The rain outside was intensifying, and the sky was a gloomy, oppressive grey.
Just as I was about to enter the space to study, I heard my name being called amidst the rain.
"Erya, Song Erya!"
"Song Yitang!"
This familiar voice automatically conjured up the image of Aunt Liang Xiulian in my mind.
In my past life, just after I had agreed to marry Zhang Rui, she came to propose the marriage.
At that time, I wanted to persuade Song Jianguo and Liang Shaofen to cancel the marriage arrangement with the Zhang family, but I only left with my tail between my legs after Li Ping came to make a scene and hurl insults.
Later I heard that the man was mentally disabled, his brain was damaged by a fever when he was a child.
It turned out that both sides were pitfalls waiting for me to jump in.
Liang Xiulian was holding an umbrella not far away, her idle hand laden with things, and as she drew nearer, Song Yitang couldn't help but break into a sweat.
Song Yitang said nothing, but shut the door, preparing to feign death.
However, glancing at the rickety wooden door, I had no hope for it, so I braced myself for battle in advance.
"Erya, it's me, your Aunt!" Liang Xiulian knocked on the door.
No one answered her, and just as Liang Xiulian was about to turn back, she noticed smoke rising from the chimney.
She had an epiphany and forcefully slammed into the door.
Bang—
The door was knocked down with a heavy thud, crashing to the ground and raising a cloud of dust, marking its innocent sacrifice.
Song Yitang covered her mouth and nose, her expression remarkably calm.
She knew this was something Liang Xiulian was capable of doing.
"Are you playing dead, you wretched girl?"
Liang Xiulian had no sense of guilt, and she was even more infuriated that Song Yitang hadn't paid any attention to her.
"Just like I thought, not a single good thing comes from those bearing the Song surname."
Liang Xiulian set down her things and brushed off the rainwater with her hand.
"Is there something you needed, Auntie?" Song Yitang pursed her lips, looking at the valiantly sacrificed door.
Wondering how she was going to fix it later.
"I found you a marriage prospect, so get ready and go meet them tonight," said Liang Xiulian.
Liang Xiulian paced back and forth in the room, looking around disdainfully and said, "You shouldn't live in this dump anymore; just move over to your husband's place tonight."
Tsk, I hadn't even agreed yet, and she's already calling it my "husband's place."
Song Yitang raised an eyebrow and sat down, saying, "Aunt, don't you know I've separated from the Song family?"
"Hmph, you think you can really separate yourself from Song's house—you have the blood of your real parents running through your veins."
"As long as you bear the surname Song, you can't sever ties with the Song family for the rest of your life!" Liang Xiulian sneered.
"Let me tell you, your husband's family is from a distinguished household, and they have an only son."
"You wretched girl might as well secretly rejoice tonight."
Her words went in one ear and out the other, as Song Yitang didn't take them to heart,
Seeing her silence, Liang Xiulian grew anxious.
"I'm speaking to you, do you hear me?"
Clutching at straws, Song Yitang asked reluctantly, "They've agreed?"
Liang Xiulian was taken aback, then nodded and said, "Yes, that's right; your parents couldn't be happier."
"And that little brother of yours too; he's never given you the time of day, but this time, he even unprecedentedly called me Aunt."
The sightless fools of a family, daring to kick me out.
That wretched house isn't even fit to be compared to my family's pigsty, and yet they dare to turn their noses up at me.
Especially that little wretch, a curse upon him!
The more Liang Xiulian thought about it, the more she gritted her teeth, but outwardly she was all smiles.
Song Yitang felt as if her heart had plummeted into an ice pit, any sympathy she had for Liang Shaofen that morning vanished without a trace.
"The separation was done in the presence of the leaders, and I no longer have any ties with the Song family."
"If they have any objections, we can very well go to the commune to reason it out!" Song Yitang, feeling irritated, stood up and stuffed Liang Xiulian's things into her hands, pushing her out the door.
"Calling you 'Aunt' is a courtesy because of our past; if you harass me again, I'll report you to the police."
In the blink of an eye, Song Yitang had unleashed a barrage on Liang Xiulian and even kicked her out?
Li Qianjin, passing by, noticed something amiss and asked out loud, "Comrade Song, have you run into some trouble?"
Liang Xiulian swallowed the curse that had reached her lips, picked up her things, and left.
Before leaving, she left one last remark, "You deserve to suffer all your life!"
Li Qianjin wore a straw hat, his body draped with a thin film for rain protection.
"Who is she?"
Song Yitang shook her head and smiled, replying, "A relative from my family. The rain is getting heavier, Comrade Li, you'd better head back quickly."
Li Qianjin gave a simple smile and scratched the back of his head.
"Right, but about that door..."
Li Qianjin had come out because of the noise, not expecting to bump into Song Yitang, he had originally planned to leave.
But seeing the woman's relentless demeanor, he thought Song Yitang might not be able to withstand her.
That's why he stayed a bit longer, he certainly hadn't intended to eavesdrop on idle talk.
Song Yitang looked at the door and clicked her tongue.
Li Qianjin proactively offered to fix Song Yitang's door. Considering his own lack of handyman skills, he could only ask for his help.
"This door will only hold up for a few days, you should still find a village carpenter to make you a new one."
Li Qianjin had already fixed the door, he shook it to ensure it was secure before letting go.
"Otherwise, it's not safe for a girl like you."
Song Yitang, having nothing much to offer in return, poured him a cup of malted milk essence and cut him a small piece of meat.
Li Qianjin, turning to see the items, froze in place.
"No, no, no, this is too valuable, I can't accept it."
"Please take it, otherwise I won't feel at ease."
Finally, after a tug-of-war, Li Qianjin reluctantly accepted it.
Li Qianjin was inwardly amazed; he hadn't expected the seemingly impoverished young lady to have living standards more extravagant than city folks.
This was his first time drinking malted milk essence. His heart uneasily flickered, hardly daring to savor it.
"That Educated Youth with the surname Fu hasn't given you any trouble, right...?"
Song Yitang actually felt a bit guilty, fearing that she might have involved Li Qianjin because of herself.
Li Qianjin gulped down his drink, then raised his hand to wipe his mouth, "Trouble me? He's still under investigation up until now."
"Mhm."
After Li Qianjin left, Song Yitang entered her space to study, but her heart remained on edge, for some reason.
Liang Xiulian returned home in a very disheveled state.
Seeing her mother's condition, she knew the endeavor had been fruitless.
"Mom, go change into some dry clothes!"
Yao Xiaolan hurried forward to catch the items, as Liang Xiulian grumbled and cursed her way back to the room to change.
"What should we do now, do we have to return those thirty yuan?"
Yao Xiaolan didn't want to let it go, as she was getting married next month. No matter what, she had to persuade her mother to use it for her dowry!
After drinking some hot water, Liang Xiulian's body gradually began to warm up.
"That little wench gave birth to two little fools, and now they dare to ride on my head!"
Liang Xiulian, dominating the household, always acted tyrannically at home, suppressing her younger sister Liang Shaofen.
"If she won't eat the soft approach, then she can't blame me for taking the hard line."
"How are you going to be hard on her?"
Liang Xiulian looked disdainfully, somewhat despising her daughter.
None of her own cunning had been inherited by her.
"Your Second Aunt is spineless, your Second Uncle cares too much about appearances."
"What if we tie someone up and take them to the Su family, let Song Erya spend a night with that brain-damaged kid, and then spread the word?"
Yao Xiaolan's eyes lit up; the worry clouding her face instantly cleared, replaced with a smile.
"That way, they'll have to eat the humble pie whether they want to or not!"
"Find two trustworthy people, and follow me to the Golden Brigade Educated Youth Spot tomorrow night."
"Okay, Mom!"
Yao Xiaolan ran out cheerfully to find people.
Liang Xiulian sneered, then took another large gulp of hot water.
Nothing she set her mind to from childhood to now had ever failed to come to pass!