On the other side, at the Lin Family, Lin Fengmian was throwing a fit about wanting to go to the county.
Zhou Xiaomei deeply regretted it—if only she hadn't mentioned Shen Qingqing in front of her sister-in-law.
Now look, she's heading to the county.
And Lin Fengmian insists on going too.
Isn't this just asking for trouble?
With barely restrained patience, she said helplessly, "I have to go to work later. If you go to the county, no one will watch Xiao Bao."
"My brother's on leave; let him watch him."
Zhou Xiaomei's eyes darted. "How about you go tomorrow instead? I'll give you ten bucks to buy something you want."
Sending her sister-in-law to the county would neatly avoid Shen Qingqing, killing two birds with one stone!
Ten bucks—practically half a month's wages for many people.
Lin Fengmian hesitated for a moment.
But then she shook her head. "I want to go today."
Zhou Xiaomei was nearly dying from frustration. "You don't even have anything urgent—why insist on going today?"
"How do I not have anything urgent?"
Meeting Shen Qingqing—that was the most urgent of matters.
She had to see what this woman was like, what exactly made her capable of coaxing Jiang into marrying her.
The fact that Jiang Zhixun hadn't returned home to visit family probably had something to do with a wife like her. He likely didn't want to see anyone.
Lin Fengmian thought to herself she was only planning to face off with Shen Qingqing, not seduce Jiang Zhixun or break up their marriage.
So, she wasn't in the wrong.
No reason for her to feel guilty!
Zhou Xiaomei could read her sister-in-law's expression and immediately knew what was on her mind.
Resolutely, she forbade her from stoking trouble.
"Their married life is none of your business. If you stir things up so badly they divorce, the resulting gossip alone would drown you."
Lin Fengmian stuck out her neck. "When did I say I wanted to meddle in their lives? Shen Qingqing came into our compound—should she avoid everyone? Talking to her counts as picking a fight now?"
Zhou Xiaomei knew just how unreasonable her sister-in-law could be when she dug her heels in.
If she went to see Mister Shen, who knew how many snide remarks meant to make trouble she'd toss around.
That was Jiang Zhixun's wife—they'd undoubtedly be seeing her regularly in the future.
If their relationship soured too much, how would anyone get along?
Besides, her sister-in-law's intentions were all too plain. She didn't get along with Shen Qingqing, and in outsiders' eyes, that would mean she lacked decency and was trying to snatch Jiang Zhixun away from Shen Qingqing.
How was Lin Fengmian supposed to meet anyone for marriage prospects after that?
How could she ever settle down?
"If you didn't harbor feelings for Jiang Zhixun, I wouldn't care if you wanted to be friends with Mister Shen—as long as she agreed to it. But take one look at yourself in a mirror: whenever Shen Qingqing comes up, you're grinding your teeth in anger. Anyone who didn't know better would think she wronged you somehow."
Lin Fengmian felt her sister-in-law was twisting facts in favor of someone else.
Her tone grew sharper. "Is she some kind of big shot that I'm supposed to like her?"
Zhou Xiaomei was stumped.
Awkwardly, she replied, "I'm not saying you have to like her. Just try to treat her normally—don't act like you're ready to explode at any moment."
Lin Fengmian let out a cold snort. "I hate Shen Qingqing. She dresses all flash and flair—she's clearly not the type to run a thrifty household. I just disapprove of how she carries herself; this has nothing to do with anyone else."
Zhou Xiaomei pressed her temples.
Her sister-in-law already had it out for Mister Shen, and now she was accusing her of being poor at managing household finances.
It was pure prejudice.
No matter how good a person Shen Qingqing was, Lin Fengmian would never see her strengths through that bias!
What's more, the money Shen Qingqing spent was hers—how was it anyone else's place to criticize?
Zhou Xiaomei figured if the conversation dragged on, her sister-in-law might drive her to a rage-induced collapse.
Not wanting to bicker any longer, she picked up her bag and prepared to leave.
"I'm heading to work. You watch Xiao Bao. When your brother gets home, tell him yourself—and if he agrees, then you can go to the county."
This was Lin Zhidong's biological sister; whatever the issue was, let the siblings handle it themselves.
Zhou Xiaomei didn't want to deal with it.
Before she could make her exit, Lin Fengmian shoved the baby into her arms.
"Your own child, you take care of him. Besides, I'm already twenty—I don't need my brother's permission to go out."
"We hired you to help watch the baby. Now I've got to get to work, and here you are making trouble?"
Lin Fengmian hesitated momentarily. "Even babysitters need days off. I'm going to the county, today!"
With that, she headed back to her room, grabbed her green canvas satchel, her stash of savings, and tickets, and dashed out the door.
No matter how loudly Zhou Xiaomei called after her, Lin Fengmian didn't turn back.
Before Lin Zhidong even made it home, he saw his wife standing downstairs with the baby, looking downright frantic.
"At this hour, why aren't you at the arts troupe rehearsal?"
Zhou Xiaomei shoved the baby into his arms in annoyance. "It's your sister—she's shirking her duties again."
Lin Zhidong looked baffled. "What do you mean?"
"I heard Mister Shen went to the county, so now she's gone chasing after her too."
Many times, Zhou Xiaomei truly couldn't understand her sister-in-law's thinking.
Mister Shen hadn't done anything to her, but even if Lin Fengmian did have feelings for Jiang Zhixun, she couldn't just go causing trouble for his wife!
She ought to be grateful Shen Qingqing wasn't warning her off already.
But instead, she went and caused trouble right in front of the woman!
Lin Zhidong held the baby as he opened his mouth to respond, then stopped, unsure of what to say.
Finally, he said sternly, "If she crosses the line, I'll send her back to our hometown."
Sending his sister back to the countryside wasn't something Zhou Xiaomei wanted.
Babies couldn't be taken lightly, and while her sister-in-law could be a pain, she'd been minding the child ever since he was a month old.
Not a scratch or a bruise on the baby, and he was always tidy and clean.
In that regard, Zhou Xiaomei was actually quite pleased.
"Let's see how things go first. She's not dumb; she shouldn't be trying to break up their marriage."
Things like crossing personal lines were strictly managed.
Getting involved in someone else's marriage would result in heavy consequences.
Lin Zhidong thought that while Lin Fengmian might not tear apart a marriage, she was bound to find ways to make life difficult for Mister Shen.
If Shen Qingqing became annoyed and unwilling to stay, Old Jiang would end up living apart from his wife.
Their relationship already seemed strained.
If they were forced into separate lives, it would surely lead to bigger issues.
And wouldn't Lin Fengmian end up being a major culprit?
"I'll take the baby and follow her," he told his wife. "If she insists on heading to the county, I'll take her along—might as well pick up some groceries to prepare for tomorrow's guests."
"Alright, you better hurry. There's still time right now."
Lin Zhidong nodded. "If she wants to go, I'll take her directly—might as well make it useful."
Zhou Xiaomei, eager to get to work, didn't say much more.
With her husband watching over things, Lin Fengmian shouldn't wreak too much havoc.
After giving their son's chubby little face a peck, Zhou Xiaomei left for the office.
Lin Fengmian was already at the bus stop—unexpectedly, she ran into Jiang Zhixun.
A bright smile lit up her face, and she instinctively wanted to strike up a conversation.
But then she remembered Jiang Zhixun was a married man and forcibly held back her urge to approach him.
She reminded herself her dislike for Shen Qingqing wasn't about Jiang Zhixun.
She just couldn't stand Shen Qingqing's style.
It wasn't about breaking up their marriage!
Lin Fengmian deliberately avoided speaking to Jiang Zhixun, choosing a seat far from him to demonstrate her innocence.
Jiang Zhixun noticed her but barely lifted his gaze.
This was Lin Zhidong's younger sister; whenever they crossed paths, she clung to him, always trying to start a conversation.
Out of respect for his friend, he'd always respond with a few words.
If she didn't approach him to chat, it didn't make a difference to him.
Meanwhile, Lin Zhidong was getting ready to follow Lin Fengmian with the baby, but just as he was about to leave, the child unexpectedly peed all over him.
By the time he cleaned up the mess, it was too late to catch up with Lin Fengmian.