Transmigration: On the Gossip Front

When Wei Xuan heard that Zhang Yu had wasted a few yuan buying a pile of useless wood and two broken clocks that couldn’t be used, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

She angrily returned to her parental home during her lunch break, so mad that she skipped lunch.

She wanted to give Zhang Yu a good talking to; an old woman who doesn’t earn money shouldn’t be squandering cash every day. Doesn’t she know it’s hard for the old man to earn money?

If she truly feels there’s too much money at home, then give it to her to spend; she really needs the money.

Wei Xuan knew what time Zhang Yu ate and thought that once she got to her parental home, she could at least get a meal, even if Zhang Yu had already eaten, she could still ask for it.

Things seemed promising, but she ended up with the cold shoulder. What? At midday, Zhang Yu wasn’t home? Wei Xuan was utterly baffled. She couldn’t understand how Zhang Yu, who should be home, wasn’t there. What’s going on?

Auntie Wang and the others saw Wei Xuan’s angry face and thought of the commotion at the Gao Family these past few days; they knew the girl was probably at her wit’s end.

They also didn’t understand Wei Xuan. Back then, she was wooed by boys with better prospects, yet she insisted on choosing Gao Zhen.

Everyone nearby knew about the Gao Family. Their conditions weren’t good, their house was small, and there was a sickly old mother to take care of. But those things weren’t uncommon in the Capital City.

The dissatisfaction with the Gao Family came from the sickly mother-in-law, who was such a drama queen. The conditions at home were poor, so everyone should have been united, striving to earn more money. Instead, she just couldn’t stand to see things go well at home and always stirred up trouble.

Before the daughters-in-law moved in, she sowed discord among the sons. The sons never got along very well. After the daughters-in-law moved in, she created strife between the sisters-in-law and between couples.

That was her behavior internally, but externally was no different. She frequently used her frail appearance to meddle within the courtyard, and after a while, people weren’t fooled and caught on to her.

The Gao Family’s reputation was in shambles, yet Wei Xuan insisted on marrying in. Zhang Yu and her husband had advised her multiple times, but instead, Gao Zhen and the Gao Family held grudges.

Despite their poor family conditions, Zhang Yu often helped them out, yet the Gao Family brainwashed Wei Xuan against her. She was such a fool, completely unaware of who truly cared for her.

Previously, Zhang Yu always considered her their daughter and would help where she could, but after indulging them, they got greedy and used to accuse Zhang Yu of being stingy, favoring sons over daughters, and gossiping about her outside.

Zhang Yu knew all this, but every time she saw Wei Xuan’s pitiful look, she couldn’t help but soften. But this time, Auntie Wang and the others thought she meant it.

They thought so for a straightforward reason: Zhang Yu even kicked her most beloved grandson, Wei He, out without blinking an eye.

Even now, Li Juan stubbornly stayed at her parental home and didn’t return. Even when Li Juan’s mother came over hoping Zhang Yu would mediate the young couple’s dispute, she declined, saying it was none of her business, and interfering too much would lead to resentment. This left Li Juan’s mother furious but unable to argue.

Seeing Auntie Wang and the others who were close to Zhang Yu, Wei Xuan wanted to turn and leave. They often criticized her to Zhang Yu.

But she had no choice. Not knowing where the old lady went, she forced a smile, "Auntie Wang, Granny Jiang, where did my mom go? It’s already lunchtime."

"Fishing." It wasn’t a secret. Everyone knew.

Fishing? Wei Xuan never imagined that Zhang Yu would be associated with those words, disbelief written all over her face, "How is that possible? I’ve never seen my mom go fishing."

She’s sure that, in her memory, she’s never seen Zhang Yu fishing. Seriously, with nothing better to do, she couldn’t help her do some laundry? Lately, just washing clothes and bedding had worn her out, hoping someone would lend a hand.

"In the past, it wasn’t that your mom didn’t want to go, but she was busy, busy washing your clothes and cooking your meals."

"Now that there’s time, of course, she can go fishing, and your mom is quite good at it." Although she doesn’t catch something every day, she frequently brings back some fish.

Wei Dazhi’s meals have greatly improved recently, causing some jealousy.

What? The old lady really can fish? From the neighbors’ words, Wei Xuan realized Zhang Yu truly could fish and had caught big ones a few times, which fueled her anger.

Seriously, she didn’t inform her when she caught big fish. Knowing she’s been eating at the Gao Family, where meals aren’t great, her stomach is often empty.

"My big brother, they’re really lucky." To Wei Xuan’s mind, when Zhang Yu caught big fish, she’d surely share it with Wei Jiang and Wei He, which irritated her, proof of clear favoritism.

Auntie Wang regarded it as pure jealousy, "No, your mom didn’t give your big brother any. The fish she caught was for her and the old man."

What? How could that be true? Wei Xuan’s first thought was that Auntie Wang must be covering for Zhang Yu with those words.

Auntie Wang, finding it frustrating, asked several other neighbors, and they all nodded in agreement.

Widow Luo didn’t want to get involved, but she had been cowed by Zhang Yu before. Listening inside, she wanted to chime in, itch driven by resentment.

But now, with Auntie Wang speaking up and other neighbors voicing out, she felt it was safe to speak her mind. What she stated was the truth; if Zhang Yu knew, so be it.

"Yes, Wei Xuan, you didn’t know that? Your mom has gone fishing many times, catching both big and small fish."

"But she never gave any to your brothers." Widow Luo couldn’t understand, "Your mother is really over the top, extremely selfish, just thinking about herself eating, never considering your brothers."

With Auntie Wang saying those things, Wei Xuan would think they were defending Zhang Yu, but hearing it from Widow Luo, she knew it was true, given Widow Luo and Zhang Yu don’t get along.

Now it was chaotic; panic surged in Wei Xuan. If Zhang Yu had kicked Wei He out and kept the good food for just her and her husband, was this really the Zhang Yu she knew?

Back in the day, anything good at home was for them and the old man to eat; she ate last. But now, she only cared about herself.

How did things turn out this way? Wei Xuan truly couldn’t understand how things could change so much. Not even caring about Wei He or sparing anything for Wei Jiang, then what about her?

Although her parents treated her fairly, it still didn’t compare to her brothers. Now her brothers weren’t getting any special treatment, would she?

Wei Xuan knew that Wei Dazhi’s salary wasn’t low; combined, theirs couldn’t exceed the old man’s salary.

But theirs had to cover household expenses and child-rearing, stretching thin, while their father’s salary was just for the two of them, allowing for significant savings.