The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

Zhu Nengwen was infuriated to a near-death state, “With her almost unbearable filth, how could I even behold her? Who could have known after cleaning her up and putting on a little weight, she could present this fair complexion? Another one wouldn’t necessarily be willing to work as hard as Su Qingyue.”

“The one bought from a poor family, why wouldn’t she?” mused Zhu Mei-shi, “Anyways, I don’t care. At first, Su Qingyue climbed into your bed, you didn’t touch her, didn’t want her. Now you’d better get her back for me!”

Zhu Nengwen said somewhat dispiritedly, “Sold her off already. How can I get her back? Assuming she is retrieved, the Xiao Family has Su Qingyue’s deed of Sale in possession. Even if she’s brought back, if the Xiao family doesn’t agree, she can’t be part of our family.”

Zhu Mei-Shi pondered then said, “You’ve read too many books and can’t adapt! Regardless if she’s part of Xiao Family, seize Su Qingyue. A woman, once subdued, will be devoted to you. Let her hand over the three hundred taels of silver to you.”

“In case the money is not with her but given to the Xiao family’s men…”

“Isn’t she a thief? She is used to theft. Let her steal the money.”

“But if the Xiao family’s men find out…”

“Only Su Qingyue’s leg will be broken at most, or she will be beaten to death. We get the money and deny any involvement,” Zhu Mei-Shi coaxed, “Su Qingyue has always had a liking for you. You must bring back those 300 taels.” All of Zhu Family’s money and property combined is less than 300 taels. The loss of such a large sum of money was burning her heart and lungs.

Referring to Su Qingyue’s fondness of him, Zhu Nengwen recalled the time when she willingly walked into his bed, it was due to her stench that he didn’t touch her. He should’ve known better and taken her there and then, “If it wasn’t for you, all that 300 taels would be mine…”

…

Halfway up the hill on a slope, there were a lot of long grass.

Su Qingyue was cutting the grass swiftly with a hatchet, Xiao Yishan stood on the side of the mountain road, wanting to come and help.

She stopped him, saying, “Second brother, the slope is uneven. Your leg injury makes it inconvenient for you, don’t come here, just in case you fall, or if your legs are exerted too much, it would lead to greater trouble.”

He had to stand still with his crutch, waiting, “Yue’er…”

He hesitated.

Su Qingyue probably knew what he wanted to say, essentially whether she despises them, or anything about consummating their marriage.

She didn’t want to discuss that.

The villagers’ narrative of him being ‘no good’ and their insinuations about his wife’s disdain kept replaying inside Xiao Yishan’s head.

Those words tortured him until his sleep was disrupted.

He desperately wanted to peek into her heart, to know what she was thinking.

On learning that he was her husband, she wanted to hit the wall and commit suicide.

That thought simply crushed his heart.

Is being Xiao Yishan’s wife indeed so painful for her?

He tried to glimpse into her thoughts through her face.

But he discovered that her calm demeanor concealed her thoughts so thoroughly that he couldn’t find even a hint of it.

He held back and didn’t press her.

He would give her a couple of peaceful days, then.

He clenched his fists quietly. He could not wait that much.

In no time, Su Qingyue had cut two large bundles of grass, chopped a long vine, and a straight long stick, tied up two bundles of grass separately with the vine.