Volume Four: Awakening of Insects - Chapter 150: The Pride of the Luo Family

Secretary Huang and Xie Dapao had only come to the Luo family to attend this birthday banquet because of Le'er. Feng Shuya had known Luo Yinhxiang for a long time, got along quite well with her, and actually liked her, but their relationship was not close enough to warrant attending an old woman's birthday banquet just for her sake. However, Luo Yinhxiang's status was different now. She was the deputy manager of the Shepanshan Breeding Farm under the Great Serpent King Company, and she was even in charge of finance. She was an important figure at the breeding farm, and more importantly, she maintained a very close relationship with Le'er and Li Ying.

She cared deeply about anything and everything related to the breeding farm.

For several important figures from the town to attend a birthday banquet at an ordinary farming household was simply unthinkable in the eyes of the villagers. Consequently, the social standing of Luo Yinhxiang's family in the village rose sharply overnight.

In the past, because Luo Yinhxiang had been disobedient and married Sha Jinhai against the wishes of her elders, her family's reputation and standing in the village had suffered. Luo Yinhxiang's own reputation in the village was particularly poor, but now, everything had changed.

The villagers were whispering among themselves in private.

"Sister Yinhxiang has such immense prestige now, doesn't she?"

Where there are three women, there is a full theatrical performance, and with a gathering of women, the drama was bound to be lively.

"I heard she got divorced, you know."

"It must have been that bastard Sha Jinhai who was dragging down her luck before. Look at that—as soon as she got a divorce, her fortune turned around immediately. I hear she's now the deputy manager of the Great Serpent King Company, and she's even handling the money and accounts."

"They say the salary is high, too. Several thousand yuan a month. She's struck gold."

"The boss of the Great Serpent King Company is so young. Just a little pup, really."

"And that woman from Guangzhou is gorgeous. Looks like a fairy descending from the heavens."

The women chattered all at once, whispering among themselves. Their eyes flicked with unconcealed jealousy, while simultaneously overflowing with envy toward Luo Yinhxiang.

"Sister Yinhxiang has gotten so pretty, too. Look at the clothes she's wearing. Tsk tsk, those must cost several hundred yuan a set, the bastard."

"In a few years, I bet she'll be decked out in gold and silver." A woman in her thirties gazed into the distance at Luo Yinhxiang. "Comparing people just makes you want to die of frustration. Look at how radiant she is. And us? Which of us doesn't look covered in grime? We look like we just crawled out of the mud, damn it."

"Second Sister-in-law from Shanglin, didn't you used to curse her as a slut?"

"That was in the past. Back then, she went out of her way to marry Sha Jinhai, who looked like a decent enough fellow on the outside but was completely useless where it counts. Who could look up to that?" Second Sister-in-law from Shanglin exposed her plump breast to nurse the infant at her chest, curling her lip. "Can things be compared to the past now? I heard the wages at the snake farm are high. Later on, I'm going to ask my Shanglin to go and see if he can get a job at the snake farm. That's got to be better than working odd jobs away from home."

"Your Shanglin brother has been working away in Guangzhou for so long without coming back. You must be feeling a bit lonely, right?"

"As if a little crab like you sleeps soundly!" Sister Shanglin scolded with a laugh. "Is your own man not by your side? Would you sleep peacefully?"

The women burst into giggles. Country folk were very pragmatic and only cared about tangible benefits. Their horizons were narrow and their perspectives small; they did not yearn for grand wealth, only to survive a little better than others. Survival in the countryside was hard, and even the smallest advantage could make their lives a bit easier.

One could not simply call them snobs; when life was difficult, practicality came first.

Originally, there was a girl from Xiushan Village who went away to work as a prostitute. At first, everyone cursed her to hell and back, but when she returned draped in gold and silver with a city man in tow, sending bundles of money back to her family, people stopped cursing. Even if they did swear, their words were laced with envy.

Luo Yinhxiang's treatment at home had also skyrocketed from the depths of the earth straight up to the heavens. Previously the family's shame, she was now the family's pride. She was the youngest daughter, with four older brothers and sisters above her. Her eldest sister was already forty-two, and her eldest brother was thirty-eight. Her eldest sister was called Jinxiang, and she had three brothers: the eldest was Qingsong, the second was Qingbai, and the third was Qingzhu. Her third brother was five years older than her and had always been the one who doted on her the most. However, ever since she stubbornly married Sha Jinhai against her family's wishes, even his expression had cooled toward her.

In the past, not a single one of her sisters-in-law had looked upon her with respect, all of them claiming she had brought disgrace upon the house and ruined the family's face. Consequently, Luo Yinhxiang almost never visited her maiden home. Thinking back on those years, it truly felt like swallowing one's broken teeth along with the blood.

This time, the scene was entirely transformed. Her sisters-in-law were overwhelmingly enthusiastic. "Sister this" and "Sister that," competing for her affection as if vying for favor, leaving Luo Yinhxiang completely at a loss as to how to respond.

"Sister, what kind of clothes are you wearing? They're so pretty!"

The third sister-in-law looked at Luo Yinhxiang's outfit with envy, her eyes burning with jealousy.

"Sister Ying gave these to me," Luo Yinhxiang replied, feeling a wonderful sense of pride and finally holding her head high in front of her family. "She bought them for me in Guangzhou. They cost over a thousand yuan."

"Heavens, she actually had the heart to spend over a thousand yuan?" The second sister-in-law clicked her tongue repeatedly. "Over a thousand yuan! How many things could we buy with that?"

"The Sister Ying you mentioned must be that girl from Guangzhou, right? She looks like an absolute fairy."

"Sister Yinhxiang has gotten pretty, too. Look how fresh and tender she looks!" The eldest sister-in-law clicked her tongue in wonder as well. "She just keeps getting prettier."

Luo Yinhxiang hadn't bought any gifts to bring back this time, but she had money now. Over the past few months, the salary Le'er gave her had already exceeded ten thousand yuan, not to mention the money she had earned from the performances last year, which brought her total savings to fourteen or fifteen thousand. She had prepared a red envelope containing two hundred and eighty-eight yuan and eighty cents for her mother, and fifty yuan for each of her sisters-in-law.

Needless to say, when the sisters-in-law took the money into their hands, their delight knew no bounds.

Her eldest sister, at forty-year-old two, looked terribly weathered. Her face was lined with wrinkles, and her hair was already turning gray. Her family burden was heavy and their circumstances difficult; she had failed to conceive for the first five years after her marriage, but once she started having children, she couldn't stop, birthing daughters one after another before finally producing a son at the very end. With so many young children to raise, how could life not be arduous?

Luo Yinhxiang pulled her eldest sister outside and slipped two hundred yuan into her hand.

"Yinhxiang, you have such good fortune now," her sister said, tears streaming down her face. "I used to worry so much about you, but I don't have to worry anymore. You've finally found your path."

"Sister, I'm doing great, you don't need to worry about me." Luo Yinhxiang touched the white strands in her sister's hair. "You shouldn't work yourself so hard either; your hair is turning white. Why don't you call Yuncai back? I'll speak to Le'er and have her come work at the snake farm."

Yuncai was the eldest sister's oldest daughter, nineteen years old and working away from home. She was engaged, but because her mother's family burden was so heavy, she had to earn money for a few more years to support the household, so she probably wouldn't get married anytime soon.

"Alright. Sister is old and useless now," her eldest sister said with a bitter, desolate smile. "As for you, now that you're divorced, you should look for a good man if you ever marry again."

"I'm not getting married!"

"What childish talk. How can a woman never marry?" Her eldest sister smiled maternally. "Find a good man later on, and you won't have to suffer anymore."

"Eldest Sister, I am truly not getting married," Luo Yinhxiang said firmly. "I'm making over two thousand yuan a month now, and I don't need a man to support me. I'm far too lazy to marry anyone and subject myself to a man's temper."

Looking as though she were slightly angry, Luo Yinhxiang ignored her sister and walked away. The banquet was almost over. Secretary Huang, Feng Shuya, and the others had matters to discuss in town and had already left first. Luo Yinhxiang needed to return to Xiashan, where Le'er and Li Ying were waiting for her. The village party secretary, the village head, and Le'er and the others saw Secretary Huang and his group off into their vehicle. Luo Yinhxiang's mother walked up to Le'er and Li Ying with a beaming smile and said,

"Little Le'er, Fairy Girl, come here. I have something to discuss with you both."

"Mother, what could you possibly want?" Luo Yinhxiang asked, growing a bit impatient. "I need to get back; there's still a mountain of work waiting at the snake farm."

Luo Yinhxiang spoke with newfound confidence and no longer feared her own mother.

"You girl, what's the rush?" Luo Yinhxiang's mother glared at her daughter. "You haven't even finished eating yet. Go eat first, while I have a few words with Little Le'er and the Fairy Girl."

"I'm not going. I want to hear what kind of gossip you're trying to stir up."

Muttering under her breath, she went inside the house. The old lady motioned for stools to be brought out so Le'er and Li Ying could sit down, wearing a face full of smiles. Luo Yinhxiang remained standing, while her eldest sister and three sisters-in-law crowded in as well.

"Little Le'er, Fairy Girl, you really saved face for us today." The old lady had a sharp temper, but her character wasn't bad, and she knew right from wrong. "Still, there's a matter I have to trouble you with."

"Granny, just say whatever is on your mind," Le'er said with a cheerful smile.

"Sigh, my girl here is disobedient. Back then, she refused to listen to us and insisted on marrying Sha Jinhai from your village no matter what." The old lady paused, glanced at Luo Yinhxiang—who was glaring at her with discontent—returned the glare, and then slowly continued, "Look, she ended up divorced anyway."

"Mother, why are you bringing all this up?" Luo Yinhxiang grumbled angrily. "As if you're afraid the whole world doesn't know you have a divorced daughter."

"Stop interrupting me." The old lady shot her daughter another displeased look. "As for the divorce, I'm actually quite glad. That Sha Jinhai always looked like a good-for-nothing; he had the outward appearance of a human, but was worth less than dog manure. Following him meant she'd probably never turn her life around. However, a woman always needs to marry a man. Since she's without a husband now, if you two see anyone suitable, please introduce him to her. This old woman will catch a mother hen to thank you properly."

"Mother, I am not getting married!"

Luo Yinhxiang flew into a rage, her face flushing crimson.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? When has a woman ever not married?" The old lady's face darkened. "If a woman doesn't marry a man, people will point at your spine and bully you! You stubborn girl, if you don't listen to me, see if I don't take off my shoe and beat you!"

"If you want to marry, go marry them yourself!" Tears suddenly burst from Luo Yinhxiang's eyes. "I'd rather die than get married! Who dares to bully me? I don't need a man to support me anymore; why go marry a man just to take his abuse? I'm leaving! If you love gossiping about such things so much, go ahead and chew on your tongue all you want—if you keep it up, I swear I'll never come back!"

Pushing the door open, Luo Yinhxiang stormed out. She refused even to eat and headed straight back toward Xiashan on foot.

"Hey... haven't you eaten yet?"

The old lady panicked.

"I won't eat food from your Luo family!"

Without even wiping her tears, Luo Yinhxiang strode out of the house, declining to take any vehicle, and marched straight toward Xiashan.

"Little Le'er, Fairy Girl, you've made a laughingstock of yourselves," the old lady sighed, tears springing to her own eyes. "My girl's temper is so rash and headstrong; it's my fault for not raising her right. She suffered so much bitterness before, and if it weren't for you two, who knows how much more she would have had to endure."

"Granny, don't worry so much about her," Li Ying said with a smile, casting a meaningful glance at Le'er that made the young man's ears turn red, before continuing with a chuckle, "Yinhxiang is a woman with her own mind. Now that she's a core member of our company's management team, she carries heavy responsibilities and plenty of work. She has her reasons for not wanting to remarry. She's smart, capable, and pretty—are you really worried she won't find a good family?"

"That's true, we owe it all to you both," the old lady said, her wrinkles blooming with joy as she heard Li Ying praise Luo Yinhxiang. "You must help me persuade her to find a good home."

After chatting for a long while, Le'er and Li Ying finally bid their farewells, got into their car, and caught up with Luo Yinhxiang halfway down the road.