The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife

Ms. Zhang’s father was deeply infuriated by Ms. Zhang’s firm attitude.

He kept cursing, "Evil daughter, evil daughter!"

But it was impossible for him to sever ties with Ms. Zhang, because after the Zhang Family had cut off relations with the other branches, their family had become much smaller. Although they were not so downtrodden that others could bully them, they found themselves without support when problems arose.

Moreover, those other branches would occasionally come to harass them, which made Ms. Zhang’s father feel even worse.

So, when the Yang Family came to propose marriage, he didn’t think twice before agreeing. For one thing, the Yang Family had many members and could lend a hand in times of trouble; for another, although the Yang Family had not been established for long, their wealth and background were much stronger than the Zhang Family’s. Both sons were Cultivated Talents, bound to participate in the imperial examinations in the future. The older son-in-law had already made a name for himself and held an official position. To become in-laws with such a family was like gaining a powerful support, a pie falling from the sky for the Zhang Family.

At this moment, Ms. Zhang said she wanted to break off relations with the Zhang Family, and if she did, all of Ms. Zhang’s father’s plans would fall through.

"Dad, you’re the one who’s wrong in this matter. What do you need so much silver for? You can’t bring it with you at birth or take it with you in death," Ms. Zhang’s brother, after hearing the whole story, could not stand it any longer. "Dad, you withheld her dowry when she got married; when it’s my turn to get married, are you going to withhold my betrothal gifts too? Have you ever thought about how this will look to others when it gets out? Who then would be willing to marry into our family?"

"Exactly, marrying off a daughter and pinching pennies like this; the whole family has to put up with your stinginess, denying ourselves food and clothes. Why don’t you just take the silver and live by yourself tomorrow," Ms. Zhang’s mother said furiously, pulling her son aside. "From now on we’ll live separately from you, let him eat bran and swallow vegetables by himself, we won’t suffer with him anymore."

She paused and then spoke to Ms. Zhang, "You don’t even have to ask for it from your father. We’ll make do without your dowry, and I’ll use my private savings to cover you. From now on, consider that you don’t have a father like him."

"Enough, enough!" Ms. Zhang’s father yelled discontentedly, bombarded by one person after another. "I’ll make it up, I’ll make it up, okay? It’s as if I owed you in my past life, needing so many clothes. I only wear two outfits all year round, and I still get by."

Ms. Zhang took a look at the bank note he had begrudgingly retrieved from his study and haughtily accepted it. However, even as she took it, Ms. Zhang’s father attempted to snatch it back, only to hear Ms. Zhang say, "Dad, you need to give another bank note. Not only did you embarrass me, but you also caused Qingrui to lose face in front of his classmates. You must compensate with two more trunks, otherwise, I won’t be able to restore my honor."

"Did you not know? Because you withheld two trunks of my dowry, my elder sister-in-law had to cover for Qingrui and paid for two trunks out of her own pocket."

Upon hearing this, Ms. Zhang’s mother immediately felt that her daughter-in-law’s family was truly kindhearted.

She furiously glared at Ms. Zhang’s father once more.

But Ms. Zhang’s father, being such a miser, was already in pain from parting with one bank note; asking for another one might be asking for his life.

Ms. Zhang decided that it was all or nothing, and stuffed the bank note back into her father’s hand, then, pulling Qingrui by her side, she started to leave.

"Hey, hey, you come back here!" Ms. Zhang’s father panicked as he saw Ms. Zhang preparing to leave. "My little ancestor, I never said I wouldn’t give it!"

"Really?" Ms. Zhang stepped right up to her father and held out her hand. "If you had been this straightforward earlier, wouldn’t it have been resolved?"

Ms. Zhang’s father had no choice but to go back to the study and reluctantly take out another fifty taels of silver note to give to Ms. Zhang.