A Good Country Wife

Having been sisters-in-law for so many years, Mrs. Liu knew very well what kind of person Li Xiaomei was. On ordinary days, she was unwilling even to address her eldest sister-in-law, so it would be surprising if she really had good intentions. Therefore, Mrs. Liu couldn’t easily discern the truth behind Mrs. Liu’s words. She felt somewhat worried inside—could it be that the Wei Family really had such intentions? She considered going to warn Lin Yue, yet she feared it might be a trap set by Li Xiaomei to ensnare her. After all, the Wei Family and Li Xiaomei had the best relationship among the daughters-in-law, and she showed the most favoritism towards Li Xiaomei. What reason would Li Xiaomei have to secretly communicate with her behind the Wei Family’s back?

Seeing Mrs. Liu’s skeptical look, Li Xiaomei knew that Mrs. Liu was on her guard. Thus, she didn’t hide anything and felt compelled to reveal the origin of the matter to gain Mrs. Liu’s trust, as she didn’t care what Mrs. Liu thought of her anyway.

"I know you don’t believe me, but my coming to tell you is indeed not out of kindness," Li Xiaomei said. "It’s just that Wei, that old shrew, is too oppressive, always favoring the third and fifth sons, treating our Zhao Cheng like a fool to be deceived. She covets Zhao Erhu’s family property and wants Zhao Cheng to contribute, yet refuses to give him his fair share, only thinking of her other two sons. Why should our Zhao Cheng be bullied by her like that? I’m telling you this today merely to let you go and inform the Lin Family, so that the old shrew’s scheme comes to naught. Since our Zhao Cheng can’t get what he deserves, she can dream on about her third and fifth sons getting their way."

Only then did Mrs. Liu understand. She had seen the Wei Family’s partiality towards the third and fifth sons. As for her own Zhao Dahuo, well, never mind him since he wasn’t their own blood, expecting Wei to care was out of the question. Yet, Zhao Cheng was Wei’s biological son. Moreover, with Li Xiaomei’s usual sour and competitive nature, how could she bear the Wei Family’s preferential treatment? It seemed that Li Xiaomei had long harbored dissatisfaction, which was just now erupting.

"What if Granny finds out when I go to warn her now?" Mrs. Liu feigned hesitation, fully aware that Li Xiaomei was not delivering the message herself to Lin Yue’s daughter-in-law partly because she was on bad terms with Zhao Erhu’s family, but also she didn’t want Wei to blame her after the fact, hence her approach through Mrs. Liu.

Mrs. Liu was clear in her mind, but her relationship with Zhao Erhu’s family was different from Li Xiaomei’s. Even if it meant having Wei make life difficult for her should she find out, Mrs. Liu couldn’t just stand by and watch Lin Yue’s daughter-in-law get harmed by Wei. Setting aside her own conscience, Dahu would not approve of it either, and they already felt ashamed for not having visited when Erhu ran into trouble.

"Don’t worry, eldest sister-in-law, go and inform second sister-in-law, and I’ll stay here to cover for you. Just make it quick, and mother won’t find out," Li Xiaomei hurriedly promised, fearing that Mrs. Liu would fear the Wei Family and not agree. Li Xiaomei was keen for Mrs. Liu to go quickly; she was eager to see Wei’s frustrated face when her plan against the Lin Family didn’t succeed.

"Alright, I’m going." Seeing Li Xiaomei’s promise, Mrs. Liu rushed toward Zhao Erhu’s home, still needing to avoid people on the way. Although she was prepared to be blamed by the Wei Family, it would be best if Wei didn’t find out, as after all, she lived under Wei’s control. As long as Father-in-law Zhao Jingen was alive, they from the main house would have to endure.