When the two went out, it was already late.
Sister Shen from across the street happened to be speaking to someone at the gate: "Xinyan, are you heading out?"
Xinyan smiled and nodded to the person sitting over there, then replied: "Yes."
As she spoke, He Jinxuan had already locked the door: "Honey, letās go."
Xinyan waved to Sister Shen: "Ladies, we have something to do, weāre leaving first."
The motorcycle drove far away, and someone said: "Captain He really dotes on his wife, I went to see the roof that was repaired yesterday in the morning, and saw Captain He squatting in the yard doing laundry.
When I passed by his gate, I saw quite a few clothes drying in the yard, not just Captain Heās clothes, but also his wifeās."
Someone laughed and chimed in: "Itās normal for a newlywed couple to have a good relationship, havenāt we all been young? Right, Aunt Zhang?"
The woman called Aunt Zhang nodded with a smile: "Youāre right."
But some didnāt agree: "Letting the man wash all the clothes, isnāt that just being lazy on the wifeās part? If she were a bit more diligent, Captain He, a grown man, wouldnāt have to do it himself, would he?"
Sister Shen couldnāt stand it: "Whether they are lazy or not is none of your business, we all live in the same residential compound, you should keep quiet, Captain He is very protective, if youāre not afraid of him confronting you, then say all you want."
The womanās face turned ugly after hearing this: "I was just speaking offhandedly."
Sister Shen usually couldnāt stand this woman, she often talked behind peopleās backs, though a bit nosy herself, she never carelessly defamed others: "Captain Heās wife is always busy like a spinning top, itās only natural sheād want to catch up on sleep on her day off, it has nothing to do with being lazy."
After listening to Sister Shen, someone said: "I heard that although Captain Heās wife is still studying, she makes quite a bit."
Sister Shen frowned: "Who did you hear it from?"
The woman patted an invisible speck of dust from her clothes: "Heard it from Song Yuanās wife."
Sister Shen sneered: "No wonder there are rumors about Captain He and his wife being stingy and miserly in the residential complex, I guess the source of this talk is here.
Itās just because she once used the excuse of being classmates to visit and borrow money, which Xinyan didnāt lend her, so now sheās trying to ruin their reputation, sheās really wicked."
The woman speaking earlier quickly explained: "I didnāt mean anything by it, the conversation just led here."
Sister Shen laughed: "I know your character, but it seems that the daughter-in-law of the Zhai family isnāt a decent person either.
People often say: āThose who do injustice will come to a bad end.ā
Look, Song Bingjing wanted to use gossip to ruin Xinyanās reputation, but she ended up damaging her own instead.
By noon, it spread throughout the compound that Zhaiās daughter-in-law, Song Bingjing, failed to borrow money from Captain Heās wife and then played tricks to ruin their reputation.
When this word reached Mrs. Zhaiās ears, she was almost pointing at Song Bingjingās nose and cursing her.
Whatever happened in the residential compound, Xinyan didnāt know.
She had already arrived at Granny Zhangās house and upon entering, saw someone helping Granny Zhang make a quilt: "Granny Zhang, weāve come to see you."
Then, with purpose: "Are you preparing already?"
Granny Zhang saw them come in and quickly stood up: "Arenāt I in a rush while they arenāt?"
Xinyan laughed, thinking about Uncle Shanzi and Master Sisterās age, and Granny Zhang being anxious was normal: "Iāll cheer you on and help push them to settle down soon."
Granny Zhang was delighted: "Thatās exactly my intention, these two are really dawdling, without a push, who knows when theyāll settle down."
Xinyan laughed: "Then Iāll drop by my master sisterās place in the afternoon to test the waters."
Granny Zhang was pleased: "Alright, Granny Zhang will be waiting."
Xinyan had high hopes for Uncle Shanzi and her master sister, though ultimately it depended on her master sisterās decision, she couldnāt just stir things up recklessly.
She hoped that this time her master sister was thoughtful and would find mutual affection with Uncle Shanzi, and that they would be truly happy together in the future.