted her daughter Liu Xiangju’s hand and said, "You need to pull yourself together and learn from your Sister-in-law Su Wan. She’s always revealing some new skill. In the future, she’ll never have to worry about a job. With an iron rice bowl, what kind of man couldn’t she find?"

Liu Xiangju was still feeling down, but she had her pride to think of in front of others. She shook her mother’s arm. "Mom, stop it. I just have one day off today. Can’t I even rest a little?"

"Hmph. Hide those red, swollen eyes of yours before you say anything else."

Liu Xiangju: "..."

Meanwhile, Zhang Yun was being bombarded with questions, and she looked just as confused. "Sisters, I don’t know either. My sister-in-law just said it was an arrangement from her superiors. As for what skills she has, I really have no idea."

"...Battalion Commander Lu is truly lucky to have married Comrade Su Wan."

"Isn’t that the truth? No wonder Battalion Commander Lu wasn’t interested in his other matchmaking candidates. With an outstanding partner like Comrade Su Wan around, how could he possibly have eyes for anyone else?"

"Exactly. I don’t know how Comrade Su Wan’s brain is wired, but she’s so incredibly smart."

Zhang Yun was left dazed by all the praise.

She couldn’t help but ask, "Weren’t you all just saying that my sister-in-law eating fish at every meal was too extravagant and that she didn’t know how to live frugally?"

The wives were taken aback for a moment, then immediately changed their tune. "Extravagant? Doesn’t know how to live frugally? With her skills, would she ever have to worry about not having fish to eat? The research institute has a free cafeteria! They might not have fish every meal, but they definitely have meat every meal. After all, those people use their brains. They have to have that kind of benefit."

"That’s right."

Zhang Yun: "..." ’So, just like that, my sister-in-law has become the smart, capable, ideal woman of the compound?’

「At the same time.」

Zheng Zhizhi returned to the village.

"Zheng Zhizhi, you’re back?"

"Zheng Zhizhi is back!"

She had just walked into the village when she was spotted by the villagers working in the fields. The first shout was quickly followed by a second.

Zheng Zhizhi looked up and saw the gossipy, drama-loving looks in everyone’s eyes.

Someone even asked.

"Zheng Zhizhi, has your family paid the compensation to Su Wan yet?"

"I heard your older brother committed a crime and went to jail?"

"Your parents are gathering pig feed right now. Now that you’re back, you should hurry up and help them. You need to be more sensible from now on and stop being a burden to them."

"What do you mean, ’be a burden’? The only reason Zheng Zhizhi is so bold is because the old couple of the Zheng Family spoiled her."

Listening to everyone’s taunts, Zheng Zhizhi’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. She suppressed her fury and put on a facade, her face streaming with tears as she said, "You only talk about me, but why don’t you talk about Zhang Yun? I was tricked by Zhang Yun too!"

"Still refusing to admit it at a time like this. No wonder you were capable of secretly selling the things my brother-in-law gave my sister." Su Jue straightened up from the ridge between the fields and sneered.

"Su the Third, Zheng Zhizhi isn’t like you and Su Wan. You two are well-educated top students who are about to go to university, so of course you know your manners. What would an ignorant village girl like her know?" someone jeered.

"Go to university?" Zheng Zhizhi whipped her head around to look at Su Jue.