Ye Hanzhu chased after them, and upon seeing the scene, her face twisted with jealousy.
Just a moment ago, she had been waiting to kick someone while they were down and laugh at Ye Yao’s expense, only to find that not only had Xie Hanshuo come, but he had also brought such generous gifts to give Ye Yao face!
Ye Hanzhu was so jealous she nearly ground her teeth into dust. She secretly cursed Ye Yao as a vixen, wondering what sorcery she had used to make that bastard, the second son of the Xie family, willing to put on such a show for her.
Seeing that they had already arrived at the entrance of the Ye family home, it was too late to say anything else.
Ye Hanzhu was so angry she felt she might vomit blood, yet she dared not show the slightest hint of dissatisfaction. Instead, she had to force a smile.
I am a scholar’s wife now; it’s just some wild game. What is there to show off?
Once she became a high official’s wife in the future, she would make Ye Yao regret it!
Coming to this realization, Ye Hanzhu lifted her chin and said arrogantly, “Husband, you are one of the few scholars in our entire region. Your hand-copied manuscript is so precious; Younger Brother will surely love it.”
With Ye Hanzhu’s flattery, Xie Moyan’s previously sullen expression softened considerably.
That’s right, I am a man of letters. Why compare myself to a peasant?
I have a bright future ahead of me; anyone with eyes can see that I am the one who will bring glory to the family.
Xie Moyan reached out and wrapped his arm around Ye Hanzhu’s slim waist, playing the part of a loving couple: “Let’s go. It’s getting late; let’s not keep Father and Mother waiting.”
Ye Yao, arm-in-arm with Xie Hanshuo, could not help but roll her eyes secretly as she watched the two of them put on their little act.
It’s just a copy of the ‘Three Character Classic’. It costs, at most, ten coins at a bookstore.
What could be so precious about it? Is Xie Moyan’s handwriting made of gold?
It’s better to be with Xie Hanshuo.
Mm, there’s meat to eat tonight!
Liu Ye Village, the Ye household.
The two Ye daughters had married into the Xie family in the neighboring village a few days ago. On this day of returning to their parents’ home, many nosy villagers gathered around to watch the spectacle.
“I heard that originally, the younger sister was betrothed to the Xie family’s second son, but then the Ye family changed their minds, and the younger sister cried and made a scene to marry the eldest son of the Xie family.”
“The eldest son of the Xie family is a scholar, after all, and he looks like a refined talent. He’s a scholar; he’ll surely have great success in the future.”
“…”
Several matrons gathered together, snacking on melon seeds and gossiping.
Others curled their lips: “What’s so special about a scholar? Look at his thin frame; he doesn’t look like he can handle any real work. Now, the second son, he’s a solid hunter. You wouldn’t lose out by marrying him.”
To have meat to eat at every meal—that is what you call solid.
Especially after seeing the return gifts Xie Hanshuo was carrying—rabbits and pheasants—who wouldn’t be envious?
Comparing the two, marrying a scholar didn’t seem as appealing anymore.
Indeed, comparison was the mother of clarity. Faced with the two, the crowd felt that marrying the second son of the Xie family was the more practical bargain.
Ye Hanzhu’s smile froze upon hearing this.
A bunch of ignorant, gossiping crones! she cursed inwardly.
When the second son of the Xie family runs off and Ye Yao is left as a grass widow, these people will know who truly had the eye for a good match!
Thinking this, she felt much better, and her posture became even more arrogant, like a victorious rooster.
In front of the Ye home, Concubine Liu and Ye Dajun had been waiting for a long time.
Seeing the four approaching from afar, Concubine Liu beamed and hurried to greet them: “Oh, Eldest Daughter, Second Daughter, and both sons-in-law, you’ve finally arrived!”
“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law,” the two brothers greeted in unison.
“Come inside quickly to rest and have some fruit; it’s very sweet.”
Concubine Liu greeted them while taking the basket of eggs and the “initiation manual personally copied by the husband” that Ye Hanzhu had been bragging about.
However, when her eyes fell upon the rabbits and pheasants in Xie Hanshuo’s hands, the smile on her face faded significantly.
At this moment, Ye Yuanshu ran in and shouted for his sisters. He was born to the same mother as Ye Hanzhu, so naturally, he was closer to her.
Ye Hanzhu shoved the Three Character Classic into his hands, admonishing him to study hard once he started at the village’s elementary school in a few days.
Ye Yuanshu was already mischievous and lazy; he wasn’t happy about receiving the book. Instead, seeing the rabbits in Xie Hanshuo’s hands, he drooled: “Mother, meat! I want to eat meat!”
Concubine Liu grabbed his ear and twisted it hard: “Eat, eat, eat! All you ever think about is eating! Haven’t you ever seen meat before? Get to the side!”
Ye Yuanshu winced in pain and ran to hug Ye Dajun’s leg, crying: “Father, Shan’er wants to eat meat…”
Since the wild game was brought by Xie Hanshuo, it wouldn’t be right to keep it all to themselves, and it wouldn’t look good if word got out.
Ye Dajun decided that they would slaughter one of the chickens for soup at noon, and everyone would eat together.
There was a fruit tree in the front yard of the Ye house, and the fruit was perfectly ripe.
Ye Dajun took Xie Hanshuo and Ye Yao to pick some fruit for them to take home. Because Xie Hanshuo’s return gifts were so substantial, Ye Dajun felt his face was full of glory and was especially warm toward the couple.
Xie Moyan went to teach Ye Yuanshu calligraphy, promising that he would only get to eat meat after finishing his work. Only then did Ye Yuanshu reluctantly agree.
In the kitchen, Concubine Liu stewed the chicken while Ye Hanzhu helped, listening to her complain:
“Their family only brought a basket of eggs and a broken book, and they sent you off with that? I told you to marry the second son of the Xie family, but you wouldn’t listen.”
“Look at you now; you let that little bitch Ye Yao pick up such a good marriage for free. Look at the return gifts they brought, and look at yours—can’t you win me a bit of face?”
Ye Hanzhu felt deeply aggrieved. How was she to know that the second son of the Xie family would show up in this lifetime?
It must be Ye Yao’s good luck, she thought.
She didn’t believe it—if the second son of the Xie family wouldn’t even consummate the marriage, what kind of good life could Ye Yao have?
She’s just putting on a show in front of others—what’s so great about that!
“Oh, Mother, it’s just a little bit of wild game. Once my Dalang becomes an official in the future, you will have plenty of time to enjoy your life.”
Ye Hanzhu said confidently: “Your daughter is going to be the wife of an official. That second son of the Xie family is just an illiterate, rough hunter—he only deserves a country girl like Ye Yao. My Dalang is the one who will have great success!”
“Mother, you must treat Dalang well now. Otherwise, later on… you might find that you won’t even be able to suck up to him if you wanted to.”
What kind of person was Xie Moyan in the past life?
He reached the position of Prime Minister—a powerful high official!
Ye Hanzhu couldn’t help but dream of being the Prime Minister’s wife again, a silly smile plastered on her face.
She didn’t hear a single word of Concubine Liu’s complaints.
Concubine Liu rolled her eyes so hard they almost disappeared, thinking the girl must have lost her mind—she was absolutely bewitched.
With the short-lived look on that Xie family eldest son, she still wants to throw herself at him?
Bah!
As they sat down to eat, Concubine Liu watched as Ye Yao ate meat in large mouthfuls, her lips glistening with oil. She then watched the second son of the Xie family occasionally picking food for her, his eyes practically glued to her.
Concubine Liu felt a heavy lump in her chest; even the meat in her own bowl no longer tasted good.
She vented all her fury on Ye Yuanshu, using him as a scapegoat: “Eat, eat, eat! Why do you only know how to eat! Are you a starving ghost reincarnated?!”
Ye Yuanshu said, aggrieved: “Mother, I didn’t even eat that much…”
The meat was all taken by the eldest sister’s husband; I couldn’t compete with them, so why are you scolding me?
Clearly, the eldest sister is the one eating the most!
My mother’s eyes must be broken!
Could Ye Yao not tell that Concubine Liu was pointing at the locust tree to scold the mulberry tree?
She sneered and continued to shovel meat into her mouth, eating with even more gusto.
Besides, the meat was brought by my husband—so what if I eat a little more?
Mm, absolutely justified.