She Lives without Regret in This Life

"Mom, let's return these things together in a bit."

Zhao Lanzhi's expression paused upon hearing this, and she said with difficulty, "How about we wait for your father-in-law to come back to return them?"

"Ah?" Sheng Ning, not understanding the Xu family's situation, frowned subconsciously upon hearing that a man was supposed to return pots, pans, and ladles, "These items aren't heavy. We can return them ourselves; there's no need to make father-in-law do it." She thought about her father-in-law, a Left Green Dragon and Right White Tiger figure, carrying a stack of plates—just too incongruous.

"Ah?" Sheng Ning, not understanding the Xu family's situation, frowned subconsciously upon hearing that a man was supposed to return pots, pans, and ladles, "These items aren't heavy. We can return them ourselves; there's no need to make father-in-law do it." Imagining her father-in-law, known as Left Green Dragon and Right White Tiger, holding a stack of plates—it just seemed so mismatched. Zhao Lanzhi hesitated for a moment but, in the end, gritted her teeth and agreed. It would be too embarrassing to explain the sorry state of her own family; better to just persevere in front of her daughter-in-law! What's the big deal about returning something? She'd see today if it would really get the better of her.

So, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo carried the items in baskets, and before heading out, they even wrapped up a bundle of wedding candies with a handkerchief, planning to give them as a thank-you gift when returning the plates.

The first stop was at Xu Yingshan's place. Arriving at the door, they found Xu Yingshan squatting on the ground eating. He nearly popped his eyes out when he saw Zhao Lanzhi, and it took him a while to react.

"Auntie, what brings you here?" Good heavens! What kind of ill wind blew this way? Auntie had married into the Xu family but had never once visited their home.

"Can't I come?"

"Of course, of course... You're more than welcome here." Xu Yingshan hurriedly ushered Zhao Lanzhi into the house and then, catching sight of Sheng Ning following behind her, said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, hello! Have you had your meal?"

"I have, thank you!" Sheng Ning had met him at the wedding yesterday; she knew he was Living Yama's cousin and nodded politely in return.

She had a good grasp of social niceties: never too enthusiastic to come off as overbearing, yet polite enough to avoid seeming rude. It was exactly how an elder sister-in-law should speak to a younger brother-in-law.

Although Xu Yingshan was younger than Xu Qigang, he had children that could already walk. While Zhao Lanzhi was inside returning the items, Sheng Ning pulled out a big handful of wedding candies from her pocket and stuffed them into the hands of the wobbly walking toddler.

After the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo moved on to the next house, Xu Yingshan's parents craned their necks to watch for a long time.

"I say, did Zhao Lanzhi take the wrong medicine today?"

The relationship between the two sisters-in-law wasn't good. Zhao Lanzhi's origins from a landlord family had always been a talking point in the Xu family, a source of hidden scorn. Xu Yingshan's mother, skillful since childhood and a top labor-point earner for the team, looked down on someone like Zhao Lanzhi who couldn't handle any physical labor.

If it weren't for Xu Xianxiong being headstrong since he was young, with all his brothers fearing him, their relationship might have been even worse!

"How could she deign to visit our poor household?" She had never been willing to come over, even during the New Year. Today the sun must have risen from the west.

"Mom, less of that talk. Aren't you just looking for trouble?" Xu Yingshan was displeased upon hearing these words. How their auntie was had nothing to do with them; as long as uncle and cousin were fine with it, that's all that mattered.

This was just needless fretting over something that didn't concern them.

"What did I say that was wrong? Can't I speak the truth?"

"Fine, fine, fine! Just remember, when uncle comes and beats up my dad, don't you cry." Xu Yingshan carried his child and went to the little store in front to find his wife.

****

Meanwhile, Sheng Ning and Zhao Lanzhi had continuously returned items to three households, and the further they went, the more they noticed something was off. Why did all the villagers look so terrified upon seeing their mother-in-law?