Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Yang Wuni grew annoyed by Zhai Qingming's use of the phrase "old flame."

She wanted to know who had said those words.

"Wu Ni, I misspoke. It's not... it's not an old flame, and nobody told me."

Zhai Qingming panicked and paced anxiously around the room.

"Zhai Qingming, if you hadn't told me, my family wouldn't have asked you to help us build our house."

Don't assume that just because Zhang Changyao is nice to you, he'll come looking for you.

I, Yang Wuni, decide the money in our family; he can't control me.

Take this chicken back to Mendun, don't let him eat it on the way.

Since you can't distinguish between good and bad people, don't come visiting our house so often in the future.

Yang Wuni picked up the chicken she had taken out of her rice bowl and placed it on a corner of the dining table.

He rolled his eyes at Zhai Qingming and began to tell him to leave, clearly not wanting him to.

"Wu Ni, you're so good to Men Dun'er. After all this, I really feel bad for you and Chang Yao if I don't say anything."

It was Sister Hou Jiu who said that Changyao and Lin Qiu had a good relationship.

Lin Qiu wanted to keep men in your house, so she gave you a sum of money to build a house.

And...and also said that Lin Qiu wanted to reconcile with Zhang Changyao.

"I...I'll go back first, the chicken will get cold and I'll have to reheat it."

Zhai Qingming knew that his words just now carried considerable weight.

Knowing he had caused a great disaster, he grabbed the chicken and ran away in a flash.

"Hou Limei? How did he know that Lin Qiu gave us money?"

I haven't told anyone else. Zhang Changyao, have you told anyone else?

Yang Wuni looked at Zhang Changyao, who turned around and glanced behind him, saying, "I didn't say anything, why are you looking at me?"

"Zhang Changyao, something strange has happened here. We can't pretend we don't know."

Why can't Lin Qiu spend this money, or help her build a house?

What if Hou Limei really is forcing you to be with her, just like she said?

We're poor, we can go out and work hard, but we can't sell our bodies.

Yang Wuni pulled her blanket over and was about to take out the money inside.

"Wu Ni, don't worry, I'll go ask Hou Limei what's going on."

How could a housewife like her know so much about Lin Qiu's visit to us?

I suspect there's something else going on here, maybe not what we're thinking.

Zhang Changyao pressed down on Yang Wuni's hand, which was about to take the quilt apart, and turned to go to Hou Jiu's house to find Hou Limei.

Hou Limei was brushing the kang mat when she saw Zhang Changyao arrive.

He put his head on the kang mat, pretending not to see, and dared not look up at Zhang Changyao.

She knew perfectly well that what she had just said must have been told to Zhang Changyao by Zhai Qingming.

"Big sister, I want to ask you, how did you know that Lin Qiu gave me money to build a house?"

Also, who said Lin Qiu wanted to be with me?

Zhang Changyao sat opposite Hou Limei, using a broom to block her hand from brushing the kang mat.

"Changyao, your older sister is just making this up, don't take it seriously."

"I don't know any Lin Qiu at all; that's just Zhai Qingming's guess."

Hou Limei's face was already red to her neck, but she was still trying to argue.

"Alright, big sister, let's go find Zhai Qingming now."

You two should confront each other face to face. I want to know who is lying.

For no other reason than if Lin Qiu really said that, I would have to return her money.

My family would rather not build the house than bear this reputation.

We're just an ordinary family trying to make a living; we can't stand baseless gossip.

Zhang Changyao didn't press Hou Limei for answers, not wanting to hurt her at her advanced age.

"Big sister, I told you not to gossip, but you wouldn't believe me."

Now that Brother Changyao isn't building houses, where am I supposed to find work?

"Why don't you buy me a bicycle? I'll go with Zhai Qingming to the outer village."

Hou Jiu, who had just entered the outhouse, came in holding up his pants.

He snatched the kang brush from Hou Limei and threw it on the floor of the outer room.

"Xiao Jiu, I'm not gossiping, that... that's what Director Liao of the grain depot said about Lin Qiu."

Changyao, don't go asking Lin Qiu. The person who helped me find work is still working at the grain depot.

They were kind enough to help me find work, I can't let my careless words drag them down with me.

Hou Limei looked regretful as she dug at the black mud in the gaps of the kang mat with both hands.

"Big sister, don't worry, I won't ask Lin Qiu."

Tell me why Lin Qiu's family said those things about her.

"Changyao, there's someone working at the grain depot in our village."

He helped me find a job, which was to go to Director Liao's house and take care of his paralyzed son.

Because I was staying at their house, I could hear Lin Qiu and Director Liao talking from time to time.

A few nights ago, Director Liao came home drunk.

Regardless of whether we were asleep or not, they came into the room and called Lin Qiu over.

Lin Qiu grabbed my hand and made me follow her to Director Liao's room.

Director Liao got angry when he saw me with Lin Qiu.

He smashed the bedside lamp and ashtray on his own bedside table at Lin Qiu.

Lin Qiu was unable to dodge in time, and his face and head were cut, with blood immediately flowing from his hair and under his eyelids.

I was terrified and hid behind Lin Qiu, too scared to make a sound.

I was afraid that Director Liao would throw something at me again, so I turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, Lin Qiu clung tightly to my arm and wouldn't let go.

Director Liao became even angrier when he saw that Lin Qiu remained silent.

He pulled the feather duster out of the flowerpot and was about to hit Lin Qiu on the head.

Lin Qiu, with her neck stiff, told Director Liao to beat her to death.

Director Liao pointed at Lin Qiu with a feather duster and said, "Don't even think about getting a housing plot approved in Zhangzan Village."

He also told Lin Qiu to quickly ask you to return the money he had spent on building the house.

They even said... that Lin Qiu is coming to our village because he wants to be with you.

No matter how much Director Liao belittled Lin Qiu, Lin Qiu remained silent. Director Liao had no choice but to tell the two of us to get out.

That's how it is. I didn't lie; I just shouldn't have told Zhai Qingming.

I was so scared that I quit the next day, just in time for Xiao Jiu to come back.

Hou Limei told Zhang Changyao everything she had heard and seen.

"Big sister, if you're not going to do it and have come back, isn't Lin Qiu in even more danger now?"

Zhang Changyao clenched his fists nervously, and a bead of cold sweat broke out on his scalp.

"Changyao, it's alright. I asked the person who found me the job later."

He said that Lin Qiu brought a young woman over that very day.

Hou Limei breathed a sigh of relief and sat up much straighter.

"Big sister, you're just a busybody. Tomorrow, weed all the weeds in the garden."

I saw you were so tired you dragged the cat's tail onto the bed, and you still think about people behind their backs?

Hou Jiu leaned against the box and heard Hou Limei finish speaking, then pointed at her nose and scolded her.

"Xiao Jiu, your older sister is getting on in years, so watch your words."

Lin Qiu and I are classmates, so I can't just watch her make a scene and ignore her.

I'll go find Lin Qiu in a little while and return the money for building the house to him.

I can't take advantage of others and then ignore their well-being.

When Zhang Changyao left, he gave Hou Jiu a push, telling him to be nicer to his older sister.