The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 62 - 61: A Turtle for a Tortoise

The entire He Family was quite happy.

Eldest Aunt even ran straight over to ask Xue Yue and her husband about it.

"He the Third, is what Zhen Dong said true? Did you really introduce him to a girl? And she’s a high school student?"

Xue Yue was slightly taken aback. ’So that’s what He Zhendong told the family.’

"Yes, Eldest Aunt. She’s a friend I grew up with, and her father is the production team leader of our village. I think Zhen Dong probably told you everything. He Lang and I made a special trip to Yang Shugou to ask around. Xiao Xia is fine with it; she’s met Zhen Dong before and has a good impression of him. It’s just that the team leader and his wife haven’t made up their minds yet. Xiao Xia is their only daughter and they dote on her, so they’re probably reluctant to let her go just yet. Let’s not rush things. Good things take time. We can talk about a formal meeting between our families once her parents agree."

Eldest Aunt nodded. "That’s true. Every child is a treasure to their family. Besides, her family’s situation is so good, it’s normal for them to hesitate. I was just a little excited. Ai, to be honest with you, I haven’t had a single good night’s sleep since that last incident with Zhen Dong. So when I heard him mention it today, I couldn’t help but run over and ask. Please don’t mind me."

Xue Yue smiled and shook her head. "Of course not. Zhen Dong is a fine young man; he’ll find a wife sooner or later. Besides, Zhen Dong and He Lang are cousins, and that previous incident had something to do with us, so He Lang and I both feel a bit bad about it. If things work out between Zhen Dong and Xiao Xia, we’ll be able to rest easy too."

Eldest Aunt smiled. "With you two saying that, I think it’s more than likely to succeed."

He Lang chuckled lightly. "Eldest Aunt, these things can’t be rushed. If there’s any news, I’ll come and let you know."

Eldest Aunt nodded repeatedly. "Alright, He the Third. I’m counting on you two to put some effort into this." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"We will."

Half a month passed. Xue Yue went back to working in the fields. Her belly had started to show a little, but it wasn’t very noticeable yet.

These days, her work in the fields consisted of pulling weeds.

Xue Yue wasn’t a slow worker, but she was more careful of her belly than before. Even so, someone still came looking for trouble.

It was an old woman pulling weeds not far from Xue Yue, someone Xue Yue didn’t know very well.

When the old woman saw Xue Yue stop, she said to the person next to her, "See that? The He Family’s Third Son’s wife. I hear she’s pregnant. She stopped coming to work as soon as she got pregnant. Now she finally shows up today and she’s already slacking off. It’s true what they say—trash attracts trash."

"I was wondering why she stopped coming to work. So she’s pregnant," said another person.

The old woman spoke again, "Says she’s pregnant, but she doesn’t look it to me. She probably just doesn’t want to work in the fields. And who knows what kind of dumb luck that He the Third stumbled into to land a job. But, marrying a lazy wife like her, I wonder if his measly salary is even enough to feed the two of them."

"It can’t be that bad, can it, Gousheng’s mother? I heard workers make ten or twenty yuan a month."

Gousheng’s mother: "Pah! He’s just a temporary worker. Who knows when they’ll fire him."

Xue Yue was sweating after working for just a short while. The August sun was already fierce in the late morning.

Xue Yue had brought a water bottle with her. She sat down in the shade of a tree to drink. She had just taken a sip when she heard people talking about her.

"He the Third’s wife! You sure know how to slack off. You’ve barely done any work and you’re already running off to rest in the shade. You really know how to live the high life."

The word "enjoyment" was not a compliment in those days.

Xue Yue frowned at the woman. She had a withered face, a short stature, and a head of graying hair. She was staring at Xue Yue with slanted, judgmental eyes.

"I’m ’enjoying myself’ just because I’m tired from work and taking a sip of water?"

Gousheng’s mother curled her lip, looking at Xue Yue with disgust. "Everyone in the village knows you like to take it easy. You stay home to avoid work. It’s not that I’m trying to pick on you, but for someone so young, why haven’t you learned any better? You can’t be lazy like your He the Third."

Xue Yue retorted, "What does it matter to you whether I come to work or not? It’s not like I’m eating your family’s food."

"I’m only saying this for your own good. You’re lazy, but you can’t even stand to be told so. Don’t think that just because you have the face of a vixen He the Third will cherish you. There are plenty of girls like you in town. He the Third goes to town every day; who knows when he’ll just kick you to the curb."

Xue Yue sneered, "Heh, you don’t need to worry about that for me. At least I *have* a face. You don’t even have that."

Gousheng’s mother shrieked, "Who are you calling shameless?! You little vixen! You wasteful good-for-nothing! He the Third must have been blind to marry a lazy slattern like you!"

Xue Yue was furious now too. "My husband has better eyes than you! A dog trying to catch mice—mind your own damn business!"

In an instant, Gousheng’s mother charged up to Xue Yue, jabbing a finger almost into her face, spittle flying from her mouth.

"Who are you calling a dog? You slut!"

Xue Yue instinctively protected her belly and took a step back.

Seeing that things were getting out of hand, the woman who had been talking with Gousheng’s mother earlier hurried off to get Mrs. He.

"Mrs. He! He Lang’s mother! You’d better go have a look! Your daughter-in-law and Gousheng’s mother are about to start fighting!"

Mrs. He dug a finger in her ear. "Who did you say is fighting?"

"Your third son’s wife and Gousheng’s mother! You have to go see! Isn’t your third son’s wife pregnant?"

The moment Mrs. He heard this, her legs trembled. ’My third son’s wife is pregnant and she’s in a fight?’

Mrs. He immediately took off running toward Xue Yue. Her speed... was at least seventy miles per hour.

Back with Xue Yue, a fight hadn’t actually broken out. She was holding back for the baby’s sake. But as she listened to Gousheng’s mother spewing spittle and hurling increasingly nasty insults, her fists clenched.

Just when Xue Yue felt she couldn’t take it anymore, she saw He Lang’s mother running over at top speed.

Seeing Xue Yue continuously backing away, Gousheng’s mother was feeling smug. ’Heh, trying to fight with me? You’re still too green.’

But suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her scalp, and she couldn’t help but cry out.

She turned her head and saw Mrs. He gripping her hair, her other hand swinging a slap at her.

"You old hag! How dare you bully my daughter-in-law! Do you think the He family has no one to stand up for them? My daughter-in-law is carrying my precious grandchild! If anything happens to her, I’ll tear your whole house down!"

Mrs. He roared as she pushed Gousheng’s mother to the ground and started beating her.

Gousheng’s mother was short and had been ambushed from behind by Mrs. He, so she really couldn’t fight back. Not only did she get a mouthful of dirt from being pressed to the ground, but her back and scalp were throbbing with pain.

Watching this, Xue Yue’s anger dissipated.

However, more and more people were gathering around to watch the spectacle. Xue Yue glanced at the two on the ground; it was purely a one-sided beatdown from Mrs. He.

When she felt it was enough, Xue Yue came over and pulled at her mother-in-law’s arm. "Mom, that’s enough."

Mrs. He gave Gousheng’s mother’s back one last hard pinch, and only after hearing the satisfying wail from the woman on the ground did she stop and stand up.

She saw the people around them, all murmuring amongst themselves.

Mrs. He’s eyes darted around, and then she also started wiping away tears. "My third son’s wife is pregnant, and this old witch still dared to bully her! If anything happens to my grandchild, I won’t let you off!"

Seeing Mrs. He’s performance and then the crowd’s reaction, Xue Yue instantly clutched her stomach, frowned, and said to her mother-in-law, "Mom, my stomach hurts."