CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 462: THEY SAY IT’S FREE

"Envy what? Each person has their own way of life, and you guys are doing pretty well, too! Seeing how skilled both your husbands and brother-in-law are with the kids, it’s definitely not something they developed overnight." Xiuxiu spoke candidly as she joked with them, and then resignedly let Xu Qingqing stroke her cheeks.

It was clear that both Xu Qingqing and Xu Jingjing were among the couples of the eighties who did well for themselves, both emotionally and in terms of living conditions. They only fell short when compared to Xiuxiu, but after all, Xiuxiu was a woman from a future generation. She didn’t expect a world of difference, but at least her life should be somewhat better, right?

"That’s different. Your life, third sister, is not the same as ours. Take your elder sister, for example. This life of mine, it is what it is. I’ve never even traveled far. Now, all I hope for is that my Doudou will make something of himself in the future!" This time, the speaker was Xu Fangfang. Mr. Xu had had a bit of wine at noon and had enjoyed his meal; he had already gone for his afternoon nap, and Cai Senlin and Wei Jiaqiang were busy outside in the courtyard, preparing to get some firewood for Mr. Xu’s household. So, it was just a few sisters left in the main room idly chatting. Xu Fangfang had been standing to the side for a while, feeling like she couldn’t join in the conversation. But as soon as she began to speak, it all felt like she was complaining to everyone.

"Oh!" Xiuxiu responded nonchalantly when she heard this.

Seeing this, Xu Fangfang awkwardly laughed along. She had specially made a point, but Xiuxiu didn’t even want to engage in conversation with her; she certainly couldn’t keep talking if she had any shame.

Xu Fangfang’s embarrassment was noticed by both Xu Jingjing and Xu Qingqing. The two sisters exchanged a glance and saw a hint of surprise in each other’s eyes—surprise at Xiuxiu’s aloofness, because in the past, Xiuxiu wasn’t like this towards Xu Fangfang. But today, for some reason, Xiuxiu seemed completely unwilling to deal with Xu Fangfang, and that sense was distinctly conveyed. Of course, even though they sensed it, they said nothing in front of Xu Fangfang, so the lively conversation they were having chilled instantly after Xu Fangfang’s interruption was met with no one willing to pick up the thread.

Xu Fangfang also realized this and, despite her thick skin, still gritted her teeth and bore it.

Because she had promised Mrs. Song to come back for dinner, Xiuxiu hadn’t planned on staying long. She intended to visit and stay for a couple of days during the second day of the New Year. In the evening, Xu Fangfang’s man, Song Guomin, also arrived at the Xu Family home to take Xu Fangfang and her son back to Song Family Village and, incidentally, to drive away the small green three-wheeler parked in front of the house.

However, Xu Fangfang once again showcased her thick skin, "Third sister! Look, Doudou and I have to go back to Song Family Village, and Doudou’s dad still has to drive my elder sister’s family back to Cai Village, which is quite far, and the vehicle rattles and is drafty. Why don’t Doudou and I ride with you, and you can drop us off right at our house?" Although Xu Fangfang seemed to be asking, she had already positioned herself in front of Xiuxiu’s car and was preparing to open the car’s rear door to get in.

"There isn’t enough room," Xiuxiu said coldly, her refusal quite obvious.

Actually, the car had enough room for two more people, but Xu Xiuxiu really didn’t want to have to look at Xu Fangfang’s face while driving. Besides, Cai Village and Song Family Village weren’t far apart, and since Song Guomin had come to pick them up personally, why bother going out of her way? Was she specifically trying to be disgusting, or was it just to disgust her?

"There’s not enough room!" Xu Fangfang said, somewhat disgruntled, "How can there not be enough? My Doudou can sit in the front, and I can sit in the back with your three kids." Xu Xiuxiu even made a special arrangement.

"What’s with all the fuss, woman? I’ve come to pick you all up, and you still insist on bothering your little sister-in-law? It’s not far to drop off your second brother-in-law’s family, just a turn away. Besides, your third brother-in-law’s family lives in the middle of the village, our home is at the end. She would have to go out of her way to take you, why bother? What’s this nonsense about our car being too cold? Everybody in the village rides like this, I’ve never heard you complain about being cold in the car before! You’re dressed warmly enough, a little wind will even perk you up! Get in the car quickly, stop dilly-dallying and causing trouble. If you really don’t want to ride in our own car, you can walk back." Song Guomin also spoke irritably, embarrassed by his wife’s constant troublemaking.

They were obviously all girls from the same family; the other three sisters-in-law were sensible people, so why was his wife such a busybody!

"Song Guomin, what are you saying! You’re taking the second sister’s family back, so what’s the harm in me catching a ride with the third sister on the way? The third sister has to go home anyway! At my age, I haven’t even ridden in a car yet! Can’t I take advantage of my sister’s good fortune and hitch a ride in a nice car? Even if it’s from the village center to the end, it’s still Song Family Village, not much further! I’m her older sister, can one ride from me really break the car?" Xu Fangfang’s voice was sharp as she spoke to Song Guomin, but her attitude was clearly directed at Xu Xiuxiu.

"Elder brother-in-law, you don’t have to take us; we can walk back, it’s not far, and it’s still early anyway." Xu Qingqing couldn’t stand Xu Fangfang’s behavior, letting Song Guomin drive them back to Cai Village wasn’t free. They would pay the usual fare like everyone else in the villages did, they wouldn’t let Xu Fangfang’s house suffer a loss. But she was something else, turning around to bother Xu Xiuxiu; couldn’t she see that Xu Xiuxiu was especially disdainful of her today?

"How can that be? I’ll drive you. You’ve got two kids with you! It’s not far, but it’s still a bit of a trek to walk." Song Guomin refused, frowning, then called over Cai Senlin with his wife and children to get on the three-wheeler: "Third sister, you just take the kids back on your own, be careful on the road, don’t mind this woman, let her fuss however she wants, if it really comes down to it just let her walk back on her own." As he spoke, Song Guomin turned to start the car, gripping the oversized rotating handle of the three-wheeler, spinning it until the little three-wheeler engine roared to life.

"Mom, are you coming or not?" Doudou stood aside, looking at an annoyed Xu Fangfang, and asked.

"..." Xu Fangfang didn’t say a word, just glared at Doudou with her eyes.

Seeing this, Doudou turned and climbed into the three-wheeler. In a moment, the little three-wheeler took off, and Xu Xiuxiu, who had already called her three kids into the car, was about to start the vehicle. Watching Xu Fangfang stand outside with a gloomy face, she couldn’t help but speak out in impatience, "Get in! I’ll take you back."

"Thanks a lot, third sister!" Xu Fangfang immediately beamed with a smile, then quickly got into the car: "My elder brother-in-law is just inflexible. It’s just a matter of convenience, and yet he makes a big deal out of it." Having said that, Xu Fangfang eagerly settled into the car, and even reached out to touch around the car’s interior, as curious as Granny Liu.