Chapter 174 - 88: Eldest Sister Picks a Quarrel
Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but feel a surge of pity and tenderly embraced Shi Yumei as she sighed softly, "My dear daughter, you have been wronged! Once your second brother returns, he will make decisions for you!" Mrs. Wang inwardly seethed with anger, thinking to herself, this shameless man, my family has helped to pay off his debts, providing him with food and lodging, yet he dares to be so pretentious and lecture me on propriety, what nonsense! Even though the Shi family is wealthy, I’m not willing to spend money this way; it might as well be thrown to the dogs!
"No, no!" Shi Yumei panicked, hurriedly saying, "Mother, please don’t tell second brother about this today, could you? Don’t mention it to him!"
"You—"
"Mother!" Shi Yumei said with a seemingly nonchalant smile, "Today I was also at fault. As a grown man, living at his wife’s natal home, he must feel uncomfortable and perhaps a bit sensitive! I shouldn’t have lost my temper; it’s better to speak kindly. It’s all my fault, worrying you for no reason, I—" Shi Yumei’s voice choked with emotion.
"You ah!" Mrs. Wang also felt distressed and, seeing her daughter like this, found it difficult to even be angry, sighed and said, "I’m not criticizing you! Nevertheless, no matter what you say, mother will follow your wishes! Oh, this really is—"
Shi Yumei breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her mother’s consent, yet felt even more guilt towards her mother. After a moment of thought, she said, "Mother, I think after the Mid-Autumn Festival, let’s quickly clean up the banana garden so we can move there! It’ll at least save you from trouble every day!"
Mrs. Wang was reluctant to let go of her daughter; she opened her mouth intending to persuade her to stay but, upon remembering her unreliable son-in-law, decided it was better out of sight. She nodded and said, "That’s a good idea! Once you settle down in the banana garden, just live your life well! Didn’t your son-in-law say he’s planning to take the rural examination in three years? Just listen to your second brother, from now on, he should focus on studying in the garden and leave other matters alone!"
"Mm, thank you, mother! You and second brother are the kindest to me!" Shi Yumei said with a grateful smile.
The meal was served again, and the mother and daughter sat down to eat. However, Shi Yumei, feeling sorrow for her husband, selected a few dishes for Cui Zhu to take to Ren Zhixian. Mrs. Wang noticed but did not say a word, letting her daughter make her own decisions.