Qin Mei shook her head helplessly. "Jing Wu, you’re not wrong, but Aunt Sun is your eldest sister’s mother-in-law. She’s spent most of her life in the countryside; how could she possibly change her habits so easily just by visiting the city?"
"She doesn’t even lock the door when she uses the bathroom," Jie Jingjue accused.
Qin Mei’s eyes flickered, her expression turning strange. "You..."
"I’m tainted." Jie Jingjue covered his face.
Qin Mei’s mouth twitched. ’He walked in on Sun’s mother taking a dump, not taking a bath. Did he really need to be so dramatic?’
"Was her butt white?" Qin Mei asked teasingly.
Jie Jingjue was stunned for a moment. When he came to his senses, he glared at Qin Mei. "Fourth Sister-in-law, I saw her squatting in the bathroom and backed out immediately. I didn’t see anything."
"It’s fine even if you did. Good thing it was Sun’s mother. If it had been Sun Dexiang, you’d be in for it." Qin Mei patted Jie Jingjue’s shoulder.
Jie Jingjue gave a wry smile. ’Fourth Sister-in-law isn’t comforting me, she’s just teasing me.’
"Alright, stop dwelling on it," Qin Mei said.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, if it were my fourth brother, would you comfort him the same way?" Jie Jingjue asked.
Qin Mei smiled slightly. "Your fourth brother wouldn’t."
"Wouldn’t what?" Jie Jingjue asked.
"We have a toilet in our room. Would your fourth brother go out to use the public one? Is he stupid?" Qin Mei shot Jie Jingjue a look.
Jie Jingjue felt the sting of her words and decided on the spot. "That does it. I’m building a toilet too."
A toilet could be built behind the three rooms of the south building. The terrain there was better than by their west building, if only Jie Jingjue knew how to take advantage of it.
"Fifth Brother." Jie Jingling came into the room, looking at Jie Jingjue with a guilty expression. "I said something to her."
Jie Jingjue waved a hand dismissively. "It’s fine, Eldest Sister. I understand."
"Fifth Brother, once your second brother’s banquet is over, I’ll take them back home," Jie Jingling said.
Jie Jingjue glanced at Qin Mei, then walked over to Jie Jingling and leaned against her affectionately. "Eldest Sister, you barely ever get to come back. You have to stay a few more days. Something this small isn’t worth cutting your trip short for."
"No, it’s not early. I only have a few days off. The original plan was always to go back after your second brother’s banquet," Jie Jingling explained.
Jie Jingjue was suspicious. He shot a pleading look at Qin Mei. "Fourth Sister-in-law."
Qin Mei shrugged, unable to help. ’Bringing Sun’s mother and Sun Dexiang with her shows she never planned to stay long in the first place.’
’With Sun’s mother and Sun Dexiang around, a long stay really isn’t a good idea. If they stay too long, something is bound to happen.’
Sun’s mother went back to her room, grumbling all the way. Seeing her youngest daughter comfortably enjoying the fan, Sun’s mother curled her lip and asked in a passive-aggressive tone, "Your second sister-in-law was just giving me a piece of her mind. Why didn’t you come out and back me up?"
"Too hot," Sun Dexiang said. Furious, Sun’s mother grabbed her by the ear. Sun Dexiang yelped in pain, "Mom, that hurts! It hurts!"
Sun’s mother hadn’t used much force. Hearing her daughter’s exaggerated cries, she let go anyway and sat down beside her, glaring in displeasure. "Your second sister-in-law comes back to her family’s home and suddenly she’s all bold. Scolding me over every little trivial thing."
"Mom, this is Second Sister-in-law’s family home, not our Sun Family’s house," Sun Dexiang said, rubbing her aching ear.
"Whether she’s at her family’s home or her husband’s, I’m still her mother-in-law. She has to respect me and do exactly as I say," Sun’s mother said forcefully.
"Mom, I’m not trying to criticize you, but you should be more magnanimous. Second Sister-in-law didn’t say anything out of line, she just told you to flush the toilet after using it," Sun Dexiang said.
Sun’s mother glared at her. "Are you taking your second sister-in-law’s side?"
"Mom, I’m not taking her side! You’re my mother, I’ll only ever be on your side." Sun Dexiang hugged her mother’s arm to curry favor. "Mom, don’t forget the purpose of our trip."
Sun’s mother’s expression softened a little. She patted the back of Sun Dexiang’s hand and said, "Ah Xiang, I think that Jing Wu is quite a catch. Why don’t you marry him?"
"No way," Sun Dexiang refused.
"Why not?" Sun’s mother frowned. Of all of Jing Ling’s brothers, only Jing Wu was unmarried. They really didn’t have a choice.
"He’s not good enough for me," Sun Dexiang said, full of confidence.
"COUGH COUGH COUGH." Sun’s mother choked on her own saliva. She sized up her youngest daughter. As the baby of the family, she had been spoiled rotten, but life in the countryside was harsh on one’s appearance. She couldn’t compare to city girls her age. For one thing, Jing Wu’s complexion was even better than hers.
’It’s a shame Jing Wu is a boy. If he were a girl, with looks like that, he could definitely marry into a wealthy family.’
"Mom," Sun Dexiang said, looking at her mother with displeasure.
"You’re really not interested in Jing Wu?" Sun’s mother asked. When Sun Dexiang nodded, her mother didn’t push it. "Fine. If you’re not interested, you’re not interested. During the banquet for your second sister-in-law’s second-youngest brother, take the chance to pick someone out. Try to catch someone’s eye before we have to go back. I’ll have your second sister-in-law play matchmaker, and we’ll have her father arrange a job for you. Then, everything will fall into place for you to stay."