12
I’d been on the road all day and wanted to
sleep early.
But Linda, full of energy, was wearing a white
dress and practicing dancing in the living
room, using a mat to stretch.
With Lily running in and out of Ethan’s room.
even using his bed as a trampoline, I had to
go get some water, taking my basin outside.
Once outside, I took a deep breath.
“Sarah, why are you back? Didn’t you say your
went to see your aunt and uncle?” Mrs.
Flower, my neighbor, saw me and came out
with her own basin, walking towards the well
with me.
“I went back for a few days and just came
back today.” Mrs. Flower’s husband was an
accountant at the mine, and they lived
comfortably. Whenever they made dumplings,
they’d always give me a bowl. We had a
decent relationship.
“Oh, my dear…”
Mrs. Flower wanted to say something but
looked behind me, pulling me forward a few
steps.
When we got to the well, she tapped my
forehead reproachfully. “Why are you so
<
foolish? What kind of person is he?”
“Her husband died, and she’s flaunting
herself everywhere, attracting all kinds of
trouble!”
“You young people are so naive. Ethan is a
catch! He’s like a honey pot that attracts
flies, and you’re bringing her home? Are you
crazy?”
After listening to Mrs. Flower’s nagging, I
realized that Ethan had told everyone it was
my idea to bring Linda home.
He said I felt sorry for Linda and her
daughter, and that before she went back to
her hometown, I asked him to take them in.
I sneered.
Ethan was clearly using me as a shield to
avoid gossip.
But since I was leaving anyway, I didn’t want
to argue with him. I smiled and said nothing.
When we got back, Mrs. Flower kept telling
く
me to get rid of her as soon as possible.
Worried that I was too timid, she said to let
her know if I needed help.
I knew Mrs. Flower was also a little nosy, but
she was a good person.
Back in the house, the living room was empty.
I went to the bathroom to get my clothes but
found many feminine products that weren’t
mine.
My soap and towel were shoved into a corner
next to the trash can. Their place was taken
by large and small towels, shampoo, and
headbands.
“Oh, sister–in–law, Lily needs to use the
toilet, could you move?” I was deliberately
bumped, hitting my head on the doorframe.
Linda was already holding Lily, helping her
use the toilet.
After helping Lily, seeing me still standing by
the door, she said softly.
“Sister–in–law, please move, you’re blocking
my way.”
Although her voice was gentle, her triumphant
and contemptuous eyes were clear to see.
But I didn’t move.
“Apologize.”
I said calmly.
Linda was stunned, not expecting me to
react.
But she had a good daughter.
Lily, who already disliked me, seeing the
tense atmosphere between her mother and
me, pushed me hard and cried loudly, “You’re
bad! You’re bad! You’re bullying my mommy!
Bad person!”
Hearing Lily’s cry, Ethan rushed out of the
room, “What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
Ethan comforted his daughter, while Linda’s
eyes were red,
“It’s my fault, Lily needed to use the toilet,
<
and sister–in–law was in the bathroom, so I
asked her to move…‘
وو
Ethan looked at me disapprovingly.
Although he didn’t say anything in front of
Linda, he coaxed Lily, saying,
“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Later, Uncle Ethan will
tell Auntie to apologize to Lily, okay?”
Seeing the child was still crying, he carried
her back to his room, saying he’d get her
some candy.
Linda looked at me with a smirk and followed
Ethan into his room.
As the child’s crying gradually subsided, I
calmly took a shower and put my things in the
basin.
When I returned to the room, Linda and Lily
had left.
On the bedside table was a box of colorful
candy, clearly for a child.
