Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 12 - Resolution

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"Oh, what are you all doing here in broad daylight... Cousin Qiong, you're here too," a sharp and piercing female voice arose from in front of the back courtyard gate.

Yang PeiMin turned around as Yang Peiyan and her cousin from her maternal uncle's side, Sun Xiajuan, walked in. Sun Xiajuan walked in front, coming to a stop in front of Yang PeiMin and pointed at her, saying, "Were you just doing something shady with this man? How shameful for a girl to be doing such things, don't you have any decency?"

Sun Xiajuan had only been to Yang Dajiang's house no more than three times, but Yang PeiMin still had some impressions of her. When she was about twelve or thirteen, during their first meeting, the original owner of her body had been green with envy over Sun Xiajuan's show-off of her new hairpin. Unable to stand the provocation, she had tried to snatch the hairpin away. Sun Xiajuan cherished her hairpin dearly and did not let her take it, but she had also been angered by the original owner's bullyish behavior, rushing forward to fight. Oh, what an intense battle it was! The original owner had her hair yanked out and her face swollen from punches, while Sun Xiajuan ended up with scratches all over her face. They didn't talk about how the adults resolved it later, but that was how the two of them became enemies.

"Aren't your cousins here too?" Yang PeiMin said, amused, glancing at Sun Xiajuan, "Move aside, I'm hungry."

"Don't you dare leave!" Sun Xiajuan grabbed her arm, "Don't think you can go without explaining!"

"Cousin, what do you think?" Yang PeiMin shook off her hand and didn't bother with her, instead turning to look at Yang Peiqiong.

"Alright, alright, let's all go out to eat. We were just talking about some matters, Xiaojuan, don't make baseless claims." With Yang Peiqiong stepping in, Yang PeiMin was the first to walk out.

"Cousin, why would you..."

"Let's just go outside."

Yang PeiMin, who hadn't gone far, mulled over her thoughts.

Outside, in the courtyard, the feast was indeed ready, just as Yang Dajiang had said, with all their own people there. Three large round tables were filled with men and women sitting separately. Zhang Minghua saw her, hurriedly waving, "Where did you go? I was about to have Yingzi go look for you."

Yang PeiMin sat down beside her, "I was at the back courtyard asking my cousin to be a witness, I clarified things with Xu Min."

"You child, why didn't you tell your mom? If that Xu Min harbored bad intentions, you'd be at a disadvantage," Zhang Minghua said reproachfully.

"Alright, I'll remember that."

As they were eating, from a table nearby, Sun Xiajuan's shrill voice overpowered the men's loud discussions, "Xu Min, I heard you're dating Yang PeiMin? Is that true?"

The atmosphere went silent for two seconds before a wave of voices erupted.

"Xiaojuan, stop talking nonsense."

"There's no such thing."

"Who's spreading these rumors?"

"The Sun family girl, these are not words to be spoken lightly. How can a girl's reputation be made a joke of so casually?" This was Zhang Minghua's voice, trying to suppress her anger.

Sun Xiaojian stood up and retorted loudly, "I'm not talking nonsense. They were just dating in the backyard. I saw it with Yanzi. If they are dating, just say it. What's wrong with that? The parties involved are right here. Why not ask them? During the time of the college entrance exams, who didn't notice that they were often together?"

At this moment, Zhang Minghua's fiery gaze turned to her sister-in-law, Sun Mei. She didn't believe that Sun Xiaojian from the town could be so familiar with the idle talk of their village, "My sister-in-law Minmin did borrow books from Xu Min, but Qiongzi was also there. Could they possibly have a thing and Qiongzi wouldn't know? She is so sensible. Wouldn't she come back and tell us? I haven't heard a thing. Just now in the backyard, Minmin was with Xu Min, and Qiongzi was there too. How come the Sun family girl didn't mention that? Sister-in-law, you are a mother too. These baseless words shouldn't be spoken recklessly."

Yang Peimin couldn't help but admire her mother's shrewdness. Her words not only pointed out Sun Mei's failure to control her niece, but also brought Yang Peiqiong forward as a shield.

Sun Mei, because of the birthmark on her face, was usually a woman of few words, and even came across as somewhat cold to others. Facing Zhang Minghua's blunt question, disregarding sisterly relations, her face turned even darker.

Yang Peiqiong quickly stood up to ease the situation for her mother, "Auntie, my mother was unaware of these rumors. As you know, she normally doesn't like to gossip with others. Today, I invited Xu Min over to thank him. He lent me such valuable books for the college entrance exams. Although Minmin didn't get into university, I know she is also very grateful to Xu Min, and it's not like what everyone says."

"Hey, I tell you, sister-in-law, if the two kids are willing, just settle the matter and that's that. It's not like the old days anymore. Now we value freedom of marriage, and dating isn't forbidden. There's no need to be so secretive and make a fuss about it with the youngsters. That's just unreasonable," Sun Xiaojian's mother said with a cold and mocking shake of her head.

If it weren't for Yang Peimin's words earlier, Zhang Minghua might have considered what Sun Xiaojian's mother said. Xu Min stood out not only in the village where men struggled to express themselves clearly, but also among the educated youth; he was exceptional, not just for his handsome looks and demeanor, but also because he had prospects. It was said that he had been accepted to a key university in Shanghai. If her daughter really liked him, she might have considered it.

But Xu Min, a wolf in sheep's clothing, now her worry was how to quash the village gossip and not let it affect her daughter's future marriage prospects.

So Zhang Minghua wouldn't give an inch, "Baseless talk, what are you asking us to admit?"

Yang Dahai finally spoke, "Today, we're here to happily celebrate Qiongzi's success in the college entrance exams. We're all family; making a scene isn't right. It's true that my daughter spent some time with Xiao Xu because of the exams, but Qiongzi and other educated youth were also present. They haven't done anything untoward. Secondly, we know our own family matters. Minmin didn't get into university, and Xiao Xu is a promising young man; our family doesn't dare to aim too high. So let me put it plainly here: we won't consider Minmin dating Xu Min. I hope that if there's more idle talk about them dating in the future, everyone will stop spreading it."

"Let's not ruin the harmony of our family over such a baseless issue—it's not worth it. My wife just spoke hastily in the heat of the moment. Sister-in-law and sister, please don't take it to heart," he added.

Yang Dahai clearly had his own strategy, and with a few words, he managed to clear up the issue with Xu Min; he even made it clear that even if the two of them had feelings, as parents, they wouldn't agree. Whether Xu Min returned to the city or not was none of his daughter's concern.

Zhang Minghua, seeing that her husband had spoken out, followed his lead and apologized to Sun Mei and her sisters-in-law.

Yang Dajiang then spoke a few courteous words, and the matter was put to rest, with everyone getting along harmoniously again.

Nevertheless, Sun Xiaojian was still unwilling to let it go and seemed to want to say something several times, but was always suppressed by Yang Peiqiong.

Xu Min was also seated at Yang Dahai's table but directly opposite Yang Peimin. His gaze, seemingly indifferent, never ceased.

Yang Peimin suddenly lost her appetite.

But with no one else at home, she dared not go back alone. She glared fiercely at Xu Min, who looked stunned and then smiled at her.

Yang Peimin endured the nausea and averted her gaze, turning away to see the table where Sun Xiaojian was. Noticing Sun Xiaojian seemed to be sulking and refusing to eat, she couldn't help but laugh. Today's events had been resolved smoothly, thanks in large part to Sun Xiaojian's unwitting assistance.