She had taken over one of Jie Jingjue’s rooms to store her herbs. Since Jie Jingjue wasn’t married, it wasn’t a big deal. But once he got married, she would have to obediently clear it out for them.
"A married couple’s bed shouldn’t be slept in by an outsider," Jie Jingling said with a smile.
Jie Jingchen looked at Jie Jingling gratefully. ’His big sister really was the most considerate.’
"What an outdated custom." Qin Mei didn’t believe in that sort of thing.
"It’s not an outdated custom," Jie Jingchen said.
Qin Mei shot him a glare. "My sister isn’t an outsider."
"Alright, I won’t interrupt you two lovebirds. I’m going to get some rest." Jie Jingling started to walk away.
"Sis, where are you going to rest?" Qin Mei stopped her.
"I’ll go squeeze in with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law." Jie Jingling didn’t mention sharing with Jing Qi and Sun Tong. Jing Qi was only two years older than Sun Tong, and it was already a big concession for him to share a room with her; she didn’t want to complicate matters.
"Squeeze in? It’s summer, not winter." Qin Mei disagreed. ’It’s one thing to huddle for warmth in the winter, but in summer it’s suffocatingly hot. Knowing Sun’s mother’s temper, she would definitely make her sister sleep on the floor, and that mother-daughter duo would hog the electric fan.’
"It’s fine," Jie Jingling said nonchalantly.
"Big Sis, I’ve already sent Jing Wu to get a room ready," Jie Jingchen said.
When they heard Jie Jingling was coming, Qin Mei had prepared the rooms well in advance. She’d planned for Jie Jingling’s family of three: one room for Jie Jingling and her husband, and another for Sun Tong and Jing Qi to share. Since Jing Qi had no objections, they hadn’t prepared an extra room.
But the plan changed. Jie Jingling’s husband didn’t come; her mother-in-law and sister-in-law came instead. The weather was too hot for three people to squeeze onto one bed.
"Don’t go to the trouble. As soon as Jing Er’s banquet is over, I’ll take them home. It’s no big deal to make do for a few nights," Jie Jingling said.
"Make do? In this heat? It’s not like we don’t have a spare room," Qin Mei said.
Resigned, Jie Jingling had no choice but to accept their arrangement.
The room Qin Mei had originally prepared for Jie Jingling was the one next to her own, but it had now been taken over by Sun’s mother and Sun Dexiang. Qin Mei felt it would be too awkward to kick them out, so she could only have Jie Jingling stay in the room next to Jie Jingjue’s.
Sun’s mother and Sun Dexiang were having a miserable time in their room. They had used the toilet but had no habit of flushing it. Combined with the hot weather, the smell in the room was indescribably overwhelming.
And they had only peed. If they had taken a shit, the smell would have been unimaginable.
"Mom, it stinks too much! How are we supposed to sleep?" Sun Dexiang couldn’t stand it.
"I really don’t get what these city folk are thinking, building the toilet right in the room. The smell is going to kill us," Sun’s mother complained. "Back in the countryside, our toilets are built far away from the house. No one wants to live in a room near the toilet unless they have no other choice."
"Mom, do you think maggots will crawl up while we’re sleeping?" Sun Dexiang asked worriedly. The very thought made her feel sick.
"Probably not. The hole for pooping is so small," Sun’s mother said uncertainly. She hadn’t tried to take a shit yet, and with a hole that small, she wasn’t even confident she could aim properly.
"AHHH, I can’t take it anymore!" Sun Dexiang was going crazy. She wanted to go outside for some fresh air, but the sight of the blazing sun made her shrink back.
Just as the mother and daughter were on the verge of a breakdown from the stench, Jie Jingling’s voice came from outside. "Mom, are you and Little Sis asleep?"
"Not yet," Sun’s mother replied.
Jie Jingling pushed the door open, and a wave of stench washed over her, making her instinctively cover her nose. ’She knew they hadn’t flushed the toilet after using it. She had reminded them, but it seemed neither of them had paid her any mind.’
"It stinks so bad, who could possibly sleep?" Sun Dexiang said irritably.
Jie Jingling stepped over the threshold but didn’t rush to flush the toilet. Instead, she picked up her luggage and turned to leave. Seeing this, Sun Dexiang called out to her, "Sister-in-law, where are you going with your things?"
"Amie arranged another room for me," Jie Jingling replied.
"What? You’re not staying in here with us?" Sun Dexiang was shocked.
Jie Jingling shook her head. "It’s too hot for three people to squeeze onto one bed."
"Which room did Qin Mei put you in?" Sun Dexiang asked.
Jie Jingling pointed toward the south building. "The south room, the one next to my fifth brother’s."
"Does that room have a toilet?" Sun Dexiang asked.
Jie Jingling shook her head. "No."
Sun Dexiang’s eyes lit up. ’That Qin Mei is so biased,’ she cursed inwardly, ’giving us this stinking room while putting our sister-in-law in another one.’ "Let’s switch. You stay in this room, and Mom and I will take that one."
"Well..." Jie Jingling feigned hesitation. "We’re guests. Guests should follow the host’s arrangements."
"I don’t care! Mom and I are taking that room. Mom, grab your bags." Sun Dexiang grabbed her own luggage and stormed out of the room. Sun’s mother shot a disgusted look toward the toilet, then picked up her bags and followed her daughter out.
Jie Jingling breathed a sigh of relief. ’She could tell that Amie hadn’t wanted them staying in this room to begin with. Amie only held back from kicking them out for her sake.’