On the fifteenth day of the fifth month, Tang Li followed her grandmother to Qingniu Temple early in the morning. She was wearing clothes her mother had worked overtime to make for her. The goose-yellow silk fabric was adorned with patterns of goldfish and water plants, making her face appear even more adorable.
Even earlier than Tang Li and her grandmother was her father, Tang Xun, whose enthusiasm for attending school had not waned recently. Tang Li suspected that his main motivation was to go into town and watch the Li family become a laughingstock. Yesterday, the Li family’s second young master didn’t even go to school, sending a servant to ask Master Jiang for leave instead.
Because it was the fifteenth, the temple was exceptionally crowded, with many villagers from Liuhua Village also making the trip. Yang Taohua was quite popular in the village, so she greeted many people along the way. The villagers’ attention was also drawn to Tang Li’s clothes, as the fabric clearly looked too expensive for ordinary people to wear.
To keep a low profile, Yang Taohua didn’t mention that the fabric was a gift from Master Liaoran. She simply smiled and said, “This child nearly lost her life not long ago. Our family felt sorry for her, so we specially made her a new set of clothes.”
She deliberately added, “Her second uncle said that when the time comes, he’ll buy her even more beautiful clothes and silk flowers in the prefectural city.” Those who didn’t know better would assume that Tang Zheng had bought the fabric in the prefectural city.
Many villagers secretly thought to themselves: What’s the point of dressing a little girl so finely? It would be better to spend that money on meat for the whole family. However, out of respect for Tang Zheng, the most accomplished person in the village, everyone naturally went along with Yang Taohua’s words.
Mrs. Sun, dressed in dark-colored silk clothing, took a few extra glances at Tang Li’s outfit but said nothing before turning and entering her carriage.
Mrs. Sun had moved to Liuhua Village ten years ago. Besides bringing her young son, she also brought two guards and two maidservants. Usually, Mrs. Sun kept to herself, rarely interacting with the villagers. Occasionally, she would give away surplus vegetables and fruits from her estate to the neighbors. The village rumor was that she originally came from a wealthy family in the capital, but her husband’s family had fallen into decline, forcing her to seek refuge in Liuhua Village with her servants. Whether this was true or not, judging by her lifestyle, Mrs. Sun was clearly no ordinary person.
Tang Li recalled that the book only briefly mentioned Mrs. Sun leaving Liuhua Village after her son passed the Xiucai examination, with little interaction between her and the Tang family. Speaking of which, Mrs. Sun’s son seemed to have passed the Xiucai examination at around sixteen years old, making him a talented youth. However, he still didn’t break the record set by her second uncle in Gaojiang County.
Mrs. Sun traveled by carriage, while Tang Li and her grandmother rode in a rented ox cart.
Yang Taohua pondered that renting a cart all the time wasn’t a sustainable solution—sooner or later, they would have to buy an ox cart or a carriage. The Tang family used to have some savings, but after supporting a scholar, those savings were nearly depleted. They had finally managed to raise Tang Zheng, but now they had to support Tang Xun as well, not to mention her granddaughter. Yang Taohua wanted to save wherever she could.
Yang Taohua sighed inwardly: Better to keep renting for now.
Upon arriving at Qingniu Temple, Tang Li and her family went through the familiar routine of burning incense and donating incense money.
Considering the two bolts of silk Master Liaoran had gifted earlier, Tang Li didn’t let the System take back the incense money this time. The value of those two bolts of silk far exceeded the incense money.
Yang Taohua was over there, piously bowing to the Buddha. After finishing her prayers, she pulled Tang Li along to listen to the abbot’s scripture lecture. Yang Taohua was quite pleased to see several familiar faces among those who had come to listen—she had seen them at the Li family’s banquet during Xiao Mei’s wedding earlier in the year.
Once the abbot finished his lecture, Yang Taohua began her performance. She asked loudly, “Master, I usually want to copy Buddhist scriptures to offer before the Buddha. Do I need to kneel while copying to show sincerity?”
The abbot also recognized Yang Taohua—her eldest son had been struck by lightning at their temple, and her second son was the youngest Xiucai (Licentiate) in Gaojiang County. The abbot shook his head. “Sincerity of heart is enough; kneeling is not necessary. The Buddha values intention more than formalities.”
He wasn’t foolish. If he dared to say that kneeling while copying scriptures was a sign of sincerity, many people would likely scrutinize their practices. If they didn’t kneel all day long, they would be accused of lacking piety. The abbot had no intention of digging a pit for himself.
Yang Taohua raised her voice even louder. “I thought it was just my lack of knowledge, but it turns out this is just a rule from my in-laws’ side.”
Not far away, Mrs. Zhang, the wife of the County Captain, recognized Yang Taohua—Yang Taohua’s in-laws? That would be the Li family.
The Li family’s rule was to kneel while copying Buddhist scriptures?
Mrs. Zhang didn’t get along with Madam Su, the matriarch of the Li family, and the two usually had their disagreements. She was more than happy to see the other side embarrassed. She quickly asked, “What rule? I’ve never heard of such a thing. I recall your daughter married Assistant County Magistrate Li’s eldest son?”
Yang Taohua, who also recognized Mrs. Zhang’s identity, instantly became energized. “My in-law was sick before and made my daughter kneel to copy Buddhist scriptures for her. She did it for two months, but the illness still didn’t improve. She’s at that age now, and I’m really worried. That’s why I came here today specifically to pray for her.”
Tang Li noticed that the circle of women around them had fallen silent. They exchanged excited glances with one another. Who would have thought that coming up the mountain to worship the Buddha would also allow them to hear gossip about the County Magistrate’s family? This trip was definitely worth it—everyone felt the same way.
The County Magistrate’s wife actually made her daughter-in-law kneel and copy scriptures for two months? Was she deliberately tormenting her daughter-in-law?
The abbot also temporarily paused his next scripture lecture, discreetly pricking up his ears.
Mrs. Zhang coughed lightly. “So Madam Su has been sick for two months? I didn’t notice. Ten days ago, I ran into her at the jewelry shop, and she looked quite well.” She might as well have said outright that Madam Su was feigning illness.
Yang Taohua said, “I’m not sure either. Anyway, she said she’s been sick for two months. My daughter is an honest person—her knees were so bruised from kneeling that they were almost unrecognizable. The doctor said if she kept kneeling, her legs would be ruined, and no amount of good medicine would help.”
Tang Li added fuel to the fire from the side. “My aunt is filial. If sacrificing a leg could bring good health to Grandma Su, she would undoubtedly do it without hesitation. But Grandma Su still hasn’t recovered. Would offering blood scriptures to worship the Buddha show more sincerity?”
The abbot, listening nearby, felt his eyelids twitch. He hurriedly said, “That won’t be necessary. If copying scriptures harms the body, it goes against Buddhist teachings. Doing good deeds and accumulating virtue in daily life is the best way to practice.”
Tang Li continued, “Grandma Su said she went through the same when she was a daughter-in-law, often kneeling to copy Buddhist scriptures for her mother-in-law. I really envy Grandma Su’s health—she copied so many scriptures, yet her legs are still so nimble. Not like my aunt, whose legs gave out after just two months of copying.”
Her words, paired with her innocent-looking face, were particularly amusing.
Mrs. Zhang had already planned how to spread the word about Madam Su once she returned.
The abbot emphasized again, “In short, it’s enough to do more good deeds and recite a few volumes of Buddhist scriptures in daily life. There’s no need to kneel while copying scriptures.”
He didn’t want Buddhism to become a tool for some people to torment others.
The women present listened with great relish. Their trip to Qingniu Temple was not in vain—not only had they listened to the master’s teachings on Buddhist principles, but they had also heard gossip about the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts in the county magistrate’s household.
Yang Taohua had achieved her goal perfectly and was equally satisfied. With so many women having heard about it today, that old hag’s deeds were sure to spread. Let’s see if she would dare bully Xiao Mei in the future.
After listening to the scriptures, they stayed for a vegetarian meal.
While eating, Tang Li glanced over at her father’s situation—good, he was still seizing every moment to study.
The more tasks he completed, the more she could later increase his Intelligence and physical strength. She could also use the System Points she earned from the System to exchange for silver and other things.
Life was truly becoming more and more promising.
…
The Li Household.
“Madam, the kitchen stewed old hen soup today. Would you like a bowl?”
Madam Su had been so angered by the Tang family a few days ago that she had been suffering from headaches and hadn’t eaten much these past few days. Normally, if she felt even slightly unwell, she would use it as an excuse to make her daughter-in-law serve her and take the opportunity to torment her.
But now, she didn’t have the courage to do so. After the Tang family’s visit, Tang Mei had changed her temperament and become difficult to control. That evening, when she wanted Tang Mei to prepare foot soak for her, Tang Mei smiled and said, “Is Mother feeling unwell again? Would you like to copy a few volumes of Buddhist scriptures?”
Immediately afterward, that scoundrel Tang Xun called a doctor to examine Tang Mei’s leg injury, and Tang Mei used recuperation as an excuse to stay in her room without coming out.
Feeling guilty, Madam Su didn’t dare summon her again. For now, she would let her off. In a while, when Tang Mei still showed no signs of pregnancy, she would have a reason to discipline her.
She took a deep breath and said, “Bring me a bowl.”
Drinking the rich and fragrant chicken soup that had been stewed all day, Madam Su’s brows relaxed, and her mood improved considerably.
With the chicken soup and two stir-fried dishes, Madam Su’s appetite opened up, and she ate a bowl and a half of rice.
A smile appeared on her face. “This chicken soup is stewed well. Bring a bowl to Yueze.”
Her poor son hadn’t gone to school these past few days and had only been studying at home. She mentally added another mark against Tang Mei.
Come to think of it, the eldest had been away for quite a while this time. Usually, when he went to inspect the shops, he would return within seven days at most. This time, it had been ten days, and he hadn’t sent any news back.
If the eldest were home, the Tang family wouldn’t have been so arrogant. Could something have happened to him outside?
Madam Su looked deeply worried.
At that moment, Madam Su’s husband, Li Ruida, returned.
His face was stern, and his somewhat dark complexion carried barely suppressed anger.
Madam Su snapped back to reality and stepped forward. “Master, you’re back. The kitchen bought fresh small fish today. I had them coated in flour and fried. You can have some later. I also had someone buy the braised quail from Old Zhao’s place.”
Both were dishes her husband enjoyed with wine. Usually, when he was in a bad mood, he would drink a little. She hadn’t seen him this angry in a long time—who could have provoked him today? Perhaps something difficult to handle had happened at the yamen?
At this moment, Madam Su still hadn’t considered herself the cause. Or rather, in her eyes, the Tang family at most dared to speak harshly to her but wouldn’t truly dare to oppose the Li family.
Li Ruida glared fiercely at his wife. “Have you been making the eldest son’s wife kneel and copy Buddhist scriptures these past few months? Her legs have been injured from it?”
“And you’ve been slandering my mother to outsiders, tarnishing her reputation, saying she mistreated you in the past and made you kneel and copy scriptures for over a decade?”
All the reputation he had built over the years was about to be ruined by this foolish wife.
Did she not understand why he had arranged this marriage for the eldest son? It was precisely because he valued Tang Zheng’s future prospects, hoping to pave the way for his younger son, who had a talent for studying. And this foolish woman—instead of properly winning over a daughter-in-law who clearly lacked cunning, she tormented her, turning a good marital alliance into an enemy.
Although he had known before that Madam Su was imposing rules on Tang Mei, he hadn’t paid much attention to it, thinking that Tang Mei, a country girl from the countryside, had indeed married into a higher-status family and needed to learn more etiquette to avoid embarrassing them in public. But he never expected his wife to go so far. If only she had been more discreet about it. Instead, she left behind such obvious evidence.
Today, the county captain, who had always been at odds with him, smiled and told him about the rumors circulating outside, emphasizing that the abbot of Qingniu Temple said kneeling to copy scriptures was unacceptable. He then asked if the Li family truly had such a traditional rule, where every woman who married into the family had to go through this ordeal to learn etiquette.
Li Ruida was so embarrassed he wished he could find a hole to crawl into. He had never felt so humiliated in his life.
From now on, whenever people spoke of the Li family, they would say their family had improper morals and enjoyed mistreating their daughters-in-law.
Madam Su felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow, stunned into silence. She stammered, “What’s wrong with copying scriptures? I was just trying to make her steadier, so she wouldn’t act rashly.”
Seeing her reaction, Li Ruida knew the rumors outside were true. Rage surged through him, and he pointed at Madam Su. “Do you know what people are saying about our family now? They say the Li family enjoys tormenting daughters-in-law, that you’re a wicked mother-in-law. Our family has been ruined by you, you foolish woman! Don’t you think about who would dare marry into our family in the future?”
Madam Su panicked. “Was it the Tang family who said this? How dare they?”
Aren’t they afraid we’d directly divorce Tang Mei?
Gritting her teeth, Madam Su said to the maid, “Go and summon Tang Mei for me.”