Chapter 71: It turns out this is the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship

  Gu was so humiliated by Zhou's scolding that she wanted to knock herself against the pillar and die. Lian Hua, Lian Duo, and Jiang were all beside her, how could they just watch as she knocked herself against the pillar? They all tried to stop her, embracing her, until several of them were crying together in a heap.

  "Just let me die, I have no face to live on..." Gu's family was still struggling, looking like they had to crash into the pillar.

  "Mother, don't abandon me!" Lian Duo'er cried out.

  Jiang and Lianhua were also crying, NiuNiu was still young and had never seen such a scene before, at this time she also burst into loud wailing.

  The house was in a mess, even the old man's eyebrows were twisted into a knot.

  "You still have the face to seek death, did I scold you wrongly? Who are you trying to scare? All of you get out of the way and let her go die." Zhou Shi actually sat firmly in place.

  Gu heard Zhou say this and cried even louder.

  "Dad, mom, all these years, I don't dare say I've made achievements, but I have suffered..."

  "You're still so arrogant, you really have the face to say that. Look at how you've taught those kids, our family's been unlucky since you married in." Zhou Shi spat again, "Ever since you came over, you've put on airs like a thousand gold miss. You didn't want to serve me and your father, and you instigated my eldest son to move to town to live. Out of sight, out of mind, you're now acting wildly. Now you're tired of us old folks not dying, wanting to get rid of us..."

  Gu knelt down on the ground, and Lian Hua'er, Lian Duo'er, and Jiang Shi also followed suit. Jiang Shi kept coaxing Niu Niu, looking very pitiful.

  The old man puffed heavily on his dry tobacco pipe and didn't say anything else.

  "Old Master, what do you think we should do about this?" asked Madame Zhou to Lian.

  "Let's talk about it when Lao Da and Lao Er come back."

  Gu and several others knelt on the ground for half a day. Without a word from Lao Yezi and Zhou Shi, they did not dare to get up.

  Finally, even Lao Ye heard Niu Niu crying and couldn't catch his breath, so he softened his heart. He glanced at Madame Zhou.

  "Get out of here first, and stay in the house honestly. If you dare to play any more tricks, I'll kick all of you out of the Lian family!" scolded Mrs. Zhou.

  Everyone is busy with their own affairs, except for He Shi. Although she was thinking about Er Lang's marriage in her heart, she didn't dare to speak at this time.

  …………

  Lian Hua and Lian Duo supported Gu back to the west room, Jiang followed behind, then closed the door.

  Gu sat down on the kang, and his crying slowly came to a stop.

  "Mother, I've dragged you down." Lian Hua'er said with her head lowered.

  "I advised you back then, seeing that your wedding day was approaching. Just be patient for a while, but you didn't listen to my advice, and as a result..." Gu sighed.

  "It's all Second Aunt." Lian Hua'er bit her lip, "At this time, she came to me for money, saying that she wanted to give it to her second brother Erlang for his engagement. Her second brother Erlang is a good talent, but he wants to marry a country girl, and can use some money, but instead of marrying someone from the countryside, he wants to marry Wang Xiue from the general merchandise store in town. She asked me to open my mouth wide and let me pay 100 or 200 taels for her dowry..."

  "Your father didn't give them any less benefits. Everything will be discussed after you get married, and if there's anything that can't be solved at that time. But she couldn't wait for a moment, and it's not enough to make things happen, but rather to ruin them!" Gu Shi said angrily, turning her head to see Jiang Shi coaxing Niu Niu. She wiped away tears again, "You're angry, saying I have bad intentions towards your older brother, I'm so wronged. If I really had bad intentions towards him, could I have married my own niece to him?"

  "Daughter, don't take this to heart, I know you've been good to your step-grandfather," said Mrs. Jiang.

  "Big brother didn't study well, it's his own fault, how can he blame our mother?" Lian Duo'er said angrily.

  Lian Hua'er hastily reached out and pinched Lian Duo'er's hand. Jiang heard Lian Duo'er's words and felt a bit uneasy, so she turned her face away pretending not to have heard.

  "What's going on here? Don't look at others, my father is still a scholar, will she rely solely on him in the future?" Lian Hua'er said.

  "Consider me unlucky. This scolding was inevitable..." Gu said slowly.

  "Girl, why do you say so?"

  …………

  In the western wing room, Zhang heard from Lian'er about what had happened in the upper house and just sat there sighing.

  "Mother, this is really infuriating! Father and grandmother didn't say a word, but Lianhua did." Lianzhier said discontentedly.

  "Scolding you is like scolding a flower. A flower is a girl who's about to get married." Zhang sighed, "If she's been ruined by beatings and scoldings, how can she be married off?"

  Lian Wan'er nodded, and Zhang Shi was still clear on this point. She believed that whether it was Zhou Shi or Lian Lao Yezi, they both understood in their hearts that after another month, Lian Hua would be a member of the Song family. If they were to severely punish Lian Hua now and something happened, who would suffer the greatest loss?

  It's clear that Lian's family suffered a greater loss.

  "Mother scolded her husband's elder sister, and she scolded really fiercely, it was unbearable for anyone." Lian Zhier said again.

  "Can't you scold me severely?" Lian Wan'er said, "My heart aches for Old Lady Nai."

  Of course, this is just one of the reasons.

  In addition, the Lian family has always been strict about the distinction between men and women, with clear divisions of labor. Mr. Lian had almost handed over all household chores to Zhou Shi, including the management of his daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters. The repeated occurrence of such incidents first showed that Zhou Shi's discipline was not strict enough, and Mr. Lian's dissatisfaction with her gradually began to surface.

  At this time, Zhou Shi certainly couldn't stay silent, she had to make a good show.

  Moreover, Zhou should have other plans.

  "It's just that without this matter, I reckon these days, something will still happen, it's just a question of who to take down."

  "What's wrong with you, why are you making a fuss?" Lian Zhi'er said.

  Lian Wan'er glanced at Lian Zhier, who had a kind heart and was greatly influenced by Zhang Shi. If no one guided her, Lian Zhier would become another Zhang Shi in the future. However, since she was in this family, she wouldn't let Lian Zhier follow in Zhang Shi's footsteps.

  "Sister, haven't you noticed? Everyone is afraid of Nai, but after we split up and left, everyone is no longer afraid of her." said Lian Man Er.

  Lian Zhi'er thought for a moment and nodded, "That's indeed the case."

  Don't look at a small family, but where there are people, there is a world. Is the Lian family not also a small world? In the past, the rule of the Zhou family was quite perfect, with clear class divisions among the many women in the Lian family. The Zhou and Lian Xiu'er were naturally at the top, while Zhang was an important figure in this structure.

  Zhang was diligent and hardworking, but at the same time had a strong backing from her natal family, was capable herself, and had given birth to two sons and two daughters. In any case, she didn't seem like someone who would be controlled by her mother-in-law. However, Zhang was filial and gentle, and was completely under the control of Zhou, always obediently following her instructions. No matter what happened, as long as Zhou controlled Zhang, Zhang would comply. The other daughters-in-law couldn't help but think: compared to Zhang, what advantages did they have? The result was that they had very few advantages, or even none at all. So naturally, their minds were humbled, or balanced, and they wouldn't dare to think about disobeying Zhou again.

  However, Zhang's family has now branched out and is no longer under the jurisdiction of Zhou's family. At the same time, Zhou's prestige has also been weakened. Even a small family structure like Lian's has undergone tremendous changes. In order for Zhou to re-establish her prestige and sit firmly at the top, she must take action.

  What method will Zhou use? Of course, she will use the method that is most familiar and handy for her.

  Kill the chicken to scare the monkey.

  But which chicken?

  Gu Shi? Gu Shi is the daughter of a scholar, and her daughter Lian Hua Er is about to marry into a wealthy family, at least in the eyes of ordinary people it's a wealthy family. Gu Shi's husband Lian Shou Ren will soon become an official. This obviously isn't a good choice.

  What's the point of having a wife like that? She gave birth to many sons, but she herself is useless and lazy. She can't even do any work. But her temper is so stubborn, you scold her and she just ignores it, you give her a dirty look and she pretends not to see it. She's still eating and drinking as usual. This kind of wife is like a rolling knife, no matter how angry you are, there's nothing you can do about it.

  It seems that only Zhao's family is left. The Zhao family has been in the house for many years, but they have only had one daughter, and there are no other relatives on her mother's side, so they have always been controlled by the Zhou family. They can be killed at will. However, because of this, they cannot serve as a warning to others. The Zhao family has been deeply trampled upon, and they themselves do not want to get up again; no matter how they are treated, they will not resist. Choosing them would be completely useless.

  Actually, after the four houses split up and this issue came out, except for the first time when she impulsively brought it up, Zhou Shi has been keeping silent. Losing Zhang Shi is not beneficial to Zhou Shi at all. However, since she was the one who brought it up, she can't go back on her words. Moreover, it must be said that Zhou Shi is heartless and ruthless. If she had considered a bit more, if Zhang Shi's body couldn't recover, then in the future not only would she not be able to work as a cow or horse, but also Zhou Shi would have to take care of her, this result is something Zhou Shi absolutely does not want.

  Zhou should be very annoyed, even Maner laughed.

  This incident provided Zhou with an opportunity, a chance to kill the chicken and scare the monkey.

  The talented woman, isn't she the most valuable old hen for killing a chicken to scare the monkey? Of course, normally he would never choose Gu's family, but now that she has delivered herself to his doorstep, would Zhou still be polite?

  "I think," Lian Man'er said in a low voice, "that Madam has long been displeased with Eldest Matron, but she's been holding back because of the status of the Xiucai's wife. Madam must have thought that if Eldest Master becomes an official in the future and she follows him, someone will have to take charge at home, and there can't be two people in charge. Think about the things Madam said today, from now on, Eldest Matron won't be able to hold her head up high in front of Madam again."

  Lian Tiao'er's eyes widened as she listened, Wu Lang also silently listened without speaking. The one who listened most seriously was Xiao Qi, the little guy's big eyes twinkling as he stared at Lian Man'er.

  "Your mother is no ordinary person," said Zhang.

  Lian Man'er expressed her agreement, although Zhang's self-sacrifice and cooperation were not to be underestimated. Zhou's methods of dealing with the young wives may not have been brilliant, but they were quite useful. Otherwise, how could even the astute and arrogant Gu also lower his head in front of Zhou, and He, who was usually fearless, would also be afraid when Zhou spoke up.

  "Great Aunt is no worse off either, should say that, how does that phrase go, yes, they're evenly matched." Lian Man'er added.

  "Man Er, tell me, how can we be evenly matched?" asked Lian Zhi Er.

  "Sister, do you think Eldest Brother's wife really wanted to die?" asked Lian Man'er.

  "Are you saying that Eldest Brother's wife faking her own death is false?"

  "If she was scolded like that, if she wanted to distinguish, relying on her mother's mouth, she could still not distinguish a sentence or two, but she didn't distinguish it at all, why?" asked Lian Man Er.

  "It's all just a bluff." Lian Zhi'er said.

  Lian Man'er shook her head.

  "She was to protect Lianhua. When her mother scolded her, she would endure it and also take the blame for Lianhua's sake. If anything happened to Lianhua, even if she didn't get scolded, she would lose face in the Lian family afterwards. Protecting Lianhua was a matter of course, as the saying goes 'mother relies on son', and her own dignity could be restored later." So Gu Shi willingly accepted Zhou Shi's invitation.

  "One cry, two fusses, three hangings." Wulang said thoughtfully.

  "Who told you such nonsense?" Zhang glared at Wu Lang.

  Wulang smiled secretly as a little boy, he always had the chance to hear those men's gossip behind their backs.

  "That's the reason." Lian Man Er then smiled.

  "Man Er, as a family, we can't always be so calculating and clear-sighted." Zhang said with some hesitation.

  "Mother, I understand. But if everyone else thinks this way and calculates it this way, then the one who doesn't think this way and doesn't calculate it this way won't be at a disadvantage?" Lian Man'er said. "Mother, I'm just thinking ahead, we need to be clear in our own hearts. Besides, Mother, you're willing to take the loss yourself, but are you willing for my sister or me to suffer such losses in the future?"

  "That won't do," said Mrs. Zhang immediately. She didn't want her daughters to go through what she had suffered in the future. "Alright, then you tell me, Man Er."

  "Don't worry, sister. My brother and I don't have any ill intentions. We just don't want to be taken advantage of, and we won't always think about letting others take advantage of us either." said Lian Man Er.

  "That's all right." When Zhang heard Lian Miao say this, the thread of virtuous and gentle virtue in his heart was completely dissolved.

  "Some losses can be borne, while others absolutely cannot. One must not harbor crooked intentions to take advantage of others, but neither can one allow others to take advantage without fighting back." Lian Man'er said to Lian Zhi'er.

  Lian Yuer nodded. Lian Man's words were a brand new world to her. There was something she couldn't fully understand yet, but she had already completely identified with Lian Man's ideas.

  "Second sister, Niu Niu didn't cry at first." Little Qi shook her hand that was holding Lian Niang's, "I saw it. Eldest sister pinched Niu Niu's arm, and then she cried."

  Lian Man'er smiled and patted Xiao Qi's head. Xiao Qi was even smarter than she had imagined.

  "Really? What did sister-in-law do to make Niu Niu cry?" Lian Zhier hastily asked.

  "In the big house, Eldest Aunt, there's nothing wrong with the flowers, not even a single petal can be said to have no relation. But as the wife of the grandson, she has never done anything wrong in front of people. Niuniu is the first great-granddaughter of the Lian family. She cried, and Grandpa and Grandma, how could they not be worried, how could they not be soft-hearted?" said Lian Man'er.

  "Eldest sister-in-law and eldest brother's wife are of one mind." Lian Zhier said.

  "Can't we be of one mind? Eldest Aunt is Elder Sister's own aunt." said Lian Wan'er.

  "Your great aunt, well, the heir isn't her own flesh and blood, there's always been a difference. Only by letting your own niece marry into the family can she be at peace. At first, your great aunt didn't spare any effort for this matter," said Zhang Shi.

  "What's going on? Tell me, mom." Lian Man Er immediately started gossiping.

  "It doesn't really matter..."

  …………

  The upper house west building, Gu's family washed her hair and face, changed clothes, Jiang's family went out to splash water, and closed the door on the way.

  "These days, I'm really worried sick. When you go out, Mother's heart can finally be at ease." said Gu Shi.

  "Mother, there's no need to be like this. Even if it were Father and Mother-in-law, they couldn't do anything to me. It's just that Grandma saw Aunt being bullied, so she got really angry." Lian Hua'er said.

  "You're good at talking, but your grandfather's temper is not easy to deal with. If he gets angry... " Gu sighed and said, "You're still young and haven't experienced many things. Back then, before you were born, there was a village where a family's eldest daughter was also about to get married, but she had done something wrong. The family was afraid of losing face, so they couldn't call off the engagement. And it wasn't good to marry her off either. One day, that girl went out early in the morning to wash clothes and didn't come back home for half a day. In the end, her body was found in the river."

  Lian Hua'er's body shook with fear.

  "Mother, is this really true?"

  "It was her carelessness, be more careful next time." Lian Duo'er said beside.

  Gu saw that Lian Huaer understood her words, but Lian Duer didn't.

  "Mother, I won't... Mother, you must help me." Lianhua threw herself into Madame Gu's arms.

  "Hua Er, I've already helped you," Gu said. "Fortunately, your grandfather isn't a heartless person. As long as the fourth house..."

  "How dare they treat me like this?" Lianhua frowned and said.

  "Who beat your aunt? You can't figure it out?" Gu Shi said.

  "She, they dare?" Lian Hua'er said so, but in her heart, she was not completely fearless.

  "This matter, wait for your father and elder brother to return, let your father handle it." Gu Shi said. After all, she had some years of age and had experienced some things. Gu Shi was clear in her heart that the things done by Lian Hua were secretly manipulated by the people of the fourth house, and at that time, even Master Lian would not be able to investigate thoroughly. Fortunately, fortunately, Lian Shou Xin and Zhang Shi were both soft-hearted. The several children of the fourth house were all young, not ruthless or cruel, or rather, they had not yet grown into ruthless or cruel people, so for Lian Xiu Er, it was just a beating, and they would not demand a life for a life.

  "You were born stronger than others. You spoke earlier, walked earlier, and did things smarter than others. Your mother was delighted, knowing you would have a good future, so she spoiled you a bit. Thinking about today's incident, your mother is still worried. You're still too young, and these years have been too smooth for you. You don't know that sometimes you can only endure, gritting your teeth to bear it..."

  A single word "nin" (endurance), was said by Gu to be full of blood and tears.

  "Mother..." Lian Hua'er detected the bitterness in Gu Shi's words. The endurance Gu Shi spoke of, she also knew a thing or two about, and couldn't help but feel heartache for her. "Mother, wait until I...".

  Gu stopped Lianhua from speaking.

  "Hua'er, you want to stand up for your mother's reputation, I know. But for your own good, there are some things that I still need to remind you of. It's just one word: endurance." Gu Shi stroked Hua'er's hair with her hand, "Your father may be a scholar, but we've been living in the town all these years. Most of the people we interact with are still farmers. Just like your eldest aunt, second aunt, third aunt and fourth aunt. Among the granddaughters of the Lian family, you're also one of the most outstanding ones. Hua'er, you're clever, when you see them and compare yourself to them, you'll feel even more superior to others."

  "I was originally stronger than all of them." Lian Hua'er said.

  "Yes, mother also said that. The peasants are all digging for food in the soil, they think about what to eat next, whether they can wear new clothes during the holidays, and they fall asleep as soon as they lie down on the kang, they don't have the heart to think about other things, and they don't have the opportunity to see things outside. But, Hua'er, when you arrive at the Song's house, it will be different."

  "What's different?"

  "The Song family is wealthy and influential. Those women have no worries about food or clothing, spending their days cooped up in the big mansion. They don't think about anything else, their minds are all focused on scheming against others. They're all sharp-tongued people who've been squeezed out of other sharp-tongued people. Our family..."

  "Mother, I know. I believe, as a person who has been tempered, I won't be worse than anyone else. As long as Hai Long listens to me..."

  "That's right, once a woman marries, the most important thing is to capture her husband's heart, no matter what. You have to grasp it." Gu's hand made a grasping motion, "But apart from that, there are other things, such as the mother-in-law..."

  Gu and Lianhua leaned against each other, talking for half a day, until their mouths were dry and tongues parched, when the sound of Jiang's footsteps finally came from outside.

  Mr. Gu stopped talking.

  The curtain was lifted, and Jiang's family came in with one hand holding Yaoyao and the other carrying a teapot.

  "I'll make a cup of tea for Mother and Hua'er." Jiang said with a smile as she entered the door.

  Gu nodded in satisfaction, Jiang was a clever one, it wasn't in vain that she had spent so much effort back then to marry into their family. Just like today's events, if the daughter-in-law weren't her own niece, not to mention taking advantage of the situation to kick her while she was down, later on she wouldn't even have put her in her eyes.

  "Yue'e, these days are going to be tough on you." Gu said with a smile, "After we get through this period of time, let Hua'er take us to live in the county town, and it will be better then."

  "I'll listen to Auntie," said Jiang. If there were no outsiders around, sometimes when they were alone, Jiang would deliberately call Gu "Auntie", knowing that this was the title that made Gu most satisfied and at ease.

  In the evening, Lian Shouren and Lian Jizong returned from town, and Lian Shouyi, Lian Shouxin and others also came back after having dinner at Wu's house. Old Master Lian called all his sons to go upstairs, and Lian Shouxin was also summoned, only returning when it was time to light the lamps.

  "What did you say?" Zhang Shi couldn't help but ask.

  "Father scolded both elder brother and second brother severely." Lian Shou said, "Father said that we suffered injustice in this matter."

  "I understand," said Zhang.

  "Father will let your elder brothers compensate us later." Lian Shou Xin said again.

  "Who would have thought they'd compensate us? Just don't come and harm us again," said Lian Man'er. She wasn't surprised at this outcome.

  The next day, Lian Mian'er got up early and saw Gu Shi wearing an apron around his waist, carrying a bucket of pig feed to the pigpen. Although it was only half a bucket of pig feed, Gu Shi still walked with a swagger.

  He stood at the door of the east wing, smiling and looking at Gu.

  "Sister-in-law, go feed the pigs, the sun is coming out from the west?"

  A faint, almost imperceptible look of displeasure flashed across Gu's face, but he said nothing.

  He looked at Gu walking away, spat out a watermelon seed skin, raised his eyes and saw Lian Miao.

  "Man Er, your peanuts are really delicious, give me some more."

  "It's not as if Second Aunt had bought better-tasting ones in town." said Lian Mian'er.

  "It's much better than that, I'm not cheating you." He said and walked over.

  Lian Man'er suddenly had a movement in her heart, "Second Aunt, is what you said true?"

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