Chapter 214 - 211: The Sisters’ Envy

Chapter 214: Chapter 211: The Sisters’ Envy

"Second Sister, I’m sorry."

Looking at Zhou Xiang who had suddenly apologized, Zhou Lian asked in confusion, "What’s this all about? Why are you apologizing to me?"

Looking at her second sister, who was now thirty, Zhou Xiang said with a smile, "You used to teach us what to do, but look at us now. Our lives are a complete mess, and all these trivial things still make you so angry. When you were upset just now, Second Brother-in-law was heartbroken to see it!"

Zhou Lian smiled, looking at her sisters’ somewhat weary faces. She sighed softly and said, "I’m far away in the Capital City now, and I don’t have time to come back often. If anything comes up, just write me a letter. After a while, I’ll have Jin Chen install a phone at home so it’ll be easier for us sisters to keep in touch. Don’t hide things from me anymore. We’re sisters!"

"Okay, and you don’t worry about us either. We’re all doing alright, it’s just some trivial stuff. How are things for you in the Capital City? Is your husband still the same toward you as he was before?" Zhou Lan said, looking at Zhou Lian with some relief. ’From what I’ve seen this morning, it seems like there are no problems.’

At the mention of Li Xiu, Zhou Lian smiled sweetly and said softly, "Jin Chen has always been very good to me. Don’t worry about me."

Seeing Zhou Lian’s happy and sweet smile, the sisters felt a pang of bitterness. None of them had ever imagined that Zhou Lian, once the least conspicuous among them, would now be the one living the best life. She had gotten into university, had both a son and a daughter, and was now a university teacher. Crucially, her husband doted on her as if she were the apple of his eye. Even at thirty, she still looked like a charming young girl.

Sighing softly, Zhou Xiang said, "Back when Second Sister married Second Brother-in-law, we all knew he adored her. After all these years, he still pampers her like a little girl. I remember thinking that when I got married, I wanted to be as happy as her. But reality hits you in the face so quickly. It’s only been a few years, but it feels like everything has changed, and not for the better."

"Is your husband not good to you?" Zhou Lian asked Zhou Xiang gently. ’Even setting aside my past life, I’ve heard that my third brother-in-law treats my third sister well in this life!’

"It’s not that he’s bad... Compared to the people around us, he’s decent, I guess. I can’t quite put my finger on what’s wrong," Zhou Xiang said with a bitter smile.

Giving her a look, Zhou Lian smiled knowingly. "Third Sister, you know your husband is good to you. People around you have praised him too. It’s just that... you always feel a sense of dissatisfaction, don’t you?"

When Zhou Xiang nodded, Zhou Lian continued softly, "Third Sister, you have to understand that things are different between Jin Chen and me. You know about his family—his father doesn’t dote on him, his mother doesn’t love him, and his younger siblings don’t care about him. Back when we were getting married, he was practically kicked out of his house with nothing. So he has no real attachments to his family anymore. But a person needs someone or something to care about in life. When we were dating, he had a good impression of me. After we got married, the children and I became the most important people to him. No one and nothing is more important than me. You see how much he cares about me and values me now, but a man like Jin Chen... he’s one of a kind."

Lifting her head slightly, Zhou Lian looked at her sisters and said earnestly, "Most of us are just ordinary people. We have to balance our parents, our siblings, our husbands, our children, our in-laws... It’s not just you, Third Sister; most people are like this. You’ll feel wronged, you’ll feel upset, you’ll work hard, and you’ll get tired. But isn’t that just how life is? As for Jin Chen, I’ve said it before—when it comes to stubbornness, our fourth brother-in-law is no match for him. I just choose not to engage with him on certain things, because I can’t be bothered. That’s why we have such a harmonious life now. If you try to argue with him over every little thing, you’ll exhaust yourself to death, or more likely, die of anger!"

As the eldest, Zhou Lan tended to see things more clearly. After hearing Zhou Lian’s words, she smiled to herself. ’Our second sister really is a different person now.’ She looked at her three pensive younger sisters and said gently, "Listen to your second sister. Life is never a smooth ride. When your second sister first got engaged, did she hear any shortage of gossip? No one ever expected your second brother-in-law to be someone who dotes on his wife so much. But success depends on human effort. If your second sister hadn’t done well for herself, her life might not be so smooth now either. Take university, for example. If you were given the chance, could you get in? Xiao Wu, Mom and Dad wanted you to try back then, but you didn’t have the drive!"

"Oh, Eldest Sister, stop! I’m not as smart or hardworking as Second Sister. Just thinking about it now makes me shudder. I’m just not cut out for that!" Zhou Ying said, shivering with a bit of lingering fear. Back when Second Sister got into university, the family said that anyone who wanted to could give it a try. At that time, Third Sister was already engaged, and as for Fourth Sister and herself, they just weren’t university material.

After pondering for a long time, Zhou Xiang suddenly smiled. Seeing all her sisters looking at her, she said softly, "I feel like I’ve been a bit obsessed. I sometimes can’t help but compare my husband to Second Brother-in-law, but I seem to have forgotten that I was the one who chose him in the first place! Especially after my second daughter was born, I always felt dissatisfied. It’s just like Second Sister said—a lingering sense of injustice. But really, I was just making things hard for myself. My mother-in-law, for example... although she dislikes that I had two girls, she’s never mentioned it to my face. She only talks about it behind my back. Why do I keep getting hung up on that, you know?"

Zhou Ying glanced at her second sister, then looked at her third sister and said, "Actually, this isn’t entirely your fault."

Seeing her four older sisters all staring at her, Zhou Ying said with a smile, "It’s true. Second Sister and Third Sister are about the same age. Back then, Second Sister was quiet, honest, and dutiful. People always praised Third Sister for being pretty, capable, and a sweet-talker. When Second Sister married Second Brother-in-law, there was no shortage of gossip. Around that time, Third Sister got engaged to Third Brother-in-law. His father was a village official, his older brother was in the army, and he was the youngest son, so he was very spoiled. Besides, Third Brother-in-law was relatively good-looking. At that time, Third Sister probably felt that everything was great, just perfect!"

"After getting married, Third Brother-in-law treated Third Sister well, and she was very happy back then. But then Second Sister got pregnant, and Second Brother-in-law treated her like a queen. Then she had Nuonuo, got into university, and went far away to the Capital City. For Second Sister’s sake, Second Brother-in-law took Nuonuo and followed her to the Capital City, and even bought a house there. He just stayed there with their child, devoted to her. After that, you all saw each other less, but the money, the letters, and the things he sent home were constant reminders to Third Sister of how well Second Sister was doing, and how much her husband adored and pampered her. Meanwhile, Third Sister had two girls in a row. Even though her husband didn’t mind, her mother-in-law was always muttering behind her back. Second Sister never had to put up with any trouble from her mother-in-law. So, Third Sister, isn’t that a classic case of feeling that life is unfair? And Second Brother-in-law’s devotion hasn’t wavered for years..."

"Xiao Wu! What are you saying!" Zhou Cui glanced at her third sister’s expression and quickly cut Zhou Ying off.