A Good Country Wife

The Zhao Family’s old house had just welcomed a new bride the day before, but by the next morning, all hell had broken loose. It was said that the gift money stored in Wei Family’s room had vanished just yesterday—this was surely the work of a thief! Naturally, this sent Wei Family into a frenzy of worry. Fortunately, the family’s silver and the ten taels of silver that Zhao Lingxiang had recently presented her as a filial offering were hidden in a secret place and had not been stolen; otherwise, the loss would have been substantial.

Last night, in the bridal chamber lit by the glow of red candles, Zhao Xing was ecstatic not only to have a beautiful wife but also to eat meat for the first time. In his excitement, it was inevitable that he might have overexerted himself. Early in the morning, the noise outside disturbed his wife’s sleep, and Zhao Xing immediately became displeased. Seeing his wife sleeping soundly and not yet awake, he tiptoed out of bed to see what was happening outside—why did it sound like he could also hear his mother crying?

Zhao Xing didn’t know that his wife, amidst his thrashing about last night, had managed to sneak out and play the role of a thief, stealing money. That’s why she was sleeping so soundly now, not disturbed at all by the commotion outside. Even the fierce Chen Family would have their physical limits.

"Mother, what are you all doing? It’s so early in the morning, and you’ve stirred up such a commotion. My wife is still sleeping; she was tired last night, so don’t wake her!" Zhao Xing was very satisfied with his wife’s performance the previous night and still had a look of contentment on his face.

Wei Family, already heartbroken over the lost money, felt even worse after hearing the words of her younger son, who seemed to have forgotten his mother after getting a wife. She regretted indulging her son’s desires to get married—if only she had known this could bring another troublemaker into the family. Reflecting on it now, she felt something was off. She knew her son well and was sure he must have secretly met with the girl. He insisted on marrying her so doggedly that they must have been romantically involved in secret. What good could come from such a shameless girl? Beauty alone was useless, other than to bewitch men.

"Still sleeping? The new bride is supposed to get up early on the first day to cook for the entire family and set the rules in front of her mother-in-law. Didn’t her family teach her that?! Look at the time now, and she’s still not up—does she expect me, as her mother-in-law, to wait on her? Whose family customs are these! Shameless and lazy!" Wei Family intentionally raised her voice in the direction of Zhao Xing’s room, meant for the Chen Family to hear, but it was in vain because she was sleeping so soundly. A thunderclap would not wake her up. Wei Family’s tirade was wasted breath and only managed to anger Zhao Xing.

At this moment, Zhao Xing treasured Chen Family, and hearing his mother openly insult his wife, he worried that she might not be able to handle it—a woman so delicate and gentle needed to be treated with care.

"Mother, enough! I’ve already said my wife was tired last night, and what if she sleeps in a bit? Aren’t there others in the family who have hands and feet and can cook breakfast? Is giving you a grandson more important, or are these trivial matters more critical? Can’t you understand that, mother?"

"You ungrateful child, I raised you for nothing if all you do is upset me like this!" Under normal circumstances, she might have let it go, as Zhao Xing, being the eldest, often acted foolish in front of Wei Family, who usually doted on and indulged her younger son. However, last night’s unfortunate incident added a somber tone to what should have been a joyous occasion, and Wei Family, full of grief, hit Zhao Xing a few times in her anger.

"Mother, can you be reasonable? How have I offended you? What’s the point of causing such a fuss this early in the morning? My wife is the one you had the matchmaker pick out, and now you’re suddenly displeased?"