Widow Remarries in Sixties

So Jin Xiuzhu made a distressed expression and sighed helplessly, saying, “I really can’t understand what they’re thinking. The relationship was already awkward, and if the two families didn’t interact, it would have been fine. But they insist on coming to us.”

Hearing this, Fang Min looked at her, not sure how to react.

Jin Xiuzhu took the embroidery frame from her hand and continued embroidering. She recounted the things Jiang Mingchuan and Zhao Yun had before, as well as how she had managed to attach herself to Jiang Mingchuan and the recent incident where Yang Yao invited their two families to dinner. Jin Xiuzhu was articulate and eloquent, emphasizing key points and building suspense.

Fang Min listened with relish, finding it more interesting than reading a book. Originally, she had only planned to stay for a while but ended up listening to the whole story until the two children woke up, still not feeling satisfied as she drank a sip of water.

Jin Xiuzhu added, “Now both of our families are married, so let’s just live our own lives. Why should we intentionally endure discomfort to please others? People should look forward, don’t you think?”

Fang Min nodded thoughtfully.

After seeing off Fang Min, Jin Xiuzhu continued embroidering the little tiger for a while.

In the evening, when Jiang Mingchuan came back, Jin Xiuzhu told him about what had happened in the afternoon. She said directly, “I don’t want to have much contact with her in the future, and I’m also concerned about what happened between you and her before. I know that if it weren’t for me, you two might have already been married. But there are no ‘ifs’ in this world. Marrying me was also your decision.”

“The last time we gave gifts was unavoidable, but this time I must refuse. If you don’t like my decision and have other ideas, I won’t stop you. On the contrary, I’ll help you. Opportunities come only once. You decide for yourself.”

To avoid guessing each other’s thoughts, Jin Xiuzhu decided to be transparent about her feelings. She knew Jiang Mingchuan’s mind but felt he couldn’t always understand hers. So, it was better to tell him directly.

Knowing Jiang Mingchuan’s tendency to be softhearted, not just towards her but towards others as well, Jin Xiuzhu felt it was necessary to be clear. Soft-heartedness was fine, but not everyone deserved it.

Sure enough, when Jiang Mingchuan heard her words, he thought she might be overthinking, maybe the other party hadn’t thought much about it. 

But now, having understood Jin Xiuzhu’s temperament, he saw through her seemingly calm demeanor, knowing that beneath it, she could explode. So, he went along with her statement, saying, “If you don’t want to associate with someone, then don’t. I’m not close to Yang Yao anyway.”

In reality, he wasn’t close to Zhao Yun either. They had only met twice, both times when she visited the barracks.

Previously, he had felt guilty towards Zhao Yun, but after her marriage, that guilt disappeared. He felt Yang Yao was a decent person, and if they lived well together, their days wouldn’t be too bad.

Jin Xiuzhu anticipated Jiang Mingchuan’s response. Satisfied, she picked up a piece of meat for him, and her voice softened. “I’m busy now. I don’t want to waste my energy on such trivial matters. Let me tell you, I showed my poetry to Fang Min today. She praised my literary talent, but said my emotions were too sorrowful. Otherwise, it could have been published in the newspaper.”

“So you see, I’m a capable and outstanding person. It’s just that I was born in the wrong place. Now I have to take care of my family, my child, and juggle work and studies. If you continue to bother me with these matters, even if I were a fairy, I couldn’t handle it, you know? If you provoke me and I lose my temper, I might just leave with our daughter.”

Jiang Mingchuan, who hadn’t taken it seriously at first, couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jin Xiuzhu upon hearing her words. He saw her diligence every day. She went to work in the cafeteria before dawn, handled household chores and studied during the day, and was not able to sleep until past eleven at night.

So, he tried to come home early every day and help with household chores in the morning.

He felt that doing a bit more work was no big deal. As a grown man, he wasn’t afraid of hardship, but he didn’t want Jin Xiuzhu to suffer along with him.

Then, hearing that she would take her daughter and leave, he felt that it was something she could do. They both knew how she had managed to latch onto him in the first place. They were both clear-headed about it, with nerves stronger than most people’s.

Jin Xiuzhu had long figured out his temperament. Dealing with him was always precise. Rather than suspecting ill intentions from the other party, it was more like his close association with them would cause a lot of trouble for himself. Jiang Mingchuan wouldn’t pity himself, but he would pity her.

How did he develop such a personality that only considered others?

At night, Jin Xiuzhu again took the initiative to hug the man.

Meanwhile, in the next door, Fang Min and Commissar Zhu lay silently on the bed as usual.

Fang Min listened to the shallow breaths of the other person and knew that he hadn’t slept at all.

Ever since she found out that she was being kept awake by his snoring, he had been staying up later than her. But no matter what, he refused to sleep separately.

Fang Min actually knew that she had a somewhat difficult temperament. She was aloof and didn’t like to communicate with people, whether it was with him or with her family.

But today, after hearing Jin Xiuzhu’s words, for some reason, she seemed to have gained a different perspective from her.

She thought for a moment, then took the initiative to tell him about going next door to visit in the afternoon.

The man seemed a little surprised that she spoke up, but he didn’t show any signs of it. Instead, he occasionally agreed with one or two sentences.

The woman’s voice was soft and slow, like a lullaby. As she continued speaking, Fang Min suddenly heard a snore. She was slightly stunned for a moment, then smiled gently and closed her eyes.

***

A few days later, He Yan came back and told Jin Xiuzhu that Wu Xiaojun suddenly didn’t want to play with him anymore. He greeted Wu Xiaojun, but Wu Xiaojun turned around and ran away.

Jin Xiuzhu thought it was just a small conflict between children and said with a smile, “It’s okay. Mom will give you five cents. You can buy two ice popsicles, and then Wu Xiaojun will be friends with you again.”

He Yan remembered Wu Xiaojun’s temperament and nodded obediently, “Okay.”

He took the money and hurriedly ran out.

When he was out of sight, Fu Yanyan couldn’t help but interject, “Friends bought with things aren’t real friends.”

Jin Xiuzhu smiled and listened, “Your brother is still young. He will meet real friends in the future.”

Fu Yanyan didn’t say anything this time.

But it seemed that it didn’t work this time. He Yan came back crying shortly afterward, with a large wet spot on his chest. Jin Xiuzhu hurriedly asked him what happened.

He Yan said aggrievedly, “Xiaojun didn’t want to eat my ice popsicle. He even threw the one I gave him at me and said he hated me.”

Jin Xiuzhu’s face darkened. She remembered the incident last time. She thought it was just a small conflict, but it seemed like it was getting serious.

But she still comforted He Yan, “It’s okay. Mom will go to Grandma Wu’s house and ask Xiaojun what’s going on for you.”

He Yan looked at Jin Xiuzhu sadly and just nodded.

Before cooking dinner, Jin Xiuzhu took a plate of green pepper stir-fried pork over to Wu’s family. He Yan didn’t go, only taking her daughter with her.

When they arrived at Wu’s house, Grandma Wu was picking vegetables in the alley. Jin Xiuzhu greeted her with a smile, “We’ve been busy moving these past few days. I finally got some free time today. I bought some meat this morning and brought it over to you. Would you like to try it?”

Grandma Wu also smiled, “Always thinking about our family… You should keep it for yourselves.”

“We have plenty at home.”

Jin Xiuzhu glanced towards the house, “Is Sister-in-law at home?”

Wu Pozi’s expression softened, “She’s in the kitchen.”

Jin Xiuzhu pretended not to notice and continued smiling, “Alright, I’ll take it over.”

She went straight into the house and into the kitchen, where she saw Qian Yufeng leaning against the kitchen wall, lost in thought. When she saw Jin Xiuzhu approaching, a smile appeared on her face, and she asked somewhat politely, “Why did you come over?”

Jin Xiuzhu glanced at her and repeated what she had just said outside.

Qian Yufeng nodded, said “Oh,” and then said, “Keep it for yourself to eat. There’s food at home.”

Jin Xiuzhu frowned as she looked at her. Qian Yufeng wouldn’t usually be this polite to her. Unable to help herself, she asked, “Has something happened?”

Qian Yufeng didn’t even think about it and said, “Nothing.”

But she avoided Jin Xiuzhu’s gaze, picked up the cloth on the table, and began wiping it vigorously, her expression somewhat unnatural.

Jin Xiuzhu’s mind began to wonder, and after a moment’s thought, she told Qian Yufeng about what happened with the two children during the day.

Based on Qian Yufeng’s usual style, she would have scolded Wu Xiaojun severely after hearing it. But this time, after listening quietly, she only remained silent for a moment before calmly saying, “It’s normal for children to fight. It’ll be fine in a few days.”

Jin Xiuzhu paused, also sensing the other’s coldness towards her, and didn’t say anything further.

She rarely buttered up to people, so she just replied with a “fine” and left with the child.

Watching the figures of the adult and child disappear at the door, Qian Yufeng tossed the rag in her hand onto the table. She knew it had nothing to do with Jin Xiuzhu, but she just felt uneasy and wanted Jin Xiuzhu to feel the same.

That day, she scolded her son on the way home. When she got back, her husband and mother-in-law took turns scolding her. In these past few days, besides her eldest daughter, she hadn’t spoken to anyone else at home.

She felt that instead of being constantly compared to Jin Xiuzhu in the future, it would be better to have fewer interactions. After all these years, she had managed to get by, and it hadn’t felt bitter.

It was only after getting to know Jin Xiuzhu that life became even more difficult.

On the way back, Fu Yanyan saw Jin Xiuzhu not speaking and said, “Aunt Qian is probably envious of Mom.”

She could understand that feeling very well. It was clear they started out similar, but gradually, they found the gap widening, which made one feel suffocated.

Aunt Qian was like this towards Mom, just as she was towards Tang Ying in her previous life.

After saying this, she couldn’t help but ask, “Does Mom envy anyone?”

This question was more for Tang Ying.

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t think much and replied firmly, “No, Mom will put in ten times or a hundred times more effort to get what she wants. Even if I fail in the end, I won’t regret it.”

Actually, there were some, but in the end, she had them all under her feet.

Fu Yanyan had never heard such a powerful response before. She instinctively turned her head to look at Jin Xiuzhu. From the perspective of a bystander, the woman appeared young and beautiful, but what made her even more vivid was her determined gaze, as if it could break through all difficulties and obstacles.

Whether it was due to being influenced by her emotions or not, Fu Yanyan’s heart began to beat a bit faster, and she felt as if she had gained a bit more courage.

And then Jin Xiuzhu proved with facts that Fu Yanyan had not misjudged her. The day before He Yan’s school started, Jin Xiuzhu encountered a problem with her work in the cafeteria.