A Good Country Wife

"Zhao Erhu, you’re doing it again! If you can’t win an argument, you just resort to force. It’s still early, and the rice isn’t even cooking yet. It will take half an hour before we can eat, isn’t this just a waste of time? In this much time, I could’ve finished embroidering my flower, and yet here you are dragging me away. Aren’t you annoying." Lin Yue was very dissatisfied with Zhao Erhu’s actions, mumbling her complaints, feeling that this old man was really too annoying, just short of a tiny bit.

Zhao Erhu turned a blind eye to his little wife’s dissatisfaction, "Annoying or not, there’s nothing to be done about it, who made me your husband? With your unconscientious nature, not keeping an eye on you would be impossible."

"What do you mean? You’re too strict. I’m your wife, not your daughter; there’s no reason to control everything I do. Look, I don’t control you. Whatever you want to do, I haven’t stopped you." As Zhao Erhu held her, Lin Yue didn’t come down and just leaned against Zhao Erhu’s chest,

Zhao Erhu snorted with a sneer, whispering in Lin Yue’s ear, "I could raise you as my daughter, but there are some things a daughter can’t do, such as fulfilling marital duties. So it’s better you remain my wife; you just need to be a bit more obedient and not throw a tantrum whenever you’re unhappy. Your husband can really be worn out by you."

Lin Yue’s face turned red with a swish; this old man was getting more and more brazen, daring to say anything, "Zhao Erhu, you’re a hooligan; I can’t be bothered with you." Lin Yue said and got down from Zhao Erhu’s body, striding quickly to the outside. Zhao Erhu followed with a chuckle, not needing to worry about preparing the meal since Liu, the elder sister-in-law, was in the kitchen, although the food was never as tasty without his little wife cooking it.

"Ah!" Lin Yue stepped outside into the yard and, startled by a sudden figure at the corner, let out a shriek. It was only then she realized that it was Chunxi, the subject of recent village gossip. She had no idea why Chunxi was lurking outside their home at this time, what she could possibly be up to.

"Wife! What’s wrong?" Zhao Erhu, too, was startled by Lin Yue’s scream, rushing over in a few strides, and he breathed a sigh of relief only when he saw that his little wife was unharmed, "You ninny, what are you screaming for? Don’t you realize you gave me quite the fright?"

"You’re the one screaming nonsense! I got scared by this woman who suddenly appeared out of nowhere! Standing silent here and popping out without a word, who knows what she’s plotting." Lin Yue said irritably, feeling uneasy at the sight of Chunxi. This woman had suffered greatly at the hands of Zhao Jingui and the You Family, looking several years older than before, appearing somewhat desolate and helpless. Yet, the light in her eyes remained as restless as ever.

"Alright, it’s okay, don’t be scared, don’t be scared." Hearing that this was the case, Zhao Erhu quickly wrapped his arms around his little wife, fearing she might be shaken. He patted her forehead and even gave her a kiss to calm her down, just like how adults in the village would soothe frightened children. Zhao Erhu, regardless of whether it worked or not, mimicked what he saw, because in his heart, his little wife really needed to be cherished.