The Treasure in the Junkyard

Married to Leo Carter for exactly three years, my days feel soaked in bitterness, harder and harder to endure. Leo is the backbone of the family, working himself to the bone every day at the factory, but mother-in-law never once cared about him. She was completely wrapped up in missing our sacrificed eldest brother, and that made her spoil the widowed sister-in-law, Mindy Lewis, in every way. The good things at home always went first to Mindy; by the time they got to me, there were only leftovers and endless chores waiting. On the day the factory handed out work quotas, the atmosphere around the dinner table was so heavy it was hard to breathe. Mindy Lewis was the first to break the silence, picking up a piece of fatty, tender braised pork and putting it into mother-in-law's bowl, her voice sickeningly sweet: "Mom, the job at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative is all settled—I start next week. Whenever you want to buy something, just tell me in advance; I'll save you the freshest stuff." Mother-in-law's eyes narrowed into a slant as she smiled, nodding over and over, "Good, good, our Mindy really is something. Loving you wasn't for nothing." When she finished speaking, she looked up at me, and her smile vanished instantly—the coldness in her voice was like ice: "Melissa, the Junkyard needs a guard. You're going." I gripped my chopsticks so hard my knuckles went white. Just as I was about to protest, an anxious child's voice echoed in my mind: "Mom! Don't fight! In your past life, you 'won' this argument, but she framed you for stealing and sent you to a labor camp. That's why I never came into this world!" "Come on, say yes! There are treasures hidden in the Junkyard—rosewood furniture being used as firewood, and a blue-and-white porcelain vase propping up a table leg! In less than three years, we could trade up for a whole courtyard house in J City!" I took a deep breath, slowly put down my chopsticks, and looked up at Mindy, forcing a meek smile onto my face: "Alright, I'll take the job." Leo Carter suddenly looked up at me, eyes filled with utter disbelief and contempt: "Are you crazy? That place is dirty and exhausting, full of junk. Do you really think you can handle it?" "Even if you can't handle it, you just have to," I lowered my eyes, my voice soft and weak. "Someone in the family has to work. We can't let Mindy bear all the burden alone; after all, she has that respectable job at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative." Mindy Lewis raised an eyebrow, a smug smile tugging at her lips, her tone full of fake pity: "You are so sensible. Don't worry, I'll come visit you often whenever I get the chance."