In the evening, Anning and An Ping cleaned up the yard and heated up some leftovers, then cooked some millet porridge.
As she got the meal ready and went inside to call Wang Cuixhua, she heard Wang Cuixhua talking with Lin Anjie.
Wang Cuixhua's voice was soft, but it carried an indefinable heaviness.
"An Jie, no matter what you think, your father and I truly love you from the bottom of our hearts, and we always wish you the best. The Su family isn't well off, they are as poor as can be, and life certainly won't be as good as in our home. Su Zhiqiang is also the eldest in his family, and marrying him would make you the Su family's eldest daughter-in-law, a role that carries a heavy burden."
Lin Anjie was sitting aside, seemingly listening, but obviously distracted.
Regardless of whether Lin Anjie was taking it in or not, Wang Cuixhua felt obliged to say what needed to be said.
"You and Su Zhiqiang will have to take care of two elderly folks in the future, and you'll need to mediate any disputes among the Su brothers. Once married, you can't be as wilful as you are at home. When you are married, it means you've grown up, and being grown up means you can't act like a child anymore."
"I know that."
Lin Anjie pouted.
To herself, she thought: Su Zhiqiang is going to be the richest man in the county in the future, life couldn't be better. How could she possibly suffer?
Wang Cuixhua felt even worse inside, sighed, and said, "Also, tomorrow the three Su brothers are getting married together, and our house is close to the Su family. Your mother wants you to head over early. You must remember, when you enter, you must be the first one to do so. You absolutely can't let your sisters-in-law get ahead of you, got it?"
"That's so old-fashioned."
Upon hearing this, Lin Anjie grew even more impatient, "Mom, don't keep repeating these old traditions. How am I going to be someone else's once married? Won't I still have the surname Lin? And you still expect me to be sensible and filial, talking about being the first to enter the door. Those are all antiquated ideas. They're out of fashion now."
As Wang Cuixhua watched Lin Anjie completely ignore her advice, and thought about the hardships of bringing her up since she was young, tears unconsciously started to fall.
Anning watched from the side, feeling indignant on behalf of Wang Cuixhua.
To be honest, although Lin Aiguo and Wang Cuixhua, as a couple, had their quirks, had little education, and were prone to hitting children, they genuinely loved each of their kids and really considered what was best for them. For their children's sake, they could sacrifice everything.
Even the hitting was, in their hearts, believed to be for the children's own good.
After all, Xiaogou Village was a place isolated from information. For thousands of years, the people there believed that strict discipline produces obedient children.
Lin Aiguo and Wang Cuixhua really doted on Lin Anjie, their eldest daughter, and genuinely planned for her future. Even if Lin Anjie hurt them, they never thought to give up on her.
But Lin Anjie was too self-centered and overconfident, showing no respect for her own parents.
Anning watched Wang Cuixhua discreetly turn away and wipe her tears, then stepped forward to offer Wang Cuixhua a handkerchief: "Mom, it's time to eat."
Only then did Wang Cuixhua quickly stand up: "Let's go, it's time to eat. I'll bring the food with you."
Upon leaving the house, Wang Cuixhua whispered to Anning, "Get up early tomorrow and accompany your sister to the Su family's home. An Ping should go too. An Ping is young and not reliable, but you can be depended upon. Remember, you have to ensure your sister is the first to enter the door."
"Okay."
Anning nodded obediently: "Mom, I remember."
Wang Cuixhua patted Anning's head: "Our Anning is such a good girl."
After dinner, the family tidied up and went to bed early.
Anning was a bit restless and couldn't sleep, so she sat on her bed reading.
After a few pages and seeing it was nearly eleven o'clock, Anning grew thirsty and put on her shoes to go out and pour herself a glass of water.
Just as she left the room, she heard a series of curses and quarrels coming from Lin Aiguo's room.
Anning was startled and, forgetting about the water, immediately ran over and knocked on the door.
Wang Cuixhua opened the door with disheveled hair, saw Anning, and smiled a little: "It's nothing. Your dad is just too tired, mumbling in his sleep."
Anning searched through the original host's memories and seemed to recall that Lin Aiguo indeed had such a problem.
When he was too tired, he would talk in his sleep, spending his nights particularly restlessly.
In recent days, due to Lin Anjie's wedding preparations, Lin Aiguo had indeed been especially busy and exhausted.
Lin Anjie was not thoughtful, constantly causing this and that issue. Lin Aiguo had to prepare the dowry, entertain guests, and also clean up after Lin Anjie. Anyone in his shoes would be worn out to the point of collapse.
Knowing that Lin Aiguo was extremely fatigued, Anning genuinely felt sorry for this father.
She poured a cup of water for Wang Cuihua: "Mom, later give dad some warm water to drink. Tomorrow let's all get up early, so dad can sleep in a bit. If there's anything at home that can rely on An Ping, then we should rely on him. Also, have uncle help out more tomorrow, we mustn't exhaust dad."
"I know, I know."
Wang Cuihua kept urging Anning to return to her room: "Go back and sleep. You've also been running around all day and are exhausted. Don't read books later; go to sleep early."
When Anning agreed and was heading back to her room, she saw Lin Anjie coming out wrapped in clothes.
Her face was full of impatience, with a hint of anger: "Will you ever stop? Others can't sleep because of the noise, and what's with dad's problem? Other people are tired too, but you don't see anyone else talking in their sleep, do you?"
Hearing this, Anning truly felt that Lin Aiguo and his wife were being undervalued.
She also felt especially sorry for the original host.
The original host truly cared about her sister Lin Anjie, holding sisterhood in high regard.
Thus, even when the original host was schemed by Lin Anjie into marrying a domestic abuser and ended up killed, she never thought of taking revenge on Lin Anjie.
The original host's heart held that her sister Lin Anjie used to be very kind.
But now, as Anning observed Lin Anjie causing so much trouble, and seeing Lin Anjie lacking the most basic respect and affection for her biological parents, Anning had already discarded all the bit of feeling the original host had for her.
This kind of Lin Anjie did not deserve the original host's forgiveness.
She felt that such a selfish and cruel person should not go unpunished.
The original host may not hold grudges, but she, Anning, was a petty person; she held grudges, she would slowly teach Lin Anjie how to be a proper person, and make Lin Anjie live a lifetime in regret.
Lin Anjie's words not only angered Anning but Wang Cuihua was even more enraged.
She was so angry that she almost wanted to slap Lin Anjie a few times.
But considering that Lin Anjie was getting married tomorrow and it wouldn't look good to have a bruised face, she suppressed her anger.
"Enough, stop your whining and go back to sleep."
Wang Cuihua motioned with her hand and no longer wanted to see Lin Anjie.
Anning waited for Lin Anjie to return to her room before she entered her own.
That night Lin Aiguo talked in his sleep several times, which greatly annoyed Lin Anjie.
But Anning felt even more pity for Lin Aiguo, the father.
She got up very early the next morning and began tidying everything inside and out, washed the cups at home again and placed them on the table in the main hall, and prepared several thermoses of hot water well in advance, also setting out the tea leaves.
Additionally, she went to the storeroom to take out some of the purchased candy and melon seeds to put them on plates.
By the time Lin Aiguo and Wang Cuihua got up, Anning had almost gotten everything in order.
Seeing how capable and sensible Anning was and realizing how considerate she was of her parents, Lin Aiguo, a grown man, had his eyes turning red.
His heart's balance tipped even more towards Anning's side.