Xie Hanshuo’s ears turned bright red. He forcefully pried her hands off and said coldly, “I don’t want to.”
He stood up and walked outside. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he paused, “Also, I will not run away.”
Why did Ye Yao always think he was going to run?
Xie Hanshuo felt there was something strange about this, and his brow furrowed tightly, though he couldn’t figure out the reason.
He didn’t linger any longer, plunging into the vast, rainy night and running toward the woodshed…
Early the next morning, Ye Yao went to the woodshed to look for him, yawning.
The door opened at a push, but it was empty inside.
Xie Hanshuo was gone.
Ye Yao, “…”
So much for saying he wouldn’t run away.
That bastard Xie Hanshuo was going to be the death of her.
At breakfast, Ye Yao predictably received a round of cold sarcasm from Madam Wang,
“The second son went up the mountain to hunt before dawn today. You really are useless; you couldn’t even keep your own husband for the first few nights of marriage. What are you going to do in the future?”
Compared to Ye Yao’s situation, Ye Hanzhu was clearly much more comfortable.
She sat beside Xie Moyan, her brows and eyes filled with unconcealable pride.
Remembering how Ye Yao had ridiculed her as a beggar yesterday and even forced her to shovel pig manure, how could she swallow this insult?
Naturally, she had to take the opportunity to kick someone while they were down…
“It rained last night, why was the younger brother-in-law sleeping in the woodshed?”
Ye Hanzhu feigned sympathy, “Sister, what exactly did you do to upset the younger brother-in-law? Why don’t you go and apologize to him today? Men, you just need to coax them a little.”
Both of them were coming for her.
Ye Yao’s eyes were cold, but she didn’t rush to refute. She first picked up her bowl and took a slow sip of the steaming mixed-grain porridge.
“Who knows? Perhaps he isn’t satisfied with marrying me.”
Ye Yao blinked, looking very innocent, “After all… it wasn’t supposed to be me marrying him in the first place.”
Ye Hanzhu had originally cried and made a scene to switch the engagement, but she suddenly went back on her word a few days before the wedding.
Xie Moyan had also thought that he was the one marrying Ye Yao.
Thinking of this, his face sank instantly, looking somewhat unsightly: “That’s enough, both of you stop talking. Second brother has that kind of temper; it has nothing to do with sister-in-law.”
Seeing her husband’s displeased expression, Ye Hanzhu realized belatedly that she had fallen into Ye Yao’s trap again.
This bitch, what a clever move to shift the blame.
The way she said that just now made it sound like the reason Xie Hanshuo wouldn’t consummate the marriage was entirely her own fault.
Ye Hanzhu had grievances she couldn’t voice; given that Xie family second son’s character, it would be a miracle if he actually liked her!
In her opinion, if Xie Hanshuo wasn’t weird, then he must be impotent. What did that have to do with her?
Damn Ye Yao, she was still playing with words now; there would be a time for you to cry later!
Everyone ate the meal with their own hidden agendas.
After the meal, Madam Wang urged the two of them to get to work.
Because of the wedding, Xie Moyan had taken a few days off from the academy, and Ye Hanzhu used the excuse of taking care of him to slack off and stay behind.
Madam Wang had to go to the fields to harvest wheat today, so she told Ye Yao to go with her.
The two were busy until noon, but no one came to deliver food.
Madam Wang was so angry she cursed, “That little bitch Ye Hanzhu must be slacking off again!”
As she spoke, she wiped the sweat from her forehead, stood up, and prepared to go back to settle the score.
Just then, Ye Hanzhu arrived carrying a food box.
Ignoring Madam Wang’s dark face, she took the lead and said in a wronged tone, “Mother, Dalang wasn’t feeling well just now. I brewed him some soup, which is why I was late.”
As soon as she heard that Xie Moyan was unwell, most of Madam Wang’s anger dissipated.
She had always doted on her eldest son, and Ye Hanzhu knew that better than anyone.
As long as she used Xie Moyan’s name, Madam Wang wouldn’t dare do anything real to her.
When the food box was opened, it contained a pitifully small portion of stir-fried vegetables and brown rice.
After Ye Hanzhu diligently served Madam Wang, there was not even half a bowl left for Ye Yao.
Seeing this, Ye Hanzhu feigned annoyance: “Oh, sister, I accidentally brought too little… it’s all my fault for being so clumsy. You won’t blame me, right?”
Looking at that half-bowl of rice, a cold sneer flickered at the corner of Ye Yao’s mouth.
By using such low-class tactics, Ye Hanzhu was truly stupid and didn’t even know it.
Today, she would teach her a lesson she wouldn’t forget.
Ye Yao smiled instead of getting angry: “Of course not, I’m sure younger sister didn’t do it on purpose.”
She silently ate the small half-bowl of rice.
Seeing Ye Yao suffering in silence like this, Ye Hanzhu felt extremely satisfied.
In the future, the work in the kitchen belonged to her; that bitch Ye Yao wouldn’t be able to eat a full meal ever again.
It would be best if she starved to death; let’s see if she still dares to be arrogant in front of her!
After eating, Ye Yao continued to work in the fields, while Madam Wang rested on the side, having Ye Hanzhu serve her a bowl of coarse tea.
After Madam Wang finished her tea and Ye Hanzhu was about to leave, she suddenly heard a startled cry from Aunt Liu in the neighboring field:
“Oh no! The Xie family, your second daughter-in-law has fainted!”
“What? Fainted?”
Madam Wang went over to look and saw Ye Yao lying face down in the field, not moving at all.
She turned Ye Yao over and saw that her little face was deathly pale, like a corpse.
Madam Wang’s heart skipped a beat.
Hadn’t she just eaten half a bowl of rice? How did she faint?
She originally wanted to scold Ye Yao for faking it to slack off,
But Aunt Liu nearby craned her neck to watch, and without fear of causing trouble, said, “I think this girl must have gotten heatstroke? Oh my, having to work in the fields without even enough to eat—the life of a new bride is truly hard.”
Hearing this, Madam Wang couldn’t hold her head up.
She glared fiercely at Ye Hanzhu, wanting to expose her little scheme, but fearing the judgment of others,
Her old face turned livid with anger.
Madam Wang turned her head and shouted at Ye Hanzhu: “What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and carry her back! And get a bowl of sugar water to feed her!”
“I can’t even trust you to deliver a meal; what are you good for? You little bitch, I’ll settle this with you when we get back!”
Berated by Madam Wang, Ye Hanzhu was furious but didn’t dare to talk back.
She had to grit her teeth and carry Ye Yao on her back.
Ye Yao’s entire weight pressed down on her, making her almost unable to breathe.
Ye Hanzhu cursed in her heart while walking forward with great difficulty.
After only a hundred steps or so, when passing through a muddy patch, Ye Yao suddenly kicked hard against the back of her knee.
“Ah—!”
Ye Hanzhu let out a pained cry, and the next instant, she plunged into the mud pit, her face splattered with foul-smelling sludge.
Ye Yao was still pressing down firmly on her back, leaving her unable to move.
Ye Hanzhu was now filthy and in a wretched state.
Following that, Ye Yao “slowly woke up” and feigned surprise: “Oh, younger sister, are you okay? I didn’t mean to…”
Ye Hanzhu’s eyes were full of resentment, and she gritted her teeth: “Then why don’t you get off!”
“Okay, okay.”
Ye Yao stood up nimbly and, looking at the mud-covered Ye Hanzhu, said aggrievedly: “I easily faint whenever I don’t get enough to eat; sister won’t blame me, right?”
Ye Hanzhu was so angry she was about to vomit blood, but on second thought, it wasn’t the time to burn bridges with Ye Yao just yet.
She wasn’t that stupid; she forced a smile: “Of course I won’t blame you, sister. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”