Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 12001

"Third Sister-in-law, you don't need to worry about me. I'll just pretend I was bitten by a mad dog on the roadside. I won't take it to heart." Xiu Hong patted Sanxi's wife's hand gently in return.

As for what Sanxi's wife said, such as "just bear with it and it will pass," Xiuhong couldn't accept it from the bottom of her heart.

Why should I silently endure being scolded when I haven't done anything wrong? Even if we've separated, we're still family, the closest relatives. Wouldn't it be better if we all got along peacefully? Why do we have to set rules? I don't understand!

Outside, Sixi's mother was still nagging Sixi's father at the door of the side room. Her voice carried into the kitchen, and she ignored her own unwarranted provocation, focusing instead on Xiuhong's bad attitude as a daughter-in-law, saying that she was talking back to her mother-in-law...

Xiu Hong frowned as she listened. Just as she stood up to go out and explain the situation, so as not to take the blame, Sanxi's wife hugged Xiu Hong tightly.

"Fourth sister-in-law, listen to my advice, it's best if you don't rush to the front right now," said Sanxi's wife. "Where's fourth brother? Call him over..."

This is the 'battle experience' that Sanxi's wife has accumulated in the year and a half since she married into the family. In this situation, the best way is to let the son come out and hide in the back.

"Wasn't he here helping you start the fire this morning? Why is he nowhere to be seen now?" Sanxi's wife asked again.

Just as Xiu Hong was about to speak, Si Xi's surprised voice suddenly came from the courtyard outside: "What's going on now? Mother, who are you scolding?"

"It's Fourth Brother back. Come on, let's go to the door and take a look." Sanxi's wife pulled Xiuhong to the kitchen door.

By this time, almost everyone in the courtyard had gotten up. Except for Erxi's wife, who was about to give birth, was extremely heavy, and was still feeling swollen and uncomfortable, everyone else had come to the courtyard. In particular, the grandchildren rubbed their sleepy eyes, which were still covered with sleepy discharge, and looked at their grandmother with confusion as she listened to her complaints about everyone.

"Who else can I scold? Who do I dare to scold? From this day forward, our family has a daughter-in-law named Wang. As her mother-in-law, I have to be careful with my words!" Si Xi's mother turned around and looked at Si Xi, who had just returned from fetching water outside, with the carrying pole still on her shoulder, and said sarcastically.

Si Xi frowned immediately. He glanced towards the kitchen and saw Xiu Hong's pale face and tight lips.

“Mom, my wife gets up before dawn to cook for the whole family, just so you can have something hot to eat when you get up, instead of having to wait around.”

"She was very quiet so you could sleep a little longer and not be disturbed by the noise of the pots and pans in the kitchen. I just can't understand how such a thoughtful and considerate wife could dare to scold you? How did she become the 'Queen of Wives'?"

Si Xi's voice was calm, without any shouting or yelling. However, as he spoke, his calm voice gradually became rougher, and his neck stiffened little by little.

Seeing Sixi's stubborn posture, the family's expressions changed. In their past experience, Sixi was always like this; he was usually easy to talk to, but once he got stubborn, it meant he was serious.

At that moment, Da Xi and San happy rushed over to help take the carrying pole off Si Xi's shoulders. Da Xi patted Si Xi's shoulder and said, "Fourth brother, Mother didn't say anything to your wife. Don't be impulsive."

Sanxi lowered his voice and said, "Fourth brother, today is the second day since your wife entered the family. We can talk about things later. If we make a scene today, people will laugh at us, and it will not be good for your wife."

Meanwhile, Si Xi's father was also scolding Si Xi's mother: "Breakfast is all ready, and Si Xi even went to fetch water. The house is so well-organized, what more could you ask for? You're just making a fuss. Go back to your room, wash your face, and come out to eat!"

Da Xi's wife quickly pulled Sixi's mother back into the house, where Sixi's mother made a lot of noise.

Si Xi's father composed himself and came over to Si Xi, saying, "Your mother is getting old and her mind is confused. She talks nonsense, so don't take it to heart."

Although he was standing in front of Sixi when he said these words, everyone could tell that the father-in-law was actually talking to his fourth daughter-in-law who was standing at the kitchen door.

"Look, your father-in-law is speaking up for you." Sanxi's wife gently tugged at her embroidered red sleeve, her tone full of envy.

Only the fourth sister-in-law has the face to have her father-in-law speak up and shut up her mother-in-law's nagging. It's such a boost to her pride.

If this were any of their other daughters-in-law, being criticized or scolded by their mothers-in-law, regardless of whether they had truly done something wrong or were wronged, they would be scolded, and their fathers-in-law would never stand up for them. The daughters-in-law would have to digest all their grievances in private.

Xiu Hong felt no envy from Sanxi's wife. She didn't even glance at her father-in-law. Instead, she called out to Sixi, "Sixi, wash your face and eat breakfast. After breakfast, come with me to my parents' house!"

After saying this, Xiu Hong turned around and went back into the kitchen to prepare the bowls and chopsticks.

Outside the courtyard, Sixi responded, snatched the carrying pole from Daxi's hand, and carried the water into the kitchen.

As the bride's first breakfast after entering the family, the dishes on the table were plentiful, all made by Xiu Hong.

A family of more than ten people sat around a square table. The children picked up some food and ate it on small stools next to them. Sixi's mother did not appear. She stayed in her own room, sulking and deliberately not coming to eat.

Xiu Hong knew that her mother-in-law was deliberately giving her the cold shoulder and not coming to eat the food she cooked. Xiu Hong was too lazy to pay attention to her. She picked up her bowl and chopsticks and sat on a bench with Sixi to eat and drink, without saying a word about her mother-in-law.

The atmosphere at the table was a little awkward. Da Xi's wife couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Fourth brother, why don't you go and call Mother? If you call her, she'll definitely come to eat. If we call her, it won't make a difference..."

The one who tied the knot must untie it; it would be best if the fourth brother and his wife went together to call for help.

Everyone pretended to eat and pick up food with their hands, but their eyes kept glancing at Sixi and Xiuhong.

Xiu Hong lowered her eyes and ate her food, pretending not to have heard anything at all.

Si Xi paused in his eating. He quietly turned his head to look at Xiu Hong's face beside him, then shook his head: "Sister-in-law, you overestimate me. We don't have that much face. If we go, we'll probably just add fuel to the fire."

Da Xi's wife wanted to say something more, but Sixi's father tapped the table with his chopsticks: "If you're worried she'll go hungry, just send her a bowl of food. She can eat if she wants, or not if she doesn't. She won't starve to death after a couple of meals!"

Well, the happy daughter-in-law could only give an awkward smile, then got up to get a bowl for her mother-in-law, filled it with rice and vegetables, and took it into the room...

Da Xi's wife had just left the main room with her rice bowl and headed towards Sixi's mother's room when Xiu Hong also stood up. "I'm full. Everyone, please continue eating."

After saying that, she turned around and went back to her room, leaving her own bowl and chopsticks on the table without taking them with her.

The people at the table exchanged glances. Erxi, picking his teeth, grumbled to Sixi with some dissatisfaction, "Fourth brother, aren't you spoiling your wife a bit too much? She finishes eating and leaves without even taking the dishes. Who's going to clean up all this mess later?"

In our family, there's a set rule: whoever cooks the meal is responsible for cleaning up the dishes.

Si Xi said while shoveling rice into his mouth, "It's only natural for me to spoil my wife. My second sister-in-law hasn't been feeling well these past few days. Instead of nagging me here, you should spend more time on her."

"Tch, I'm just asking who's going to clean up these dishes later?" Erxi asked again.

Si Xi said, "I'll pack it up!"

"You? Give me a break. You're a man, and you never even go into the kitchen. How would you know how to clean?" Erxi sneered.

Da Xi shook his head and said to Sixi with a serious expression, "Second brother, the kitchen is a woman's place. We men shouldn't get involved." Sixi turned to Da Xi and said just as seriously, "Big brother, you're wrong. The kitchen is a place where the whole family should go. There's no such thing as women going in and men not going in."

Da Xi was taken aback for a moment, "But the problem is, do you know how to clean it up?"

"Even if I haven't eaten pork, I've still seen pigs run, right? Of course I know how. If there's anything I don't know, I can ask my wife for help," Sixi said.

At this moment, Sanxi, who was standing to the side, said with a smile: "Big brother and second brother, don't worry about your fourth brother. This morning, your fourth brother helped with cooking, peeling garlic and breaking ginger the whole time."

Sanxi's wife smiled and echoed Sanxi, "Yes, our breakfast owes half its credit to our fourth brother!"

"What? Fourth Brother actually helped Fourth Sister-in-law start the fire and cook this morning?" At this, all the men at the table were no longer calm. They stared at Sixi with wide eyes, as if they didn't recognize him.

Even Sixi's father glanced at his youngest son a few more times with a complicated expression, but he did nothing, just sighed inwardly, lowered his eyes and continued eating.

From the moment you agreed to this marriage, you should have known what it would be like to marry the Yang family's daughter!

This is what you call marrying up; a daughter-in-law who marries up is truly exceptional.

Si Xi's father felt a little sad, feeling that the family tradition that had been passed down for generations was about to be broken in this generation!
……

This time, Sixi's mother stood her ground. Although the food that Daxi's wife brought in smelled delicious and looked tempting, and it was clear that Xiuhong was a good cook, Sixi's mother refused to touch a single bite.

Regardless of whether she eats it in the future, at least today, the first meal prepared by the new bride, she, as the mother-in-law, will not eat it.

They're not giving the bride any face!

While Sixi was tidying up the dishes in the kitchen, Xiuhong came over as well.

"Wife, what are you doing here? Go back to your room and catch up on some sleep, relax." Si Xi Juanzi, with her arms rolled up to her elbows, was standing by the stove, holding a loofah and seriously scrubbing the pot.

When Xiu Hong saw him like this, all the anger she had been holding in vanished.

She chuckled and said, "I can't sleep, so I came to help you."

"No need, no need. My wife's hands are delicate. I'll wash the pots and pans; you don't need to touch them."

Seeing Sixi push her away, Xiu Hong's eyes welled up slightly. From childhood to adulthood, she had done countless chores at home.

With an older sister and a younger brother, she was sandwiched in the middle and had to share the most housework.

Although people talk about the Yang family, Xiu Hong, who grew up in the Yang family, knows better than anyone that the various branches of the Yang family do not have the means to hire maids and servants to serve them.

Only the Luo family and Uncle Da'an from the third branch of the family had that kind of means. The other branches of the Yang family were just well-off families, and they did all the housework themselves.

She washed pots and pans, cooked, took care of the children, grew vegetables, and did mending... She had long since become numb to it all.

But how could Si Xi not be moved by how he treated her today?

“Husbands and wives should share the burdens,” Xiu Hong said, rolling up her sleeves to join in, but Sixi stopped her again.

“Then you can share the burden when we move into our own little home. There are so many greasy dishes here today, and you're a new bride. You've already worked hard cooking for the whole family this morning, so I'll take care of all the cleanup!”

Since Sixi had already said all that, Xiuhong stopped insisting.

"I'll put some firewood in for you to wash with hot water. Your hands won't get cold, and the grease on the dishes will be washed off better," Xiu Hong said, sitting down at the stove opening and stuffing a few handfuls of pine needles in.

Flames lit up the stove, warming the embroidered red hands.

The water in the pot, which had been ice-cold, gradually warmed up, enveloping Sixi's hands and making him feel warm all over.

The young couple stood and sat, she kept him company while he worked, chatting quietly about their plans to visit her parents' home later that morning.

Xiu Hong ignored the bowl of food in the stove that hadn't been touched at all.

Si Xi hesitated for a moment, then picked it up and called over the house's guard dog. She poured the food into the dog's broken bowl and took it to the corner so it could feast.

When Sixi's mother saw this scene from inside the house, she was so angry that her nostrils were practically steaming.

This son is a complete waste of my time. My initial thought was absolutely right: I shouldn't have married the Yang family's daughter. If I had, my son would have completely sided with outsiders.

……

In the morning, Xiu Hong and Sixi packed their things and went to the main room to tell Sixi's father that they were going back to her parents' home for the traditional wedding ceremony.

Sixi's father nodded with a smile and told Daxi to bring over a jar of liquor and a piece of pork belly that had been prepared in advance.

"This is a small token of our appreciation. Please take it and give my regards to your parents."

"We will."

"Go on, go on, but drive carefully."

As soon as Xiu Hong and Sixi left home and headed towards the small second room of Old Yang's house at the village entrance, Sixi's mother suddenly jumped out of the side room and went straight to the main room.

“This young daughter-in-law, relying on her family’s influence, doesn’t respect me, her mother-in-law, at all.”

"Sixi is on her side, and you all are on her side too, helping to trample on me. Just wait and see. From now on, we won't have a say in this house. She's the king of crabs, and she can walk sideways!"

Sixi's father glared at her, annoyed: "Stop talking nonsense. Once you bring a wife into the family, she's part of the family. You're an elder, so you should act like one."

"Instead of wasting time worrying about who's the eldest and who's the second eldest in the family, you should make more clothes for the baby in the second eldest's wife's belly! That's the real business."