Jie Jingling had no natural talent for medicine, but she made up for it with diligence. She had learned the basics of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine, which was why she could understand the notebook Qin Mei had written.
"Amie, thank you," Jie Jingling said. The notebook was too precious, and the temptation was too strong for her to refuse.
"You’re my sister," Qin Mei said, pulling Jie Jingling into a sudden hug.
Jie Jingling felt a wave of complicated emotions, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. ’Amie sees me as a true sister, but I’m only nice to her because she’s Jing Si’s wife.’
Jie Jingjue went to use the restroom. He pushed open the door and saw Sun’s mother on the toilet. He froze for a second before reacting, quickly apologizing as he shut the door. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry."
The moment the door closed, Jie Jingjue’s expression turned grim. ’Why doesn’t she lock the door when she’s in there?’
Compared to Jie Jingjue’s mortification, Sun’s mother was completely unfazed.
When Sun’s mother came out of the restroom, she opened the door to find Jie Jingjue standing there, looking awkward.
"I’m done. You can go in now," Sun’s mother said.
Jie Jingjue’s mouth twitched, and he ground his back teeth. "Aunt Sun, when you use the restroom, could you please lock the door?"
"Why would I lock the door?" Sun’s mother asked.
Jie Jingjue was momentarily speechless. He forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "If you lock the door, I’ll know the restroom is occupied, and it won’t be... awkward."
"What’s there to be awkward about? It’s not like I’m some young maiden," Sun’s mother said.
Jie Jingjue gritted his teeth. ’She might not be a young maiden, but I’m a pure young man!’ "Aunt Sun..."
"Alright, alright, I get it," Sun’s mother cut him off, then started complaining, "You city folk are so fussy. It’s not like back in the countryside. When we’re working in the fields and need to go, we just find an empty spot to take care of business. If someone happens to walk by, we just greet them."
"Aunt Sun, the restroom here is unisex. Locking the door is a matter of mutual respect," Jie Jingjue said through gritted teeth.
Sun’s mother waved her hand dismissively. "I know, I know."
Jie Jingjue felt it was useless trying to get through to her. ’Forget it. I’ll just remind my big sister in a bit.’
Jie Jingjue walked into the restroom and immediately felt the urge to gag. Sun’s mother had gone number two and hadn’t flushed the toilet.
Jie Jingjue didn’t flush it for her. Covering his mouth and nose, he rushed back out. Sun’s mother hadn’t left yet. Seeing his reaction, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "What’s wrong? Didn’t you need to use the restroom?"
"Aunt Sun, how am I supposed to use the restroom when you didn’t flush?" Jie Jingjue asked, his face a mask of displeasure.
"Just use it, and you can flush both at once," Sun’s mother said. Her daughter-in-law had repeatedly drilled into her head that she had to flush the toilet after using it, and she’d remembered. She had been about to flush, but then she thought that since Jie Jingjue was going to use it next, they could flush everything together and save water. ’What a great idea!’
"Big sister!" Jie Jingjue felt like he was going to lose his mind. He ran off to find her.
Jie Jingjue ran into Jie Jingling’s room, but it was empty. He then ran back toward the restroom.
Hearing Jing Wu calling for her, Jie Jingling came out of Qin Mei’s room. She saw Jing Wu run into her room, then noticed Sun’s mother standing outside the restroom. Jie Jingling instantly understood the situation.
Jie Jingling walked over to the restroom. Just as she’d suspected, her mother-in-law hadn’t flushed. ’Forgetting to flush after peeing is one thing, but not flushing after going number two is just too much.’
After flushing the toilet, Jie Jingling came out. Looking at Sun’s mother’s innocent expression, she frowned slightly. "Mom, you have to remember to flush when you’re done."
"I did remember. Your fifth brother needed to use it, so I figured I’d wait for him to finish and flush it all at once," Sun’s mother explained. ’City people are so fussy, and not nearly as easygoing as people from the country. Making such a fuss over using the toilet.’
Jie Jingling was speechless. She didn’t even know what to say to her anymore.
"Mom, you have to remember: flush as soon as you’re done, whether it’s number one or number two. If you don’t, it will smell, and how can anyone else use the restroom?" Jie Jingling said, forcing herself to be patient.
"Why wouldn’t they be able to use it?" Sun’s mother asked, unconvinced.
"Mom," Jie Jingling said, her brow furrowed in exasperation.
"I know, I know," Sun’s mother said impatiently.
Jie Jingling felt a headache coming on. ’Every time I tell her, she says she knows, but what happens? Nothing.’
Sun’s mother turned and stalked off, muttering under her breath, "Your side of the family is so much trouble. If I had known, I never would have come. Making such a big deal out of using the toilet."
Jie Jingjue came out of the restroom, shaking water from his hands. He was surprised to see Qin Mei in the room and wondered for a moment if he’d walked into the wrong one.
"Fourth Sister-in-law," Jie Jingjue called out.
"It was just an unflushed toilet. Was it really necessary to yell and make such a scene?" Qin Mei chided.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, she took a crap," Jie Jingjue said. The thought of it made his stomach turn.
"And you don’t?" Qin Mei asked.
"I do, but I’m not disgusted by my own. I’m disgusted by *hers*. Is there something wrong with that?" Jie Jingjue retorted.
No one is ever disgusted by their own mess, only by other people’s.