"Don't be nervous, Sister Gu, I'll help you take a look." Sister-in-law Wang's eyes carried some impatience, a hint of disdain for city people.
She walked up and placed her somewhat rough hand on the door seam, peeking through and said to Gu Fuqiao inside the door, "See if there's anything blocking the door from behind?"
"Oh... okay..." Gu Fuqiao pretended to be anxious and glanced at Sister-in-law Wang at the door, but her gaze moved downwards, focusing on Sister-in-law Wang's hand gripping the door frame.
Those hands were clearly the hands of laborers, but alas, this laboring woman's look was rather harsh.
Gu Fuqiao fixed her eyes on Sister-in-law Wang's hand, then whispered, "Sister-in-law, let me try."
Just as she finished speaking, Gu Fuqiao pulled the door back, pretending to look for something, but as soon as she moved, she slipped and fell forward.
"Ah!" She screamed, looking in horror at Sister-in-law Wang, who still had her hand in the door seam.
Sister-in-law Wang's eyes widened, unable to dodge, watching helplessly as the heavy door slammed on her fingers!
"Ah!" Her scream almost echoed through the entire hallway.
Gu Fuqiao watched Sister-in-law Wang scream like a pig being slaughtered, her mood strangely elevated.
The gloomy feeling from their whispered conversation earlier was completely gone.
"Sister-in-law, what happened?" Seeing the situation, Wang Mei quickly ran up, asking nervously.
She looked up at Gu Fuqiao inside the door and anxiously said, "Sister-in-law Gu, let go now, my sister-in-law's hand is stuck."
"Ah." Gu Fuqiao quickly released her grip, looking at Wang Mei with an expression of being scared and stunned, "Sorry, I just slipped and fell forward."
Although her face showed fear and worry, there was a hint of amusement in her eyes.
Her force earlier was not small, and now Sister-in-law Wang's fingers were somewhat swollen and red.
Sister-in-law Wang quickly raised her fingers and blew on them, "Oh, it hurts so much, it hurts so much!"
"Sister-in-law, I didn't do it on purpose, didn't expect the door was just stuck on a small latch." Gu Fuqiao pushed the door and gently held Sister-in-law Wang's wrist, saying, "Sister-in-law, come in and sit, I'll find some antiseptic liquid to treat you."
After speaking, she pulled Sister-in-law Wang in with her.
Wang Mei followed in, looking at Gu Fuqiao as she entered, saying, "Sister-in-law Gu, don't worry, my sister-in-law won't be mad."
Wang Mei's voice was soft, as gentle as a gentle breeze brushing across.
Gu Fuqiao's leg was still injured, intending to grab a chair but her leg weakened and she directly sat on the chair.
Sister-in-law Wang's hand was still hurting, noticing Gu Fuqiao acting like a spoiled princess, not bringing her a chair, she felt a bit angry, saying, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing, I got hurt because of you, yet you won't even grab a chair for me to sit?"
Sister-in-law Wang's voice was loud, attracting several neighbors from the next door who came over to watch the commotion.
Plus, earlier the whole hallway heard Sister-in-law Wang's pig-like scream, now seeing Gu sitting in the chair, paired with Sister-in-law Wang's injured hand, everyone whispered.
It seemed like Gu Fuqiao was bullying Sister-in-law Wang arrogantly.
Seeing everyone talking, Wang Mei furrowed her brows and pulled Sister-in-law Wang's sleeve, "Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law Gu didn't mean it, for Brother Yan's sake, let it go."
Gu Fuqiao watched Wang Mei's behavior closely, she was almost certain now that Wang Mei was a manipulative person, a green tea girl.
If she was really heartfelt in advising Sister-in-law Wang, why didn't she speak earlier and waited till many military wives gathered at the door?
Those military wives at the door were all watching the show.
Because of Gu Fuqiao's aloofness, people around here didn't really like Gu Fuqiao, however, since she was recently married in, she hasn't had direct conflicts with them yet.
So no one had openly confronted Gu Fuqiao.
Now they were probably waiting for her to argue with Sister-in-law Wang and watch the drama unfold!
But she hadn't planned on performing for these spectators, after all, her performance fee was quite precious!
"Hey." Gu Fuqiao sighed softly, she said to Wang Mei, "Wang Mei, you are right, if it weren't for Sister-in-law Wang's help, I wouldn't have been able to open the door."
Sister-in-law Wang, who was scolding earlier, didn't expect Gu Fuqiao to praise her, retracting all her scolding words.
She wanted to give Gu trouble, but now after Gu's words, she didn't really know what to say.
But with so many neighbors watching, she couldn't just waste that earlier scream.
She looked at Gu Fuqiao and said, "Well, sister-in-law, since I helped you, it's not just about having tea, how come you won't even give me a chair?"
Gu Fuqiao listened to Sister-in-law Wang, she gently bit her lip and said, "It's my fault, my Zhen Guo asked Sister-in-law Wang to accompany me to the clinic, not only did I injure Sister-in-law's hand, I should be entertaining her well. But since I'm injured, even walking is difficult."
After saying this, Gu Fuqiao looked down with a sigh.
"So Sister Gu got injured in her leg."
"True, being injured, why bother entertaining."
"Exactly, we're all sisters here, our men are working for the country, we women should be united, no need to fuss over hospitality."
Gu Fuqiao's meaning was clear; she was not the kind to swallow bitterness and keep quiet.
The neighbors outside understood from what Gu Fuqiao said, realizing this wasn't about Gu Fuqiao's aloofness causing trouble; Sister-in-law Wang was also wrong.
Although they didn't like Gu Fuqiao, their principles were still right.
Gradually, several neighbors started speaking in support of Gu Fuqiao.
Scattering their words.
Sister-in-law Wang's face couldn't hold anymore, she quickly told Gu Fuqiao, "Sister-in-law, I didn't consider things well, Captain Yan mentioned your discomfort, and I presumed you were just having a fever, didn't expect, didn't expect..."
Sister-in-law Wang's explanation was running dry.
Outside, a neighbor couldn't help but interrupt, saying, "Mrs. Wang, regardless of whether someone has a fever, you know they're sick, why ask them to get you a chair? Although Captain Yan's wife doesn't interact with us often, you shouldn't pick on her deliberately."
"I... I wasn't picking on her." Sister-in-law Wang, after all a rural woman, this drama felt ordinary to Gu Fuqiao. With various modern drama tactics out there.
But Sister-in-law Wang hadn't encountered this before.
She was momentarily speechless, unsure how to explain.