"Sister-in-law, I want some water," Sun Dexiang yelled.
Jie Jingling had just finished hanging the laundry and now had to go pour water for Sun Dexiang and Sun’s mother. Qin Mei followed close behind her.
It was Sun Dexiang and Sun’s mother’s first time visiting, and as guests, they didn’t order anyone else around. Instead, they relentlessly bossed Jie Jingling around.
The water in the thermos had just been boiled by Jie Jingjue. Worried that Jie Jingling might burn herself, Qin Mei picked up an enamel mug before she could. "Sister, let me do it."
Jie Jingling didn’t object, only cautioning, "Be careful, it’s hot."
"You be careful too," Qin Mei replied. They shared a smile.
Qin Mei took a mug to Sun’s mother, while Jie Jingling took one to Sun Dexiang.
Sun’s mother reached out to take the mug, but Qin Mei didn’t hand it to her, placing it on the table beside her instead. Sun’s mother frowned, her displeasure obvious. ’Qin Mei lived with the Sun family for half a year, and I made sure she was well-fed and cared for. Now I come to the Jie family’s home, and this is how she treats me when serving a simple cup of water? So dismissive.’
’What’s the meaning of this? Am I not welcome here?’
’Hmph! Well, welcome or not, I’m here.’
Sun Dexiang was genuinely thirsty. Jie Jingling had intended to place the mug on the table, but Sun Dexiang couldn’t wait and reached right for it.
"AH, that’s hot!" The instant her fingers touched the enamel mug, Sun Dexiang snatched her hand back. She stared at her reddened fingertips, blowing on them over and over.
"Ah Xiang!" Sun’s mother rushed over, her face full of worry. After a quick look, she sighed in relief. "Thankfully, it’s not serious. It’s just a little red."
"Sister," Qin Mei said, turning to Jie Jingling with concern. "Are you okay? Did you get burned?"
"I’m fine." Jie Jingling shook her head. Thankfully, she had the foresight to take a step back the moment she saw Sun Dexiang reach for the mug. Sun Dexiang had only brushed the mug with her fingertips before recoiling; otherwise, they both would have been scalded. ’Getting burned on a hot day like this would be absolute misery.’
Jie Jingling set the enamel mug down on the table. Still worried, Qin Mei grabbed her hand and inspected it carefully. Only after confirming she was truly unhurt did Qin Mei finally sigh in relief.
"Mom, it hurts so much." Sun Dexiang’s eyes reddened as a searing pain shot through her finger. Her face twisted with hatred. "This is all my sister-in-law’s fault."
Qin Mei wanted to argue with Sun Dexiang and set the record straight, but Jie Jingling stopped her. Sun’s mother was shrewd. She knew they were in Jing Ling’s family home; they were on someone else’s turf and had to tread lightly. Besides, her daughter’s burn wasn’t that serious. It was best to let the matter drop.
"Why are you blaming your sister-in-law? You were the one being reckless," Sun’s mother said, giving Sun Dexiang a shove.
"Mom!" Sun Dexiang stared at her mother in disbelief. She was the type to throw a tantrum even when she was in the wrong, so how could she possibly back down now that she felt justified? Through gritted teeth, she said, "Mom, it was clearly my sister-in-law’s fault, but you’re blaming me for being reckless. I was thirsty, and she poured me water that was boiling hot. What was she trying to do? Scald me to death?"
Sun’s mother shot Sun Dexiang a warning glare, then turned to Jie Jingling. "Jing Ling, don’t pay her any mind. You and Qin Mei haven’t seen each other in so long, you must have a lot to catch up on. Go have a nice chat. Don’t worry about us."
"Sister, let’s go to my room," Qin Mei said, pulling Jie Jingling away.
"Mom!" Sun Dexiang stomped her foot in frustration. "My sister-in-law burned me, and you’re just going to let her off the hook that easily?"
"What else do you want me to do?" Sun’s mother rolled her eyes at Sun Dexiang. "If you were seriously burned, I could have made a scene. The problem is, you’re not."
"Not serious? Mom, just look at it! It’s completely red!" Sun Dexiang said indignantly, shoving her finger right in her mother’s face.
"Oh, for goodness’ sake!" Sun’s mother said, growing annoyed. She swatted away her daughter’s hand. "Stop making a scene! This is the Jie family’s house, your sister-in-law’s family home, not ours."
"So what?" Sun Dexiang didn’t care. ’In my eyes,’ she thought, ’Mom is an elder. No matter where we are, her word is law, and my sister-in-law has to obey.’
"You blockhead." Sun’s mother poked her daughter’s forehead. "Why do you think we insisted on coming here with your sister-in-law in the first place?"
Sun Dexiang rubbed the spot where her mother had poked her. "So I can stay here in Shijiu City."
"And if you want to stay in Shijiu City, you’re going to have to rely on your sister-in-law," Sun’s mother stated.
"What can she do?" Sun Dexiang grumbled. "If she had any real power, she never would have married into our family in the first place." In her eyes, her sister-in-law was like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river—unable to even save herself, let alone anyone else.
"Are you an idiot? She might not have the means, but her family does." Sun’s mother couldn’t resist poking her daughter’s head again.
’For a girl from the countryside to marry someone in the city... what an honor that was. If my younger daughter really managed to marry into Shijiu City, I could finally hold my head high back in our village. So many people would be envious of our family.’
To put it bluntly, she was here to sponge off her in-laws.
"I don’t think my sister-in-law’s family is all that great," Sun Dexiang said after a pause, her tone dripping with disdain. "Didn’t you say her dad is some kind of factory director? They don’t seem like much. I mean, look at this place. Sure, it’s bigger than our house, has more rooms, nicer furniture, and a tidier yard, but other than that, what’s the real difference? They can’t even afford a multi-story building. Mom, I’m starting to regret coming here with you."