A Good Country Wife

Everyone was here for the feast, and due to Zhao Dahu’s couple being delayed, Zhao Yunxiang and her husband, who had left early in the morning, arrived before them. The Yunxiang family was very poor and really couldn’t present any significant gift; their congratulatory offering was just half a basket of eggs.

Zhao Xinglin and his wife were not the types to scorn the poor and favor the rich, they appreciated the gift regardless of its size, as it was the giver’s heartfelt intention. They received it happily and welcomed the guests into the house. However, Han Family’s sister-in-law, Qin Family, watched with disdain as Yunxiang, looking so destitute, sneered and wanted to say something sarcastic, but a warning glance from the Han Family stopped her.

"Tsk, having such a poor relative and not being able to talk about it, isn’t it shameful? Born in the countryside, a bunch of bumpkins, even if they move to the city, what’s the use, with a horde of poor relatives." Once the Han Family went inside, Qin Family complained to another woman beside her.

"Dear sister, why lower yourself to their level? It just diminishes your own stature."

"Indeed, let’s go inside as well," said Qin Family, swaying her way into the house. She was always looking to pick faults today because she felt utterly imbalanced inside. Her in-laws, so biased, had actually spent money on getting a set of silver locks and bracelets for the Han Family’s son. She wondered how much that cost, as they had never been so generous with their own grandchildren, yet they spoiled an outsider so, and her husband did not object, staunchly defending his sister. He even scolded his own wife, saying that it was his dear sister after all.

Pah! What does it matter if she’s his dear sister? A daughter married away is like water spilled out, she already belongs to another family. Could it be they still expect her to look after the two old folks in the future? They were all so daft, truly clueless about how things actually were.

Guests continued to arrive one after another. With so many people, the house couldn’t accommodate everyone. Zhao Xinglin had already arranged for some guests to go to the restaurant where his third granduncle and father-in-law were entertaining. Erhu and his company hurried along and finally arrived.

Seeing his older sister Zhao Yunxiang was also there, Lin Yue was momentarily stunned, but he did not find it unexpected. Since Yunxiang had left in indignation last time, Lin Yue had felt somewhat remorseful inside. Noticing that Yunxiang’s attitude was much improved this time, he felt relieved. However, in Yunxiang’s eyes, she thought Lin Yue was being insincere just for Erhu’s sake. She deemed this woman deceitful, kind to the face but not behind the back. If it were not for the inappropriate occasion, she would surely let her brother see Lin Yue’s true colors.

"Elder sister/younger sister, brother-in-law/younger brother-in-law," family greeted each other first.

Yunxiang had a smile for Zhao Dahu and his wife, as well as for Erhu, but she was indifferent toward Lin Yue. Nevertheless, she restrained herself from making things uncomfortable for Lin Yue in front of everyone. Actually, Yunxiang felt quite reserved at such an event. Everyone present was a relative or friend of Zhao Xinglin’s couple, many were from the city, including some officials. Being a countrywoman, she inevitably felt uneasy, not daring to act freely for fear of seeming out of place. In fact, it was her family’s poverty that deepened her feeling of inferiority, seeing what she wore, a homespun hemp garment, there was nobody else present dressed more poorly than her, even Zhao Dahuo and his wife were better dressed than her.