A Good Country Wife

Zhao Yunxiang’s eyes flashed with greed at the sight of so much silver, but then she felt insulted, especially by Zhao Erhu’s words, which were quite harsh. What did he mean by "the last time I help you without compensation"? Even blood siblings need to settle accounts clearly? It must be that Lin Family woman’s instigation; otherwise, her own brother couldn’t be so heartless. They were blood siblings after all, with bones connected by tendons, blood flowing in their veins was the same—how could they draw such a clear line?

"Zhao Erhu, what do you mean? I’m just asking you to find a job for your brother-in-law, what’s with bringing out the silver? Do you think I’m coveting your family’s silver? Keep it, I won’t take it." Zhao Yunxiang tried hard not to show her greedy demeanor, inwardly wishing she could stuff the silver into her bosom right away. She was far from truly noble; her previous pretensions were just a facade, as those things weren’t attractive or valuable enough. But now, seeing so much silver changed everything.

"Yes, Erhu, what are you doing? Put the silver away. If you haven’t found a job, that’s that; you’ve already done your best, and I’m very grateful. As for this silver, I absolutely cannot accept it." Lin Genfa’s character was still decent. Unlike Zhao Yunxiang’s duplicity, he genuinely didn’t have that greed. Even the idea of finding a job was something Zhao Yunxiang insisted on. Seeing Zhao Erhu take out the silver, he immediately refused.

"Sister, brother-in-law, don’t refuse anymore. Even if not for yourselves, think about the children. With this silver, you can buy some land, and your lives will improve. The kids won’t suffer any longer. Take it."

Zhao Erhu didn’t miss the fleeting look of greed on Zhao Yunxiang’s face and felt even more that his young wife had a point. Zhao Yunxiang wasn’t the sister who used to stand by him; her thoughts now focused more on her self-interest. He cared too much for the thin thread of kinship, which made him overlook Zhao Yunxiang’s flaws, letting his young wife be wronged. That wouldn’t happen again. Nobody can be closer than a wife with whom one will spend a lifetime. All he hoped for now was his young wife to grow up soon, as he was never at ease until he had it in his mouth, nor was he interested in dealing with Zhao Yunxiang. As Zhao Erhu mulled this over, his thoughts strayed.

"Erhu is right; we must think about the children. After all, that’s also your nephew. Since that’s the case, I’ll accept the silver." Zhao Yunxiang’s refusal lacked sincerity, and she just needed any excuse to descend gracefully, taking the silver as if afraid that Zhao Erhu might change his mind and reclaim it.

If Lin Yue were here, she’d have only one way to describe Zhao Yunxiang: playing the whore while wanting to establish a virtuous reputation—an attitude one could only scorn.

Seeing Zhao Yunxiang fall into greed, Lin Genfa felt nothing but helplessness. It was, after all, their impoverishment that had twisted her character like this.

"Wife, what are you doing? I said we can’t take this silver. Erhu also has a whole family to feed; it isn’t easy for him, either. We can work and make money with our own hands and feet, why should we take someone else’s silver?"