Chapter 114: Mother-in-law Complains
Li Xiaonan arrived home more than half an hour before her eldest sister. She sat in the kitchen helping Mei Jie tend the stove.
“Is Scholar Li at home?”
A voice inquired from outside the courtyard gate.
“Brother isn’t back yet. Is there something you need?” Li Xiaonan replied, hurrying out.
At the entrance stood an old woman, about fifty years old. Her outermost garment was a silk vest, giving her a rather dignified appearance.
Seeing Li Xiaonan, the old woman curtsied slightly. “It’s Fourth Mistress. Greetings to Fourth Mistress.”
“And who might you be?” Li Xiaonan quickly curtsied in return.
“My surname is Xiao. I am a companion to our Madam. Our Madam is Mrs. Wu of the Hong Family,” Madam Xiao said with a polite smile.
“It’s Nanny Xiao. Please come in and talk,” Li Xiaonan said warmly, ushering her in.
“I won’t come in. Has Eldest Madam returned yet?”
“Not yet. Eldest Sister will be back in about half an hour. Are you looking for Eldest Sister? Your Madam? My Third Sister?” Li Xiaonan asked warmly and politely.
“Our Madam wishes to speak with your Eldest Madam and sent me ahead to check. I will return in half an hour, when Eldest Madam is back. Our Madam would like to have a chat with Eldest Madam. Thank you, Fourth Mistress,” Madam Xiao said politely but distantly.
“Alright, Nanny, thank you for your trouble.” Li Xiaonan remained warm.
Watching Madam Xiao walk unhurriedly out of the alley, Li Xiaonan closed the courtyard gate and headed back to the kitchen.
Mei Jie kept craning her neck to look towards the courtyard entrance. As Li Xiaonan approached, she asked, “From the Hong Family? Is everything alright?”
“She said their Madam wants to come over and chat with Eldest Sister. Their Madam is Third Sister’s mother-in-law. It should be nothing serious, right?” Li Xiaonan’s heart began to flutter with unease.
Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu had just returned home when Madam Xiao arrived again. Upon hearing they were back, she hurried back to fetch her Madam.
The three Li Sisters and Mei Jie, four of them, quickly ate dinner in the kitchen. They boiled water, heated the cups and pot, cleaned the table and chairs, and prepared the tea leaves. Just then, Mrs. Wu arrived.
Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu escorted Mrs. Wu in, one on each side, while Li Xiaonan busied herself with making and serving tea.
This was Third Sister’s mother-in-law; no amount of warmth or respect would be too much!
Mrs. Wu’s expression was dignified and serene. She sat down properly, her gaze sweeping from the loom placed in the center of the main hall to the spinning wheel, then turning to look at the baskets of rice piled in the east wing, the cured meat hanging from the beams, and the various baskets of different heights.
Li Jinzhu followed Mrs. Wu’s gaze, looking around her own home, her heart sinking little by little.
No matter how one looked at it, Yinzhu’s marriage was a significant step up. Ever since Yinzhu married, her heart had been in a constant state of apprehension.
The Mrs. Wu before her, clad in silk and brocade, looked more like an official’s wife than an official’s wife.
Mrs. Wu’s grandfather had held an official position, and Mrs. Wu herself came from a genuine official family, a scholarly lineage. Compared to her mother-in-law, Yinzhu was far too inferior.
“Scholar Li hasn’t returned yet, has he?” Mrs. Wu asked calmly after surveying the room.
“He’ll be back in another hour or two. He says the spring scenery is beautiful and there are many literary gatherings, so he hasn’t been home for dinner much lately,” Li Jinzhu replied with a smile.
“Mm, men are different from women; they need to gain experience outside,” Mrs. Wu said slowly. She lowered her eyes to the cup of tea before her, pushed it away slightly, and looked at Li Jinzhu, asking, “Has business been good recently?”
“It’s been quite good. We’re planning to send preserved eggs to the nearby towns,” Li Jinzhu said, her gaze quickly shifting to Mrs. Wu as she noticed the pushed-away teacup.
“That’s good. With your loom here, do you still have time to weave?” Mrs. Wu glanced at Li Yuzhu, who was humming as she spun thread.
“We don’t have much free time. Has Yinzhu upset you?” Li Jinzhu couldn’t help but ask, her heart filled with worry.
Li Xiaonan rested her chin on her hand, holding her breath slightly as she watched Mrs. Wu.
“It’s not exactly that she’s upset me,” Mrs. Wu’s brow furrowed slightly. She paused, then sighed softly. “We are in-laws, so I won’t beat around the bush.
“I am not dissatisfied with Yinzhu’s marriage to A Ye. A Ye has been with his grandfather since he was young. For all important matters, it was his grandfather who made the arrangements. A Ye’s marriage prospects were carefully considered for many years, precisely because A Ye’s grandfather wanted to find a well-read and virtuous young lady from a scholarly family for him.
“Later, your Yinzhu was chosen.”
Mrs. Wu sighed again.
“His grandfather said it was a good match, and I had nothing to say. Later, I heard from A Ye that Yinzhu was illiterate. Even later, A Ye mentioned that since they got engaged, Yinzhu had started learning to read and could already recite the Three Character Classic.”
Mrs. Wu continued to sigh.
“My heart felt a little better.
“From engagement to marriage, it wasn’t even a few months, and Yinzhu could recite the Three Character Classic. At least she wasn’t stupid.
“I thought, this is the silver lining in misfortune. Yinzhu isn’t stupid, she just lacked guidance. So, I planned that after she married into our family, I would spend a few years teaching her properly. Academically, she should at least be passable, wouldn’t you agree?
“Then, the day Yinzhu married into our family, alas, on the very first morning after she woke up, Yinzhu went into the tea room and lit a fire, saying she wanted to boil water to cook. The tea room was filled with smoke.
“When I saw that, alas, Yinzhu couldn’t even distinguish between the tea room and the kitchen. How could this be acceptable!
“A Ye is the eldest grandson of the main branch of our Hong Family, the legitimate heir. Yinzhu will also be the matriarch in the future. She needs to be taught how to manage the household and handle affairs properly, right?
“So, I thought that after their wedding month was over, I would send A Ye to study in Pingjiang City, and Yinzhu would stay at home with me, and I would teach her properly for a few years. Who knew Yinzhu wouldn’t listen to a word and insisted on coming to Pingjiang City with A Ye.”
Mrs. Wu gently rubbed her chest. She looked furious.
Li Yuzhu had long stopped spinning. She watched Mrs. Wu’s hand continuously stroking her chest and thought of her family’s Yinzhu’s usual clumsiness. She held her breath, not daring to make a sound.
Li Jinzhu subconsciously looked at Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan rested her chin on her hand, appearing to be listening with great interest.
Li Jinzhu looked at Li Xiaonan, and Mrs. Wu also looked at Li Xiaonan. Li Xiaonan met Mrs. Wu’s gaze and quickly offered a polite smile.
Mrs. Wu immediately knitted her brows.
Yinzhu would argue with her, often saying “A Nan said this.” And this A Nan, upon hearing this, actually smiled at her!
This youngest one is truly the most insensible!
Seeing Mrs. Wu knit her brows and turn away, ignoring her, Li Xiaonan suddenly realized. How could she smile! The other person was clearly furious, and her smile might seem like gloating.
“Then what is your meaning?” Li Jinzhu quickly interjected.
“You persuade her for me. She is not only A Ye’s wife but also the mistress of our Hong Family, the future matriarch. She cannot be without knowledge, nor can she be ignorant of household affairs! She will be A Ye’s wife for a lifetime; their future together is long. This marital affection is not about one or two years.”
Mrs. Wu’s tone was no longer as serene.
“Yinzhu came with you? I’ll go tomorrow, or should I go now?” Li Jinzhu quickly agreed.
“She hasn’t arrived yet. She’ll be here in the next day or two. It’s getting late, I’m leaving.” Mrs. Wu stood up with an unhappy expression and walked out.
