When her mother-in-law took her hand, Tang Mei instinctively trembled.
Others thought that a country girl like her marrying into the county magistrate’s family was an incredible stroke of luck, and many whispered behind her back that she owed it all to her brother’s good fortune.
But only she knew the true nature of this marriage, like drinking water—only the drinker knows whether it’s warm or cold. After entering the household, her mother-in-law spent all day imposing rules on her, demanding she attend to every little thing, even personally holding the washbasin for her to wash her face.
These menial tasks of service didn’t bother her much, as she was no stranger to hard work and had always been diligent at her parents’ home. Seeing that this approach wasn’t working, her mother-in-law came up with a new tactic. She claimed that since Tang Mei entered the household, her own health had been poor, so she made Tang Mei copy Buddhist scriptures. For every volume copied, she had to pick a bowl of red beans and kneel while copying, saying this showed sincerity. She even called it atonement.
After several months of this, Tang Mei had lost a noticeable amount of weight. She tried mentioning it to her husband, but he simply said that all daughters-in-law went through this, and her mother-in-law was only teaching her because she valued her. He said that official families had different rules from country folk and told her not to bring her rustic ways into the household. He even remarked that she had been too plump before and looked much better now that she was thinner. He scolded her for twisting her mother-in-law’s intentions, sowing discord, and harboring ill will.
She couldn’t complain outside either. In the eyes of others, she had been eating well and dressing well since her marriage. If she still had grievances, she would be seen as ungrateful. Moreover, she didn’t want her family to confront her in-laws on her behalf and risk offending them.
Her brother was still only a Xiucai (Licentiate). If the Li family caused trouble and something happened to his imperial examinations, how could she ever face her family again?
She comforted herself by thinking that compared to her friends who had to work in the fields and do all sorts of rough labor after marriage, her life was already quite good. She shouldn’t complain.
Thinking this, she forced her usual gentle smile and said, “My appetite has improved these past two days, and I’ll recover soon. There’s no need to waste Mother’s ginseng on me. Second Brother has been studying hard lately—that ginseng should be saved to make soup for him.”
Madam Su snorted inwardly: At least she knows her place and understands she isn’t worthy of something as precious as ginseng. She had originally intended that ginseng for Yueze anyway.
With Tang Mei’s weak personality, she wouldn’t dare complain to her family.
Even if she did, Madam Su wasn’t afraid. As a mother-in-law, wasn’t it her right to set rules?
She spoke up, “You two haven’t seen each other in a while, so you should spend some quality time together. Xiao Mei, take your mother to your room.”
She couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on this country woman, lest she be tainted by her vulgarity.
Tang Mei agreed, took Tang Li by the hand, and led her mother to her room.
Once inside and with the door closed, Yang Taohua’s expression turned serious. “Tell me honestly, how have you been living in the Li family?”
Even during the time her daughter had been frantically embroidering her wedding dress, she hadn’t lost weight this quickly.
Tang Mei tried to avoid the topic. “My life in the Li family feels like a dream. I eat white rice and meat with every meal. Mother, I’ve prepared some fabric for you and Daya. You can take it back to make a few new sets of clothes.”
Yang Taohua said, “Daya has a name now. It’s Tang Li, Li as in dawn.”
Tang Mei’s eyes curved into crescents. “That’s a lovely name, it sounds like a name full of good fortune.”
Yang Taohua instinctively wanted to praise her granddaughter more, but the words were swallowed before they left her mouth. Keep a low profile, she must keep a low profile.
She wasn’t that easy to fool either, still worrying about her daughter’s health. “Tell me honestly, were you really sick a while ago? It wasn’t really your mother-in-law tormenting you, was it? You came out of my belly, do you think I can’t tell you were lying just now? If you don’t come clean, I’ll go straight to that old hag and ask what she did to you.”
Tang Li nodded. “Auntie, just tell the truth. Even I could tell.”
She whispered softly, “I don’t like Grandma Su. Seeing her gives me a headache.”
If Grandma had discovered earlier that Auntie wasn’t living well in the Li family, they could have thought of a way to bring her out sooner.
Although Tang Li was a transmigrator, she had truly lived in this era for eight years and still had feelings for these relatives.
In Yang Taohua’s eyes, her granddaughter was blessed. If she didn’t like someone, there must be a problem, so she grew even more anxious.
Tang Mei opened her mouth. She was truly afraid that once her mother’s temper flared up, she would charge out and start cursing her mother-in-law. Then there would really be no turning back.
She chose her words carefully, mainly talking about copying Buddhist scriptures. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, copying scriptures was light work.
With a slightly complaining tone, she said, “Mother, you know how my handwriting used to be like chicken scratch—the copied scriptures were simply unfit to be seen. My brother is, after all, a Xiucai. I thought I couldn’t disgrace our family, so I secretly practiced late at night and ended up wearing myself out like this.”
Yang Taohua was half-convinced, half-doubtful, but she felt there was some truth to her daughter’s words. Studying was indeed exhausting. Like her second son, there was a time when he studied so hard he became gaunt. She had put great effort into stewing soups and cooking for him back then, only to be met with her eldest son’s sarcastic remarks.
Yang Taohua said, “You’re too stubborn, child. Don’t take advantage of your youth to squander your health. Copying scriptures should be done slowly; sincerity is what matters most.”
She believed that such things depended most on fate. Like her granddaughter—she had never copied scriptures, yet she caught the Buddha’s eye and even brought good fortune to her eldest son along the way.
Seeing that she was about to successfully fool her mother, Tang Mei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She was truly afraid her mother would fight with her mother-in-law over her.
Turning her head, she saw her niece staring at her without blinking, her clear black-and-white eyes filled with understanding. Tang Mei felt inexplicably guilty.
“A-Li, how about Auntie asks someone to make red bean cakes for you later?”
As someone who often read stories about inner-house conflicts, Tang Li asked directly, “Auntie, do you have to kneel while copying the scriptures? I’ve heard that some people use copying scriptures to torment their daughters-in-law—they make them kneel while copying, even use blood to write, and some have to kneel and pick up a bowl of red beans after finishing each scroll.” She had just noticed her aunt’s walking posture seemed a bit off.
Caught off guard by Tang Li, a child, exposing her, a flash of panic crossed Tang Mei’s face.
Yang Taohua was furious. She was her own mother, yet this wretched girl was using tricks on her. If it weren’t for the eldest girl’s cleverness, she would have been fooled this time.
Her daughter going to such lengths to lie to her face only proved she was suffering greatly in the Li family.
She directly lifted her skirt, pulled up the trousers inside, and quickly revealed the bluish-black knees, clearly bruised from kneeling for too long.
Yang Taohua moved too fast for Tang Mei to stop her. Not just her, even Tang Li was stunned.
Her grandmother’s ability to take action was truly impressive!
Tang Mei pursed her lips, “Mother, all daughters-in-law have to go through this. My mother-in-law went through the same back in her day.”
That was what her mother-in-law had said. Whether it was true or false, Tang Mei didn’t know. She just wanted to use these words to soothe her mother.
Yang Taohua angrily retorted, “Nonsense! Only wicked old women would think of such methods to torment others.”
She was so furious she paced back and forth, feeling she couldn’t swallow this injustice.
“Are you made of wood? Hiding something like this from us.”
According to Tang Li, her aunt considered others too much, preferring to suffer herself rather than let her family worry. Tang Li, however, was different—if she suffered even a little, she would make sure everyone knew it tenfold.
Her aunt’s mother-in-law, Madam Su, clearly cared about her reputation but also bullied the weak and feared the strong. To make her aunt’s life in the Li family better, they had to strike decisively and intimidate her thoroughly. Constantly yielding would only make her push further.
Tang Li deliberately asked, “Is copying Buddhist scriptures a good thing?”
Yang Taohua sneered, “It is a good thing, but making a daughter-in-law kneel while copying is using the Buddha to do evil. Such people will face retribution sooner or later.”
Tang Li blinked her dark, bright eyes, “Grandmother, let’s go to Qingniu Temple and ask the abbot and Master Liaoran whether kneeling is the only way for the Buddha to receive a believer’s devotion. Our family is humble and doesn’t understand such rules. I heard Master Liaoran came from the capital—he’s well-traveled and knowledgeable, so he’s sure to know.”
Yang Taohua had originally planned to go out and fight that old hag, but upon hearing her granddaughter’s words, her eyes lit up. She stroked Tang Li’s face, “Truly my granddaughter, so clever! This is an excellent idea!”
Who would want to kneel while copying Buddhist scriptures? Why didn’t that old hag kneel herself? Later, they could even criticize those who copied while sitting as lacking piety. That old hag would surely be drowned in public scorn.
As for whether this would offend the Li family, Yang Taohua didn’t care. The Li family had bullied her daughter first. It wasn’t as if their family had been desperate to marry her off.
Yang Taohua patted Tang Mei’s hand and said, “Don’t worry about your father-in-law using this against your brother. Your brother is the youngest Xiucai in our county and even topped the exam. If he can become a Juren early, it will be one of the county magistrate’s achievements. Haven’t you noticed how polite the county magistrate is every time he sees your brother?”
When Xiao Mei was getting married, her son had explained this to her so she wouldn’t feel too restrained or lower herself too much in front of her in-laws, as that would only invite contempt.
Since her own mother said so and was willing to go all out for her sake, Tang Mei naturally wouldn’t object anymore.
In the past, for the sake of her husband’s family’s reputation, she had always covered things up, but her mother-in-law and husband hadn’t treated her any better for it. They probably even thought she was a fool behind her back.
Tang Mei came to her senses and nodded firmly, “I understand.”
Tang Li breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried her aunt might be unclear-headed and hold them back. Now it seemed her aunt was still sensible—she had just been too considerate of others before.
Madam Su watched her son and the young Xiucai discussing scholarly matters, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face. She hoped her youngest son would pass the Xiucai exam next year, so he could surpass Tang Zheng and become the youngest Xiucai.
Tang Zheng had passed the Xiucai exam at around fifteen, so her son still had hope. The schoolteacher also praised him for being clever and diligent in his studies. There was no reason he should lose to Tang Zheng, a country bumpkin.
She had reluctantly accepted Tang Mei as her daughter-in-law back then, partly because her family’s business had run into trouble, forcing them to sell most of their assets, and her husband had opposed the marriage. The other reason was Tang Zheng’s status as a Xiucai. Her husband had said that with Tang Zheng’s talent and hard work, he had the potential to become a Jinshi in the future.
Just then, a maid approached her and whispered a few words in her ear.
Madam Su’s smile vanished.
The maid had just reported that faint sounds of an argument could be heard from Tang Mei’s room. Because the door was closed, the maid couldn’t make out what they were saying.
Had Tang Mei told her mother about the task of copying Buddhist scriptures?
She had taught her the rules, but the girl didn’t know what was good for her.
Madam Su wasn’t afraid of Yang Taohua, who struck her as an uneducated, foolish country woman who only knew how to cry, make a scene, and threaten suicide. The more Yang Taohua made a fuss, the better it would make her look.
After the cook brought out several plates of pastries, Madam Su instructed the maid, “Go invite our in-laws to come out. These pastries are best enjoyed while they’re still warm.”
A short while later, Yang Taohua and Tang Mei came out together.
Madam Su noticed at once that her daughter-in-law had reapplied powder, but her eyes were still slightly red and swollen. A flicker of disgust rose in her heart: she really had complained.
She straightened her back, waiting for Yang Taohua to make a scene.
Yang Taohua asked, “Madam, have you been making Xiao Mei kneel and copy Buddhist scriptures every day recently?”
Her words immediately drew the attention of Tang Xun and his brother.
Tang Xun frowned. Why did copying Buddhist scriptures require kneeling? How uncomfortable must that be?
This old hag, was she bullying his sister?
Tang Xun said sarcastically, “As expected of the County Magistrate’s household, the rules are so strict. Even copying Buddhist scriptures requires kneeling.”
Madam Su cleared her throat lightly and replied without changing her expression, “I haven’t been feeling well lately. Xiao Mei is a filial child, so she’s been copying Buddhist scriptures on my behalf to pray for my health.”
She thought her explanation was flawless. Even if it were scrutinized publicly, no one could find fault with it.
Tang Li asked, “When did Madam start feeling unwell?”
Madam Su inwardly thought the Tang family’s upbringing was truly lacking. What child interrupts when elders are speaking? Country girls really had no manners.
“Two months ago.”
Tang Li said, “Did Madam kneel and copy Buddhist scriptures herself before?”
Madam Su nodded. “Yes. If I weren’t feeling unwell, I would have done it myself. When I was a daughter-in-law, I often knelt and copied Buddhist scriptures for my mother-in-law.”
She was lying through her teeth. After all, her mother-in-law in the coffin couldn’t jump out and scold her. Madam Su herself had never knelt to copy Buddhist scriptures. At most, she copied one volume a month, and the rest of the time, she had her maids do it for her.
Tang Li said, “No wonder you’ve been ill for so long without recovering. It’s because you, Old Madam, had someone else copy the sutras for you, so your heart wasn’t sincere. When you used to copy the Buddhist scriptures yourself, you never fell ill for this long, did you? This time, being sick for so long must be a warning from Buddha, thinking you were slacking off and being perfunctory toward Him. This is a great disrespect, truly unacceptable.”
She turned to Tang Mei and said, “Aunt, this is where you were thoughtless. How could you take on such a task for her? You’ve harmed her! For the sake of Old Madam’s health, you should supervise her daily to ensure she copies the Buddhist scriptures herself.”
Her little mouth chattered on, leaving Madam Su no chance to interject or refute. Tang Li even elevated the matter to the level of disrespecting Buddha.
Madam Su was dumbfounded. How did it become her turn to copy the sutras with just a flip of this girl’s lips?