Chapter 281

"Save the new clothes for visiting relatives."

This was the common mindset among the older generation in the village. At home, they wore whatever was comfortable, but when going out, they dressed in their best.

"Shoes are meant to be worn. They'll last for years," Mary Stone said, dusting off her shoes.

Martha River listened to their conversation, her heart souring with envy. She had children of her own, but compared to this niece-in-law, they paled in comparison.

But envy wouldn't change anything. Her niece-in-law was a city girl, and her family still sent packages and money regularly.

"After suffering for most of your life, it's time to enjoy some comfort," Emily Johnson's words made Mary Stone and Martha River's eyes well up.

Mary Stone had learned to let go. Her sons had all moved out, and she and her husband now lived quietly on their own.

Seeing her sister-in-law's family thriving, with Emily frequently sending over food and inviting her in-laws for meals, Martha River couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness.

"They're here!" Martha River hurried out to greet them.

The girl's family had brought three people: a middle-aged woman, a young woman in her early twenties, and a girl around eighteen or nineteen. It was obvious the youngest was the one being introduced for the matchmaking.

At first, the girl's family had held themselves with an air of superiority, thinking they had the upper hand. But the moment they stepped inside, they were stunned—there, in the house, stood a stylish city girl who looked like a movie star from a magazine.

The matchmaker, Lucy Smith, was from the neighboring village. She had heard of Emily but never met her. Seeing the girl's family staring, Lucy quickly pulled Martha aside. "Why is there another girl here?"

"That's my niece-in-law!" Martha raised her voice. "Michael Stone's wife."

Lucy immediately understood. Michael Stone was well-known in the area—a handsome high school graduate with a reputation for being too quick to fight, making matchmakers hesitant to arrange anything for him.

"Have some water..." Martha served sweetened water, easing the tension slightly.

"Where do you work, comrade?" the girl's cousin asked Emily, eyeing her refined demeanor. She must be someone with a city job.

Emily smiled faintly. "I'm not working right now. I just took the college entrance exams and am waiting for the results."

College exams? The girl's family exchanged glances. So she had quit her job to take the exams—how ambitious.

"This is my son, Daniel..." Martha quickly pushed Daniel River forward.

Daniel was unusually well-behaved today, greeting them politely. The girl had dark skin, but so did Daniel. With Emily's porcelain complexion beside them, their skin tones actually complemented each other.

"Comrade Emily, are you a sent-down youth?" the girl's mother asked, a hint of condescension in her tone.

A cold glint flashed in Emily's eyes, but she maintained a gentle smile. "Yes. But with my parents and husband supporting me, I don’t need to work in the fields." She emphasized the word "husband" deliberately.