Su Jin was on the team pressing oil. The work was simple, and she didn’t have to be out in the fields under the scorching sun.
At noon, Su Jin, a dedicated eater, went to line up for lunch. People in line were scrambling, worried they wouldn’t get enough to eat. When she saw the lunch distributor holding sweet potatoes, her appetite immediately waned. Meanwhile, a few older women nearby cheered happily, “Sweet potatoes! They look soft and sweet—today, we should eat a few more!”
Su Jin was internally shocked. Sweet potatoes alone could make people this satisfied? It seemed that over the past few days, Jiang Heng had not been stingy when it came to her meals.
According to Jiang Heng, one unit of work earned 0.8 yuan—not much over a year. Everyone was eager to be at the front of the line, afraid that being just one spot behind would mean getting only a few bites.
Liang Wendi, who was also in the oil-pressing team, couldn’t stand it.
“Oh, acting all high and mighty, standing here as if someone should serve you!”
Su Jin sized up the girl in front of her: short, sleek black hair, slightly yellowish skin, and a droopy expression that made her look perpetually bitter. But her eyes were arrogant and overbearing. Su Jin realized immediately—this was definitely a rival. After all, by Jiang Heng’s standards, many girls in the village would be eager to marry him.
Liang Wendi’s loud shouting drew the curiosity of the older women in the village. Their eyes were sharp as mirrors. They were annoyed that this girl, who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, was cutting in line. To them, Su Jin was a stranger on their territory, taking resources that should have been theirs. Of course, that was infuriating.
Su Jin’s usual cheerful expression was gone, replaced with a steely calm that hinted at an approaching storm. She knew she was an outsider in this village. Normally, her fiery temper would have flared into a fight, but she was smart—she needed a different strategy.
“And who are you? Yelling here for no reason? I’m standing here to let the older women in the village go first. I’m new here, just a newlywed, and I’m letting them serve themselves before me. You say I’m acting high and mighty? I think you’re just looking for trouble. Can’t get my man’s attention, so you’re trying to get mine?”
Her words were clever. By showing respect to the elders, Liang Wendi had no comeback. But when Su Jin mentioned “my man,” Liang Wendi was shocked.
“What… your man? I’m still a pure young girl! You’re married—don’t you have any shame?”
“Are you here looking for trouble? Am I in your way?”
Liang Wendi stammered. It was her first time being outsmarted verbally. One of the older women nearby chimed in, “Oh, Wendi, what are you doing? Jiang Heng’s wife is sensible. She knows she’s new and lets us older women go first—what’s the problem?”
“Besides, Jiang Heng may be good, but if he weren’t here, there are other fine men in the village, right?”
“Yes, she’s young, why make life hard for a new bride?”
One by one, they spoke up, making Liang Wendi’s face turn bright red.
“Hmph, who’s jealous she married Jiang Heng? She can’t even handle the heavier work. Look at her body—how many kids can she have?”
Liang Wendi, red-faced and furious, decided she just had to pick a fight.
Su Jin thought to herself that in this era, women were expected to bear sons for their husbands. Their own bodies weren’t even their choice. Even worse, it was taken for granted that a wife’s duty was to produce heirs, and if nothing happened in her womb for even a year, rumors would start flying. Pathetic!
Su Jin sneered at her. “Is that your concern? Are you trying to race to see who gets to bed first?”
Liang Wendi was stunned. If anyone heard such words, her reputation would be ruined.
“You… if you can’t bear a son, you’re a disaster for the Jiang family, leaving them without heirs!”
“Ah, isn’t it funny? You say don’t ruin my purity, yet you keep talking about children. Seems like you’re quite interested in this topic?”
“I’m only thinking of the Jiang family’s future!”
“Go on, what family do you belong to, huh? Your surname is Liang. Are you trying to steal a married man? Maybe bringing up childbirth is your way of prying into Jiang Heng and my private life. As a pure young girl, you should have some shame!”
When Su Jin said “pure young girl,” she raised her voice a few decibels.
The older women clapped their foreheads, suddenly understanding.
“I said it! A new bride works hard and seriously—nothing to gossip about. It’s that shameless girl trying to pry into the couple’s private life.”
“Wendi, you should watch your reputation and not demean yourself.”
“Exactly. Look at Jiang Heng’s quiet nature. Chasing him will get you nowhere.”
One older woman analyzed as she ate her sweet potato.
Liang Wendi froze, feeling completely defeated. Tearfully, she ran home to her mother.
Su Jin never held grudges overnight; she settled scores immediately. Delaying lunch over this girl would have been a waste. Even if the meal looked unappetizing, hunger was hunger.
The lunch distributor, friends with Liang Wendi, seemed to resent Su Jin. When it was Su Jin’s turn, the girl smiled maliciously, “Sorry, the rice is all gone now!”
Liang Wendi’s friend gloated, filling her bowl to the brim with rice. “Let’s see you starve!”
Su Jin’s eyes flared with stormy intensity. She folded her arms, a confident smile tugging at her lips—one that struck Liang Wendi’s eyes. How dare this new girl act like a lady before her?
“Su Jin, what are you so proud of?”
The tension between them drew everyone’s attention. Unnoticed, Su Jin casually kicked a small stone at Liang Wendi’s feet.
“Proud? I am indeed proud in front of you.” She raised her chin, revealing her long, fair swan-like neck.
“You’re a temptress, trying to seduce Jiang Heng!”
Su Jin looked down at the ordinary, sallow-faced girl. “Being pretty keeps a man. What can you do to me?”
“You… shameless!”
Liang Wendi, furious, took a step forward and stomped on the stone—slipping. Her bowl of rice toppled, smearing her face with grains.
