Jiang Yuyan was a distant paternal cousin of Jiang Xingmei—within the five degrees of mourning—and three years older than her. Earlier that year, her family had pulled every possible string and spent a considerable amount of money to secure her a temporary job in the city, paying fifteen yuan a month.
Jiang Yuyan returned to the village once a week and never missed an opportunity to show off before Jiang Xingmei: how she had watched a movie in the city, eaten braised pork at the State-run Restaurant, visited the city park, and how handsome city men were fond of her...
Jiang Xingmei was only eighteen; to say she wasn't envious would be a lie, but she wasn't given to wild ambitions, nor did she harbor any thoughts of marrying above her station.
Chapter 118