A Good Country Wife-Chapter 20 - Disdain_1

Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Disdain_1

Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Disdain_1

“Housewives truly lack exposure; these buns are not only exquisitely crafted on the outside, but the filling inside is even more delicious beyond compare. Not something ordinary bun shops selling buns for 15 coins each could make. Only the best restaurant in the new town, Fuyun Tower, can produce such delicacies. However, Fuyun Tower’s items are not commonly priced; they are at least half more expensive than outside, and ordinary people simply cannot afford them. Second Brother has really been generous this time.”

“Really? So you’re saying these buns cost thirty coins each! Then these must amount to more than half a tael of silver,” the Wei Family matriarch looked at her youngest son with some disbelief. Zhao Erhu being so generous was not something she had ever expected; she never hoped for the children born by that woman to be particularly filial to her, after all, they were not born from her own womb. Thus, her attitude towards them had always been indifferent, never showing much kindness to them, especially Zhao Erhu, who bore the reputation of hexing his wife and mother. She couldn’t have wished more for some distance from him, lest she be plagued by bad luck.

“Fifth Brother speaks the truth; Mother, you don’t know. Fuyun Tower is a place only the wealthy can enter, its interior decoration is as grand as the Imperial Palace, very extravagant. I also went there a couple of times when discussing business with friends. The taste of the food there is no worse than the Imperial Chef’s cooking; having a meal costs at least one or two taels of silver. Second Brother does have a heart this time.”

After Zhao Xing had put on a show of being clever in speaking, Fourth Brother Zhao felt ignored and jumped out to make a similar big fuss. With a know-it-all appearance and effortlessly boasting, he relished the admiration and reverence in the eyes of his family. Zhao felt somewhat smug, while Lin Yue, listening by his side, nearly laughed out loud. These two brothers were truly gems, one more entertaining than the other, even bragging about the Imperial Palace’s Imperial Chef. Yet she had to hold back and not show it, which was really quite hard.

Offering tea to the in-laws and quietly listening to their admonitions was nothing more than reminding her to be a good wife and mother, frugally managing the household and the like. Afterwards, as Lin Yue weighed the embarrassingly light red packet in her hand, she felt it would be worth at most fifty or sixty coins; the amount was so small she couldn’t believe they dared to give it. Considering that they had brought so much stuff over, Lin Yue didn’t truly expect much, but the in-laws’ actions made it quite difficult for her not to look down on them. And there were Zhao Erhu and his brothers and sisters-in-law; despite having specially prepared gifts for each of them, apart from Sister Zhao Yunxiang, who had returned a gift, the others were only on the receiving end. No wonder Zhao Erhu had a lackadaisical attitude when she prepared the gifts yesterday.

Observing the Wei Family’s antics and the behavior of everyone in the household, Lin Yue had never felt as fortunate as she did now. Thankfully, she was now Zhao Erhu’s wife; it seemed that fate had been kind to her. Otherwise, living with this family would surely drive her insane.

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

No matter what Lin Yue thought inwardly, she of course did not show it on her face. Smiling, she followed Zhao Erhu as they took their leave. Although the Wei Family matriarch was astute and formidable, she was not too greedy. Presumably thinking that Zhao Erhu had brought quite a bit this time, as they were leaving, she brought out the food container Lin Yue used to carry the buns. Inside, there were ten eggs, and there were also two bags, each filled with five pounds of soybeans and corn.

“Take it; it’s not much, but don’t look down on it. And don’t be too extravagant in your daily life; it’s better to be careful and frugal when living day-to-day.” The Wei Family matriarch offered some advice, seeing that this daughter-in-law was at least well-mannered. Lin Yue smiled and agreed.

After returning from the ancestral home, Zhao Erhu took Lin Yue to visit her birth mother’s grave to offer incense. Before this, no one had mentioned this matter to her, and it was only now that Lin Yue learned that the Wei Family was merely Zhao Erhu’s stepmother, and that it was Sister Zhao Yunxiang and Elder Brother Zhao Dahuo who were his full siblings, born of the same mother. The other younger siblings were all born of the stepmother, Mrs. Wei. With different mothers, it was no wonder that the family behaved in such a manner. From the earlier situation, it was apparent that Elder Brother and his wife did not have an easy life, as even the gift they gave to Lin Yue was a silver ring Sister Liu had brought from her parental home when she married.

Zhao Erhu sporadically shared some stories about his childhood. Zhao Erhu’s birth mother had died in childbirth. A passing Monk had claimed that Zhao Erhu was fated to be the ruin of his mother, so he was born into his father’s disdain. If not for his grandfather’s pity, who had taken him in, he might well have starved to death. After his grandfather fell seriously ill and passed away when Zhao Erhu was eight years old, he was raised under his grandfather’s roof until then.

Zhao Erhu’s grandfather, knowing the difficult situation Zhao Erhu faced in this family, feared that his no-account son would be influenced by Mrs. Wei to drive Zhao Erhu out of the house once he was gone. Before his passing, he entrusted Zhao Erhu to an old brother from the neighboring village, also hoping Zhao Erhu would learn some skills and be able to fend for himself no matter what the future held. After the memorial service for his grandfather had ended, Zhao Erhu left home with a small bundle to live with Uncle Li in the neighboring village, learning to hunt with him. He only returned home at the age of fifteen to marry and have children, but he had not anticipated that both his wives would pass away in succession. The rumors in the village about his tough fate causing the death of his wives and mother spread more and more. Later, Zhao Erhu, along with his four sons, moved out to live separately.

In fact, instead of saying that Zhao Erhu moved out on his own, it would be more accurate to say he was driven out by the people of the ancestral home. When Zhao Erhu left the ancestral home, he took not a single coin with him, let alone any land or house. During that time, Zhao Erhu lived in a thatched hut on the mountain where he hunted, taking temporary shelter. Afterwards, if not for the luck of hunting a wounded bear and selling it for money to build a house, he might not have had a proper place to live at all. It’s hard to understand how the people of the old house could be so heartlessly cold. Zhao Erhu became disillusioned with the people of the ancestral home and did not wish to associate with them anymore, thereby building a house far down the mountainside, a good distance from the old house and separated by half a village. It was only during New Year’s and other holidays that Zhao Erhu would visit the ancestral home.

“Don’t be sad anymore, they’re not worth it. If they don’t consider you as a brother or family, then we’ll just visit less. No matter what, I will always be with you,” Lin Yue, feeling pity for Zhao Erhu’s experiences, embraced and comforted him.

Zhao Erhu, having endured disdain and slander since he was young, had a heart hardened by numerous trials, so how could he be sad for these unrelated people? It was just that he felt a momentary surge of emotion thinking of his mother and grandfather. But seeing his wife’s concern brought him comfort. He hugged his little wife in his arms, “Yes, having Niuniu by my side is enough.”

Because he had previously promised Lin Yue to make wooden utensils, Zhao Erhu set aside his farming work for the next few days to cut down two large trees in the mountains. He began woodworking at home, hammering and chiseling away. Lin Yue expressed her requests and, fearing that Zhao Erhu might not understand and make something not to her liking, she moved a small stool next to him and watched him work while she sewed, like a little overseer.

Her grandfather used to do some carpentry as well, and although Lin Yue was not skilled in it, it didn’t stop her from relaying instructions to Zhao Erhu by mimicking her grandfather. With Lin Yue’s guidance, Zhao Erhu’s carpentry became increasingly fluent, making not only wooden basins and buckets but also creating new tables, chairs, and stools. Considering the hassle and effort of cooking rice in a pot which could easily burn, Lin Yue drew a design on a wooden board with charcoal for Zhao Erhu to make a rice steamer.