It was a day with gentle sunlight and cool, comfortable weather, though the wind brought a biting chill as winter was approaching.
While Zhao Ying was teaching Xiao Bao how to write and recognize characters, a commotion arose from the front of the house.
Father Lu and Madam Zhang, who were drying napa cabbage and radishes to make pickled vegetables for winter, heard someone pounding at the main gate.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
“Open the door this instant!” came the annoyed voice of an older woman.
From her tone alone, it was clear that it was Madam He, Father Lu’s mother.
Upon hearing her, Father Lu hurried to open the door and greeted her.
“Mother, Big Brother, please come in.”
Walking through the gate was indeed Madam He, Father Lu’s mother, and the person referred to as “Big Brother” was his eldest brother, Lu Dahai.
This was Madam He’s first visit to this house since the family had split several months prior.
Entering the courtyard, she surveyed everything around her, her face clearly showing a greedy expression.
Hearing the noise, Zhao Ying took Xiao Bao’s hand and led him to the front yard.
Uncle Dahai, or Lu Dahai, Father Lu’s eldest brother, spotted Zhao Ying as she walked over and fixed his gaze on her, his eyes roaming up and down with an indecent intent.
It was enough to make Zhao Ying want to pluck those eyes out herself.
“Heh!
It seems there’s no respect for elders anymore.
Just because they separated from the main family, they can’t even teach basic manners to the child.
Clearly, your daughter-in-law is lacking.
It looks like I’ll have to take Xiao Bao with me to train him properly myself.”
Before Zhao Ying could respond, Xiao Bao burst into tears, wailing loudly.
“No!
Mother, I don’t want to go with Great-Grandmother!
Please don’t make me go!” he sobbed, his face going pale with fear as he clung to Zhao Ying.
Father Lu and Madam Zhang quickly approached to console him, but Xiao Bao refused to let go of Zhao Ying.
She held him close, gently rubbing his back to soothe him.
“There, there, Xiao Bao, my love.
Mother won’t let you go anywhere, okay?
Don’t cry; Great-Grandmother was only joking.”
Zhao Ying repeated these words in a comforting tone to calm Xiao Bao down.
Then, she glanced at Father Lu, who immediately understood and shifted the topic.
“Mother, what brings you to the end of the village today?
If there was something you needed, you could have sent a message, and I would’ve come to see you myself,” Lu Santing said, trying to divert his mother’s attention.
Hearing Xiao Bao’s cries of refusal to stay with her, Madam He’s expression grew even more sour.
She nearly forgot the purpose of her visit until Lu Santing questioned her.
“If I hadn’t come myself, I wouldn’t have known you were living so well here—fixing up the house, digging a well, and even wearing new clothes.
It’s been months since we separated, yet you, as a son, haven’t shown even a bit of gratitude!
I had to come see for myself, in case you were struggling and needed help.
But clearly, you’re living better than I am.
Bah!” She spat on the ground to emphasize her disgust.
At this point, it was clear to everyone—even a fool could understand—that Madam He was here with ulterior motives.
Father Lu, who already felt hurt by his mother’s favoritism, grew even sadder hearing her words.
Did she truly wish to see them suffer?
Seeing Father Lu’s face turn pale, Zhao Ying, who had been comforting Xiao Bao, furrowed her brow and stepped forward.
She knew it was time to say something.
“We are grateful for the ten taels you gave us upon separation, for it’s helped us reach this point.
If you’re looking for gratitude, Father has nothing but respect for you, but even though he may have the heart, he simply doesn’t have the means.
Surely, you wouldn’t hold that against him,” Zhao Ying said, meeting Madam He’s gaze directly.
Madam He’s face twisted with rage, turning shades of red and green in fury.
Yet Zhao Ying’s unyielding stare made her falter slightly.
“Such disrespect!
Who do you think you are to interfere?
You’re merely a daughter-in-law and have no right to speak out!” Madam He snapped, averting her gaze from Zhao Ying and focusing on Father Lu instead.
Father Lu couldn’t bear the accusation of being unfilial, but Zhao Ying had no such hesitation.
She wasn’t afraid of tarnishing her reputation, and she certainly wasn’t one to back down from a confrontation.
“Oh, Grandmother,” Zhao Ying said with a mocking tone, “if you didn’t know, let me clarify.
The money for the house repairs, the well, and the new clothes—that all came from me.
Father just recovered from his illness, and Mother too.
Without my dowry, do you think we’d be able to live decently on a mere ten taels and in that rundown shack that barely qualifies as a roof over our heads?”
Zhao Ying’s patience had reached its limit, and Madam Zhang, standing beside her, quickly tried to hold her back.
“Ah Ying, we truly owe you our thanks, especially with Father’s medical costs, which alone were over ten taels.
But don’t argue with Grandmother.
She’s elderly.
It was our duty to visit her; we shouldn’t have made her walk all the way to the edge of the village like this,” Madam Zhang said, trying to defuse the situation.
Deep down, Madam Zhang felt a hint of satisfaction at seeing Zhao Ying stand up to her mother-in-law.
However, she also understood that one mustn’t go too far, given Madam He’s position as the elder in the family.
Father Lu noticed that Madam He’s face was contorting with anger, and it looked as if she was about to lash out at Zhao Ying.
Quickly, he stepped between them.
“Mother, please don’t take offense.
Ah Ying used her own savings to support us through everything.
If it weren’t for her, I’d still be bedridden, unable to walk, or worse—unable to honor you as a dutiful son should.”
Madam He stood there, trembling, pointing a finger at Zhao Ying but seemingly at a loss for words.
All she managed to say was, “You…you…”
Lu Dahai, the eldest brother who had remained silent up until now, saw that Zhao Ying was managing the family finances and knew this undermined much of today’s intentions.
He quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Third Brother, it’s good that you’re well.
Zhao Ying has shown her gratitude by taking care of you both.
But if you’re no longer in hardship, you should consider showing a little goodwill toward your parents.”
Hearing this, Zhao Ying frowned and stepped beside Father Lu.
As she passed Lu Dahai, she discreetly sprinkled a bit of itching powder on him.
A small amount, but likely enough to keep him up all night.
And if he didn’t wash it off, perhaps it would spread to his wife, too.
“I remember it was agreed during the separation that every year we would give the main family supplies equivalent to ten jin of rice per mu of land.
Since we were only given three mu, that’s thirty jin in total, along with five taels.
We haven’t forgotten.
But it’s not yet due, so perhaps, Grandmother, you could accept radishes for now?
After all, they’re the most valuable thing we have at the moment, but I can’t offer them all up; otherwise, our Xiao Bao would have to go without food.”
With that, Zhao Ying made as if she would fetch a radish.
Madam He breathed heavily, her nostrils flaring.
Seeing that she couldn’t out-argue Zhao Ying, she finally sneered, “Fine, Zhao Ying.
Talk all you want now.
But when Wenyao returns, I’ll make sure he divorces you.
Mark my words.”
With that, she turned to Father Lu.
“And you, make sure Wenyao divorces her!”
Furious over her wasted trip, Madam He stormed out without waiting for anyone to see her off.
Father Lu snapped out of his shock just as Madam He and Lu Dahai reached the edge of the property.
He hurried to catch up with them but, seeing they were already far down the road, sighed and returned, firmly shutting the gate behind him.
“Mother, what does ‘divorce’ mean?” Xiao Bao asked, breaking free from Zhao Ying’s embrace with curiosity.
Zhao Ying decided it was best to explain things honestly so he would have a correct understanding.
“Divorce is when two people agree to separate and stop living together.
But this word is only used between a husband and wife,” Zhao Ying explained.
Xiao Bao seemed half-understanding and half-confused, so Zhao Ying quickly changed the topic to keep him from dwelling on it.
“All right, who wants some grapes?
I have a bunch here!” she said cheerfully.
“Yay!
Mother’s grapes are the best!” Xiao Bao cheered, immediately forgetting the fear he had felt moments before.
Ah, children!
They were so easily distracted when food was involved.
Madam Zhang walked over, taking Zhao Ying’s hand and offering a reassuring squeeze.
“Don’t worry, Ah Ying.
Mother won’t let Wenyao divorce you,” she said softly.
“Thank you, Mother,” Zhao Ying replied with a gentle smile.
Meanwhile, Father Lu returned to drying the radishes they had been working on earlier, though he still looked troubled and upset.
Madam Zhang noticed and sighed heavily.
“Let your father be for now; he’ll feel better soon.
He holds loyalty and respect for his elders above all else, so facing this kind of situation… Sigh…” Madam Zhang finished with a resigned shake of her head before turning back to head inside the main hall.