In previous years, these few big markets before the festival were filled with buyers and sellers, so much so that the last two big markets would extend from half a day to a whole day.
Previously, Ma Suyun loved visiting the big markets, but sheâs pregnant this year and canât squeeze into crowded places.
Along the way, Ma Suyun saw villagers pushing bicycles and carrying large bags of goods, and she felt envious.
This envy made her want to chat more, ask what each family bought, and praise another familyâs fresh groceries.
Saying this made her feel disheartened.
This year, almost every household in Qin Family Village built vegetable greenhouses and clearly were more prosperous.
And those who worked at Xiyang Food Factory were lavish in purchasing New Year goods.
Letâs not even mention large chunks of pork, they were buying racks of ribs like fans.
Thinking that her family hasnât bought anything yet, only a little fried food, which she got from her mother-in-law.
Sheâs pregnant and inconvenient, and her husband Qin Wen didnât take care of any tasks.
Even though she suffers from severe pregnancy vomiting; itâs strangeâothers couldnât stand the smell of fish and meat, yet she liked eating meat.
But she enjoyed eating, and her family simply couldnât provide for it.
Finally, hoping for the New Year to come, Qin Wen hadnât bought any meat till now. Today is the last big market, so come what may, today meat should be bought.
Thinking this, she sped up her pace, but only walked a few steps when she got drawn to some gossiping by two nearby people.
Hearing them mention someone, Ma Suyun even forgot about the meat-eating issue.
She couldnât resist joining the gossip eventually.
Until almost noon when people went home to cook, Ma Suyun felt she hadnât had enough.
Returning home, seeing Qin Wen was back, she didnât even check what he bought at the market, but plopped down at the edge of the kang, eyes wide open, her pitch higher.
"Did you know, Qin Juan from the second house got divorced?"
Qin Wen was lying on the kang with his hands cupping as he dozed off, hearing the noise and knowing Ma Suyun was back, he didnât open his eyes, but upon hearing that shout, he sat up quickly.
"What did you say? Who got divorced?"
"Itâs Qin Juan from your second uncleâs house, the best-married one among her sisters, not only married someone from the city but also someone working in the government, later went to that city."
When Ma Suyun married Qin Wen, Qin Juan was already married and they had moved to Yan City.
Qin Juan rarely returned to her parentsâ home, so Ma Suyun barely met her and hardly spoke a few words.
But in her impression, Qin Juan was a highly fortunate woman.
A rural woman not only married a city person, but her husband was also in an official position.
Who in Qin Family Village doesnât talk about how fortunate Qin Juan is.
Qin Wen heard it clearly the first time, but he still couldnât believe it.
Now, being confirmed again, Qin Wen happily slapped his thigh.
"Great, truly great, didnât expect the second house to face retribution, like I said, not all good things should go to their second house. Qin Juan divorced this time, I wonder how those two brothers will manage, if Qin Juan has the face to stay in Qin Family Village."
Qin Wen happily grabbed Ma Suyunâs arm, "How did you know? For how long? Is Qin Juan already back in the village?"
"They say the divorce happened a while ago, but itâs been kept secret."
Qin Wen scoffed, "So disgraceful, how could it not be kept secret? But speaking of it, Qin Yangâs couple just went to Yan City this year, right? How come Qin Juan had no issues for years, but divorced after they moved? Did you dig up what caused the divorce?"
"How could anyone find out, if they wish to hide, what could be hidden? In our family, only your eldest nephew is in Yan City, but he, like your sister-in-law, only recognizes money and is closer to those two brothers than to you, so trying to get anything from him is impossible."
Qin Wen long knew what his eldest nephew was like, now even unwilling to call him uncle, let alone be close.
He didnât pursue the reason further, only said, "Really didnât expect someone like Qin Juan could end up divorced."
As for Ma Suyun, not being familiar with Qin Juan, they being cousins, Qin Wen was indeed knowledgeable about his cousin.
She was good-tempered from young, never got into an argument with anyone.
But her personality was too soft, like dough, made one feel she was weak.
"I think the Zhang Family doesnât want her, she looks as if she suffers, doesnât look fortunate, the Zhang Family has such a good condition, but she only bore a daughter, even broke off the continuation for them, who could tolerate such a daughter-in-law."
Ma Suyun nodded in agreement.
They ordinary families all wish for sons to continue the family line, let alone the city officials.
"But speaking of it, your cousin really is capable, just divorced and already found a man."
Now Qin Wen was even more shocked.
If someone else did that, heâd accept it, but someone like Qin Juan splitting and immediately finding someone?
"Did the second uncle and aunt introduce him?"
Ma Suyun shook her head, "They say she found him herself."
Qin Wen refused to believe, "Misheard, Qin Juan to find a man herself?"
Heâd rather believe that pigs climbed trees.
"Thatâs what they all say, after divorcing, Qin Juan never returned, she works in Lin Chuxiaâs shop in Yan City, that man also works in Lin Chuxiaâs shop..." Ma Suyun shared all she knew.
Though she was quite sour.
Anyone close to Lin Chuxia could go work at her shop for wages.
"Both work in one shop?" Qin Wen seemed to understand something, chuckled, "Now I know why Zhang Family doesnât want Qin Juan."
"Why?"
Qin Wen glanced at Ma Suyun, his eyes carrying mockery, "Probably Qin Juan fooled around outside, letting Zhang Family catch the handle. Think about it, Qin Juan and Zhang Wenbin married for years, always peacefully, why did she divorce when Lin Chuxia and Qin Yang went to the city? Qin Juan wasnât working before, just cooking and taking care of the child at home, surely Lin Chuxia opened the shop, let Qin Juan work there, Qin Juan couldnât stand loneliness and fooled around with male employees in the store, the Zhang Family couldnât take it and divorced."
Even if Qin Juan wasnât that kind to fool around, so what? Sheâs so pretty, any man flirting her, being found by the Zhang Family is the same.
Ma Suyun nodded, "Say this could be possible, the Zhang Family and Qin Juan divorcing even not want the daughter, suspecting Ningning isnât Zhangâs, otherwise which family divorces and doesnât want the child? By the way, I specifically dug about what Qin Juanâs partner is like, they say heâs large and bald, doesnât look like a good person, I think what you said might be right, the Zhang Family knew she fooled around and thus doesnât want her."