16
Aftertaste
“Alright, I’ll prescribe medicine for one day first. You’ll need to come to my place to get the rest. Pay attention to the patient’s mood—don’t let them get too agitated. They must avoid fishy, spicy, and greasy foods. Only light meals are allowed, and they must remain in bed for three months. No physical labor whatsoever. Make sure they consume plenty of nourishing supplements,” the physician advised.
“Eldest daughter-in-law.”
“Yes, I’ll go.” Song Xiao Lan noticed her mother-in-law’s displeased expression and immediately responded when called.
Grandma Liu stood by the bedside, her eyes moist as she said, “Thank you for your trouble, doctor.”
These two physicians were biological brothers.
The doctor placed the medicine on the table and explained how to use it before leaving with his medical kit. Song Xiao Lan followed the physician. When they reached the main hall, the other physician was already waiting there.
Liu Xingluo said to his younger brother, “Let’s go. Liu Qing Yang’s wife will come to our place to get the medicine.”
Liu Xingming replied, “Liu Quan should go with her too.” This was to avoid any unnecessary complications.
“Hmm.”
Liu Quan followed silently behind them. Why did such misfortune have to befall his family? Heaven truly was unfair.
Evening at the Liu Family residence.
The family picked at their food as if chewing wax, finding it difficult to eat with such a major incident having occurred at home. No one had any appetite—except for Liu Shuhuai.
Liu Shuhuai had gone to wash clothes by the river that morning. When returning, he overheard people saying that during a hunting trip in Liu Family Village, they had encountered wolves. While everyone else was fine, only his first and second uncles had been injured.
By the time he reached the doorstep, the physicians had already left. He tried to sneak a peek into his eldest uncle’s room but was met with a sharp glare from his grandmother. He quickly turned away to hang the laundry to dry.
He wondered how serious the injuries were—probably not fatal. It seemed bad people would eventually face retribution; it was just a matter of whether it came early or late.
The whole family was rotten.
Hmph~
“Eldest daughter-in-law, second daughter-in-law, I’m entrusting the medication to you. You must take good care of your husbands,” Grandma Liu declared.
Song Xiao Lan was reluctant—this would be so exhausting. She turned to look at Liu Shuhuai and said, “Oh, Mother, isn’t Shuhuai here? He could…”
Before Song Xiao Lan could finish, Grandma Liu slammed her bowl and chopsticks heavily on the table with a loud “clatter.”
“What? You don’t even want to care for your own husband?” Grandma Liu then turned to the silent second daughter-in-law and asked, “You don’t want to either?”
Yu Xiang pretended to snap out of her daze and said, “Mother, of course your daughter-in-law is willing to care for her husband. I was just too distraught earlier and didn’t hear clearly. My apologies, Mother~.” When Yu Xiang looked up, her eyes were red, making her appear as if she had been wronged.
“Mother, I never said I was unwilling. I just wanted to ask if Shuhuai could prepare the medicine while he’s cooking. That’s all I meant,” Song Xiao Lan explained, seeing that Yu Xiang had agreed. She had no choice but to come up with an excuse.
She didn’t want to be driven out of the household. Her son would become a Xiucai one day, and then she would be the mother of a Xiucai.
“Do it yourself. It’s not like they’re crippled,” Grandma Liu resumed eating. She was well aware of her eldest daughter-in-law’s laziness and how she tried to avoid work. But with two men suddenly out of commission, that meant two fewer laborers.
“Yes,” Song Xiao Lan murmured softly.
Grandma Liu thought to herself: They need to stay in bed for three months. Who knows if they’ll fully recover after that?
Liu Shuhuai wasn’t very strong, but he could gather firewood to sell. She should have him go up the mountain every day to collect firewood. Her grandson would soon take the Children’s Examination—nothing must go wrong.
First and foremost, they needed silver.
Liu Zhi was to be married off, but first she must embroider handkerchiefs to sell.
Her two grandsons needed to focus on their exam preparations, leaving only the two daughters-in-law and Liu Shuhuai to share the burden. These old bones of theirs could still labor a few more years—in a few days, they would go to loosen the soil.
Liu Shuhuai would resume his former tasks, but with a daily requirement of four bundles of firewood. Liu Zhi would embroider handkerchiefs at home while keeping an eye on things, and the two daughters-in-law would join the men in the fields after tending to their husbands.
After gaining their consent, Grandma Liu announced the arrangements at the dinner table, and everyone agreed.
Grandma Liu then scanned the room and said to her second daughter-in-law, Yu Xiang, “A young girl like her, staying out so late—what, does she plan to spend the night at that man’s house?”
Seeing her mother-in-law’s anger, Yu Xiang hurriedly explained, “Mother, Zhi’er just went to Lili’s house to practice needlework. Didn’t you say Lili’s needlework is excellent? Zhi’er only went to seek her advice.”
Grandma Liu snorted coldly. She knew exactly what Liu Zhi was up to. “Tell Liu Zhi to have that man send a marriage proposal soon. What shame, trailing after him without any formal commitment?”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Yu Xiang could only agree repeatedly.
It wasn’t until after everyone had finished dinner that Liu Zhi returned, her cheeks flushed.
The moment she stepped inside, her mother grabbed her by the ear. “Mom, it hurts… it hurts!” Liu Zhi cried out, covering her ear in pain.
Yu Xiang said sternly, “Come with me to our room.”
Seeing her father lying unconscious on the bed, Liu Zhi burst into tears. “Mom, Dad—what’s wrong with him?”
“He was bitten by a wolf. He’ll need to rest for three months.” Yu Xiang looked at her grown daughter and said, “Your grandmother insists you must arrange for Wang Wen-Bin to propose soon. Try to marry right after the Children’s Examination.”
Liu Zhi asked in confusion, “Wh-why?”
“Your father’s medicine costs two taels of silver each month. If you can’t secure Wang Wen-Bin, you know what your grandmother will do, don’t you?” She would sell you off at a high bride price to an old man.
Liu Zhi instantly understood: if she failed to hold onto Wang Wen-Bin—a scholar with prospects—she would be forced to marry whoever could offer her grandmother a substantial bride price.
All to cover her cousins’ tuition fees.
So, she had to ensure Wang Wen-Bin proposed within this period.
“How do his parents feel about you?” Yu Xiang was deeply concerned. Parental approval was the biggest hurdle; if his parents disapproved, her daughter would suffer a lifetime of mistreatment from her mother-in-law.
“Don’t worry, Mom. Wen-Bin’s parents are quite pleased with me. It’s just his grandmother who complains my hips aren’t broad enough to bear them a son.” Wang Wen-Bin’s grandfather had already passed away.
Yu Xiang’s anxiety eased slightly. As long as the parents were agreeable, that old woman would hold her tongue once her daughter gave birth to a son.
“Go and give them a grandson within a year—then that old woman won’t dare say a word. Remember, you must capture your man’s heart.”
Yu Xiang glanced around, then retrieved a hidden stash of private savings from a corner. Resolutely, she took out one tael of silver and handed it to Liu Zhi. “Men are drawn by appearances. Buy some rouge, make your complexion as smooth as a peeled egg.”
“This is how your mother managed to marry your father. Remember: to achieve your goal, stop at nothing.” Yu Xiang pressed her hand over her daughter’s heart. “Only by being ruthless can you secure your place. Destroy anyone who stands in your way.”
Originally, Grandma Liu’s chosen second daughter-in-law hadn’t been her, but her elder sister. Unfortunately, her sister had accidentally drowned. By endearing herself to the old lady, she had secured the position as the Liu Family’s second daughter-in-law.
Everything must be fought for.
Liu Zhi nodded, happily accepting the tael of silver. “Mom, I understand.”
“Mother has a special perfume here that will surely make men infatuated when applied. There’s also an herb that can make you utterly charming, though you must reapply it periodically. I’ll bring it to you tomorrow. Go to sleep now.” Yu Xiang urged her daughter. Staying up late is bad for the skin.