Married but Untouched! Her Soldier Husband Came Home Dumbfounded! - Chapter 44

Ye Fangfei returned to her room to find Shen Cuijuan just finished with her bath, sitting on the bed and drying her hair.

“Sister-in-law, I’ve heated the bathwater for you. Go wash up quickly. Put your dirty clothes in the basin—I’ll scrub them later.”

“Cuijuan, you’re so sweet. I want us to be sisters for life.”

Ye Fangfei laughed, pinching her cheek lightly. She put the bag containing money and ledgers into the drawer, then took out the dress and shoes she had bought for her today.

“These are for you. Do you like them?”

“Wow! They’re so beautiful!” Shen Cuijuan dropped her towel, eyes sparkling with delight. “Sister-in-law, did you really buy these for me?”

“Yes! We have the same style, just in different colors. Try it on and see if it fits.” Ye Fangfei locked the door and took out the sky-blue version to try on herself.

Shen Cuijuan gazed at the elegant dress and pearl-white shoes, eyes wide. “Sister-in-law, I’ve never worn shoes like these before!”

“Then what are you waiting for? Try them on!”

Ye Fangfei had already slipped into her dress and was changing shoes. Shen Cuijuan quickly removed her clothes, dressed in the outfit, and asked eagerly, “Sister-in-law, do I look good?”

“You look lovely. This color suits you perfectly—it makes your skin look so fair.” Ye Fangfei praised her sincerely.

Shen Cuijuan stood up, almost mesmerized by Ye Fangfei’s radiant smile.

“Sister-in-law, why are you so beautiful?”

Ye Fangfei pursed her lips in a smile. “Cuijuan, don’t just say that about me—you’re beautiful too.”

“How can I compare to you?” Shen Cuijuan knew she looked okay, but next to Ye Fangfei, she could only be “okay.”

She tugged at her dress happily. “I’m going to show Mom and Dad.”

“A dress is just a dress—why do you need to show off everywhere?” Ye Fangfei teased.

“It’s my first time wearing such a pretty outfit! Of course I want to show off.” Shen Cuijuan twirled proudly before skipping off to her parents’ room.

Meanwhile, Sun Xiujue was trying on the blouse Ye Fangfei had bought her and asked Shen Jianhua, “Honey, does this look good on me?”

Without looking up, Shen Jianhua replied, “Yes, yes, it looks good.”

“You didn’t even glance at me and just said that! You’re getting more and more perfunctory,” Sun Xiujue muttered, rolling her eyes as she examined herself in the mirror.

“Dad, Mom, are you asleep?” Shen Cuijuan called from outside.

“No, not yet.”

Sun Xiujue opened the door and saw her daughter standing there, poised and radiant. She almost didn’t recognize her. “Oh my, Cuijuan, I almost didn’t recognize you in this outfit!”

“Mom, Sister-in-law bought it for me.”

“It’s gorgeous! Your sister-in-law has such good taste.” Sun Xiujue pulled her daughter inside. “Honey, look at our Cuijuan—so pretty!”

Shen Jianhua nodded with a smile. “Our daughter was always pretty. With this outfit, she looks even better.”

Sun Xiujue stroked her hair, beaming. “Cuijuan’s almost nineteen. It’s about time to think about a husband. I’m really going to miss her.”

“Mom, what are you talking about?” Shen Cuijuan tossed her hair and ran off.

Sun Xiujue shook her head with a smile. Once the door was closed, she turned to Shen Jianhua. “Fangfei’s dress and shoes for Cuijuan weren’t cheap. She also bought shoes and shirts for Zhanqiang—she spent quite a bit today.”

“The hundred-yuan Zhanxun sent the other day—we should give it to her. We have food and lodging here; she won’t spend much otherwise.”

Shen Jianhua looked at her. Did this woman leave her brain back at the old house when they split the family assets?

Sun Xiujue noticed his gaze and frowned. “What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Seeing that she still hadn’t realized the problem, Shen Jianhua sighed and spoke quietly.

“Don’t forget—Zhanxun is already married.”

“That hundred yuan was sent to his uncle. Why send it there? Didn’t you know? If you told Fangfei this afternoon, how would she feel? What if she thought Zhanxun wasn’t fully committed to her? That would create a rift… How would life go on then?”

Sun Xiujue froze. “Then… what… what should I do? I didn’t think so far ahead. Why didn’t you warn me?”

She panicked, pacing the room, and grabbed Shen Jianhua’s arm. “Dad, what if my daughter-in-law gets mad?”

“Relax. She didn’t get angry, or she wouldn’t have bought us clothes this afternoon.”

Shen Jianhua patted her hand and advised, “Be careful how you speak next time. Luckily, Zhanxun’s wife is open-minded. If she were petty, even if she didn’t show it, resentment would build up.”

“I understand. I’ll be more careful next time.”

Sun Xiujue nodded quickly. After a while, she hesitated. “Since she knows now, should I explain? And that hundred yuan—should we give it to her?”

Shen Jianhua thought for a moment. “No need to explain specially, and the money doesn’t need to be given. In time, just casually mention it. In a few days, I’ll write Zhanxun and tell him not to send money to us alone anymore—send it to his wife instead.”

Sun Xiujue nodded but still felt uneasy. She tossed and turned that night, worried that tension might arise between her son and daughter-in-law.

The next morning, Sun Xiujue got up early. She began braising meat while tidying the yard.

Shen Cuijuan made breakfast for the family.

Ye Xihu had returned from the slaughterhouse with six pig heads, twenty bundles of intestines, dozens of pig trotters, and a pack of pig tails.

Shen Jianhua and Ye Laifu prepared wood ash and several large basins of water. Once the supplies were unloaded, they got to work immediately.

Shen Zhanqiang, hearing the commotion, got up as well, grabbing tongs to clean leftover pig hairs.

After sweeping the yard and hall, Sun Xiujue went to the kitchen and quietly asked Shen Cuijuan, “Cuijuan, did Sister-in-law get upset yesterday?”

“No! We had fun trying on clothes, and we talked a lot before bed.”

Cuijuan frowned. “Mom, why would Sister-in-law get mad? Why are you asking?”

Suddenly recalling the village scenes of mothers-in-law quarreling with daughters-in-law, her face turned pale. “Mom, you didn’t have a fight with Sister-in-law, did you?”

Sun Xiujue covered her mouth immediately. “Quiet, you brat! How could I fight with your sister-in-law?”

“Then why ask if she was angry?” Cuijuan suspected something was off. Clearly, something had happened; otherwise, her mother wouldn’t act like this.

Before Sun Xiujue could explain, she saw Ye Fangfei standing at the kitchen door. How much had she overheard?

Sun Xiujue felt embarrassed and frustrated—she shouldn’t have asked the girl.

Ye Fangfei, ever practical, immediately asked, “Mom, what’s going on? Did someone tell you something?”

“No… no…”

Sun Xiujue, at a loss for words, took a deep breath, then led Ye Fangfei to her room and recounted everything.

“You know how our family is. Before the property split, your grandparents controlled everything tightly. Your father and I barely had any cash, and whenever we went to our own parents’ house, we went empty-handed. Your uncles and aunts never complained, but we were embarrassed.

“A few years ago, when Zhanxun joined the military, the money he sent home was intercepted by your grandparents, so your father and I never saw a penny. When Zhanxun found out, he sent money to his uncle instead. At first, five yuan a month, then ten. This time… for some reason, he sent a hundred yuan at once.”