In early spring last year, Qiu’er went to the riverside to do laundry with her mother-in-law’s niece, Honghua. Due to Honghua’s constant provocation, they had an argument, and in a moment of carelessness, Qiu’er was pushed into the water by her.

 

At that time, there were many people on the bank, and she was quickly rescued. However, the river water was icy cold at the beginning of spring, and she fell ill upon returning home. It took her a month of intermittent recovery to feel slightly better.

 

However, this incident also provided an opportunity for her to make her mother-in-law send her niece back home. She said they could either seek the village chief’s arbitration or have Honghua’s family members push her into the water as well to give it a try.

 

Qiu’er stubbornly persisted, but since then, her mother-in-law began to resent her.

 

Without fully recovering, Qiu’er endured her mother-in-law’s torment. She was overwhelmed with chores from morning till night, unable to finish them all, and was mocked by her mother-in-law: “There’s no choice. Since you drove away your cousin, you have to do her share of the work!”

 

She endured hardship for another year. With her body already weakened by the cold and the daily workload without respite, she became so thin that her clothes hung loosely on her.

 

However, it wouldn’t be the Zhu Family without causing trouble. In April this year, her mother-in-law proposed that Zhu Qun marry Honghua as a secondary wife, arguing that Qiu’er had been in the family for over two years with nothing to show for it.

 

She claimed that the whole family agreed and was waiting for Qiu’er’s consent.

 

This was simply going too far. Qiu’er had been enduring silently all along, not wanting to bring shame to her own family by revealing the true situation. Now, being forced to become a secondary wife would be an even greater disgrace!

 

Nothing to show for it? Ha! If it weren’t for the cold Qiu’er caught from being pushed into the water by Honghua, she wouldn’t have had nothing to show for it!

 

The doctor said she just needed some rest, so why did she have to become a secondary wife?!

 

Which rustic country bumpkin would marry a secondary wife? Let’s not make a mockery of ourselves!

 

Qiu’er disagreed firmly. Her mother-in-law cursed at her every day, and Zhu Qun also spoke harshly to her. Grandma and Grandpa remained silent, but their attitude was also disapproving.

 

She had had enough of these days. Even if she agreed to let Honghua into the family, Qiu’er felt as if she could see a future of misery at a glance. She could endure her own suffering, but did she have to cause heartbreak for her father, mother, and younger brothers?

 

So this time, she made a decisive move. She packed her belongings and returned directly to the Lin family. No one from the Zhu family tried to stop her. As she stepped out of the courtyard, her mother-in-law shouted, “If you’re capable, don’t come back! A hen that doesn’t lay eggs is just taking up space.”

 

Upon hearing these malicious words, Qiu’er turned her head sharply, gave them a resentful look, but said nothing more before leaving.

 

Should one argue with beasts? No, there’s no need! 

 

When Qiu’er returned home, the people of the Lin family were bewildered and immediately asked what had happened.

 

This time, Qiu’er looked even thinner than she did during the previous Lunar New Year. Her body swayed as she walked, and her face had lost all its flesh. Her clothes were old and thin.

 

When Qiu’er saw her father and mother, she finally found a place to express her grievances. With swollen red eyes and tears wetting Lin mother’s shoulder, she recounted everything that happened after their marriage.

 

“This Zhu family! They’re really going too far! Do they think there’s no one in our Lin family?” Lin Father’s anger flared up, and he slapped the table with a loud bang, his palm turning red.

 

“You stubborn girl! So many things have happened, and you’ve endured so much! Why did you keep silent all this time? Are you trying to break our hearts?” Lin Yuanyuan’s voice choked as he hugged his eldest daughter, and his chest heaved with anger.

 

“I… I was afraid of embarrassing you all, Father.” Qiu’er sobbed uncontrollably, gasping for breath, as she buried her face in Lin mother’s embrace, just like when she was a child and felt wronged.

 

“What embarrassment? You didn’t do anything wrong. They’re the ones causing the embarrassment!” Lin Father firmly reassured his daughter.

 

The next day, Lin Father gathered a few close friends from the village and some elder and younger brothers from the Wang family, and they marched towards the Zhu family to seek justice.

 

Upon arriving at the Zhu family’s house, there was a lot of shouting and smashing to vent their anger. Then, they called the village chief of Dongkuan Village and explained the whole situation, making it clear that the Lin family did not agree to take Honghua as a secondary wife and demanded a divorce.

 

But the Zhu family refused. A divorce and taking Honghua as a secondary wife would tarnish the reputation of Zhu Qun and Honghua. Moreover, they would have to return the dowry that the Lin family had prepared back then.

 

In these past few years, the Zhu family had spent a lot of money on their youngest son’s education in town. Although they had many fields, they couldn’t save any money throughout the year, and their lives were not as prosperous as they appeared.

 

Zhu Qun’s mother had actually wanted to marry her own niece into the Zhu family a long time ago, but Zhu Qun’s grandmother and father disagreed, considering Honghua’s family too poor. That’s why they chose the well-off Lin family.

 

Now, the Zhu family didn’t think they were in the wrong at all, and a divorce was definitely out of the question.

 

With both sides unable to reach an agreement, the matter was left unresolved, dragging on month after month, until now. Qiu’er never returned to the Zhu family, and Lin Father and Lin Mother didn’t allow her to go back either.

 

“Damn it! No wonder they’re called Zhu Qun, a bunch of animals!”

 

After finishing the story, Jing Mother erupted with intense emotions. She was so furious that she wanted to go to the Zhu family right away and tear Zhu Qun’s mother apart!

 

Jing Father was also resolute. When it came to important matters, he never held back. After Lin Father and Lin Mother finished speaking, he said, “Brother Lin, Sister Lin, don’t worry. In this matter, our eldest niece is only being wronged, she hasn’t done anything wrong. We know very well who is right and who is wrong.”

 

“That’s right! Brother Lin, Brother Yuan, we’re going to be one family from now on. When we go to Dongkuan Village next time, remember to call us. We’ll go together and seek justice!” Jing Mother was still immersed in her anger. As a woman and having had a difficult time dealing with her own mother-in-law in the village, she could empathize.

 

“Enough, Caiyun, don’t be upset. Leaving that family is also Qiu’er’s blessing.” Lin Mother comforted Jing Mother, concerned that her anger might harm her health.

 

Then he continued, “Don’t worry. It won’t happen. We’re just worried about our two families being related, fearing that someone might use this matter to spread rumors and spoil the mood. So it’s better to clarify things with you.”

 

“Don’t worry, Brother Lin. We’re only concerned for our niece.”

 

Jing Mother sighed. Being parents was never easy. They spent their whole lives worrying about their children.

 

Outside the courtyard, the newly formed “Iron Triangle” was no longer satisfied with the small courtyard and wanted to go somewhere more spacious to have fun. So Jing Yi, along with the three of them, took Xiao Xia and six people in total, and they arrived at the stream again.

 

They let the four children play by the stream while they sat under a big willow tree, chatting and keeping an eye on the children. They specifically instructed not to go into the water now that it was getting colder, and they asked the most reliable Dongjiang to take care of all little ones.

 

“Chuxia, how have you been recently? Were you tired during the busy farming season?” Finally, they were alone again, and Jing Yi asked with concern.

 

“It’s been good. The busy farming season is similar to usual, and I’ve entrusted my family’s fields to my uncle’s family,” Chuxia replied.

 

Although there was still some shyness in his heart, he was willing to talk more with Jing Yi.

 

“As long as you’re not tired, the weather is getting colder soon, so remember to wear warm clothes.” Then, Jing Yi took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, which he had prepared in advance, and handed it to Chuxia, instructing him, “I bought some ginger candies for you in town. Remember to eat some everyday. It will warm your body.”

 

Chuxia had never eaten ginger candies before, but he felt that it would definitely work because his heart already felt warm.

 

Sugar was a precious commodity in the countryside, so Chuxia felt a little embarrassed, but he still accepted it.

 

Being smart and insightful, he also guessed why the entire Jing family had come to visit. He was very happy, but the world was unkind to young men and women. Although he was delighted in his heart, he couldn’t show too much joy.

 

So now, when only the two of them were together, he didn’t want to reject Jing Yi’s care and concern, nor did he have the heart to refuse.

 

“Thank you.” After hesitating for a while, Chuxia still didn’t know what to call him. He remembered the cracked expression on Jing Yi’s face when he addressed him as “Brother Jing” last time. Every time he thought about it, he found it amusing.

 

At this moment, Jing Yi and Chuxia seemed to have a tacit understanding. Jing Yi smiled and waved his hand, “Don’t be polite with me. Just call me Ayi.”

 

Anyway, sooner or later, you’ll have to call me husband, hehe.

 

Chuxia glanced at his shameless face and remained silent. Although his expression was faint, there was a smile in his eyes.

 

Jing Yi understood everything without needing to say it.

 

They stayed at the Lin family until around three in the afternoon, politely declining the warm dinner invitation from the Lin family. Jing Father, Jing Mother, and their three sons were about to return home.

 

Lin Father, Lin Mother, and Dongjiang accompanied them to the village entrance, bidding farewell to each other, but there was no sadness. They knew there would be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future.

 

Carrying an empty bamboo basket on his back made the journey much easier. Only Jing Yi had a jar of pickles that Lin Mother had given to Jing Mother in his bamboo basket. It was a secret recipe, and both Jing Mother and Jing Yi couldn’t stop praising it during lunch.

 

Feeling even more refreshed and happy, Jing Yi was the eldest son of the Jing family, and the first child among the younger generation to have his marriage arranged so smoothly. He had become the ideal son-in-law for the whole family, and Jing Mother couldn’t stop smiling.

 

After the two families reached their respective homes, Jing Mother called Jing Yi over again and told him about the ordeal of the eldest daughter of the Lin family, reminding him in the end, “Our family will never produce such despicable people, but you should think carefully before taking any actions in the future. If you have any wicked intentions, be careful, or I and your father will teach you a lesson!”

 

“How is that possible, Mother! Your son, don’t you know him?” Jing Yi protested. Moreover, Xiaoxia was the only sweetheart he had liked and agreed with in all these years! They had just begun!

 

After the two families reached an agreement, the Jing family became busy, immediately preparing for the engagement ceremony.