The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 2 Threat
The flames in the stove burned brighter and brighter, as if they could spread like wildfire and roast her, scalding her all over.

Yu Tingwan said slowly, "Go to the matchmaker's place."

Ms. Xu suddenly looked up: "A matchmaker?"

She couldn't hide the schadenfreude in her eyes: "Is Mother unable to tolerate you and going to marry you off?"

She married into the family last year, and was extremely wary of Yu Tingwan from the first moment she saw her. As a woman herself, who would be attracted to Yu Tingwan, who was more beautiful than a flower?
However, her father-in-law felt pity for this niece who had lost her parents. Not to mention her, even her mother-in-law, Wang, dared not openly mistreat or bully her.

Seeing that Yu Tingwan did not react, Madam Xu covered her mouth and laughed: "I thought you were so capable that you could seduce my uncle into having no choice but to be with you."

"With your mother disliking you so much, how good could the marriage she found for you be?"

It's one thing if the heavy snow blocks the roads for a day or two, but what if it's for ten days or half a month?

Once Wang accepted the betrothal gifts, she threw Yu Tingwan out and made the deed done with her. Her father had no choice but to acknowledge her.

Yu Tingwan did not respond.

"Mother gave birth to two sons for Father. Even if Father is furious, he can't divorce her. It's clear that your good days are over."

Seeing that Yu Tingwan still did not react, Madam Xu assumed that she had been intimidated and said arrogantly and disdainfully, "You have been taken in by the Hu family all these years, and you will inevitably have to visit them after you get married. If you have any conscience, don't forget how good the Hu family has been to you."

Yu Tingwan seemed to be deep in thought.

Ms. Xu narrowed her eyes: "You're not happy about this, are you?"

"I knew you were an ingrate!"

"Sister-in-law, you've misunderstood."

Yu Tingwan said softly, "I'm just thinking about how to live up to the Hu family's kindness."

"That's more like it," Madam Xu snorted dismissively.

“I know my sister-in-law is known for being very filial.”

Yu Tingwan poured hot water for Xiao Xu: "Although I am not as good as you in everything, I must learn from you, sister-in-law."

That little bitch must have honey on her lips!
That's true, after all, she's not popular. She even has to beg me to put in a good word for her with Madam Wang to find her a good marriage.

Madam Xu scoffed as she took the bowl of water. In her opinion, no matter how much Yu Tingwan tried to please her, it would be useless. After all, Madam Wang only cared about money and didn't care about her life or death.

"I have to learn from my sister-in-law and secretly subsidize my own family behind my husband's back."

Startled, Ms. Xu dropped the bowl in her hand.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Yu Tingwan seemed oblivious to her startled reaction, and looked down at the broken pieces on the ground.

"I don't need you to interfere in my affairs, sister-in-law. You should worry about yourself instead."

"Three days ago, my sister-in-law's brothers came over. Instead of being a decent person, my sister-in-law decided to steal. While my aunt was away, she went to the cellar and stole more than a dozen cabbages and radishes."

She seemed puzzled: "When my sister-in-law first married into the family, she was secretly sending grain to her parents' home. My aunt caught her red-handed and beat her with a thorn cane until she was almost bedridden. Why hasn't she learned her lesson?"

Ms. Xu's ears were ringing, and she was completely flustered, her previous arrogance gone. She gritted her teeth: "You're threatening me?"

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll keep my mouth shut."

Yu Tingwan picked up the broom that Wang had just thrown on the ground and cleaned up the mess: "I didn't tell you anything about how you secretly called your aunt an old hag yesterday."

She slightly raised her eyes, her doe-like eyes looking at Madam Xu, a smile playing on her lips, looking quite troubled: "But..."

Ms. Xu felt inexplicably nervous under her gaze: "But what?"

“There are only a few bowls at home. My sister-in-law threw a tantrum and smashed them. I can’t help cover for her.”

What do you mean by throwing a tantrum?! She clearly didn't hold it properly!
How dare you bring that up! If you hadn't brought her the water, she wouldn't have fallen like that!
Little Xu dared not cause any more trouble, and Yu Tingwan ate her breakfast after the porridge was cooked. But this peace and quiet did not last long, and a commotion broke out outside, with faint sobs and cries. "Quickly, quickly, take her to Old Man Qian for treatment."

"Still breathing? Oh dear, how did you get injured like this? You're covered in blood, it's really frightening to look at."

If it weren't for the fact that she was heavy and worried about being jostled in a crowd, Ms. Xu would have run out to check on things long ago.

But Yu Tingwan across from her remained calm, picking up a piece of pickled vegetable to eat with her porridge, as if she wouldn't even blink if the sky were to fall.

Aren't you curious?

Freak!

The large crowd outside had dispersed at some point, and Wang, who had just returned from the matchmaker's place, pulled Wu, the neighbor, aside to ask her about it.

"Really? The one they just carried over was the Wei family boy who was sent to serve in the army back then? Wasn't he supposed to be dead?"

"Perhaps he was lucky to survive."

Wang's tone was particularly sour: "But the Wei family received a pension from the imperial court years ago, and they also received half a penny of military pay and three dou of rice every month."

What incredible luck!
The imperial court provided subsidies to the families of fallen soldiers, but the money was distributed through multiple layers of government, and it was hard to say who ultimately received it. Especially in remote areas like Xilin Village, how much actually reached the people?
Wang angrily exclaimed, "People on my mother's side also died on the battlefield, and we haven't seen a trace of compensation or rice. When we went to the yamen to make a scene, we were beaten half to death."

Why is there such a big difference in treatment when people have both died?

"They were lucky enough to join the Wei family army stationed on the northwestern border. How can that be the same as them?"

Wei's army has a long history of meritorious service!

Wang scoffed, "What's so great about him? Everyone says General Wei was incredibly capable, but he still died on the battlefield, a short-lived ghost."

Aunt Wu's face darkened: "How dare you make up stories about General Wei? What is his status, and what is yours? Watch your mouth! If this gets out, your son's education will be over!"

When Erlang was involved, Wang Shi hesitated and dared not speak further.

Aunt Wu didn't bother arguing with her, and sighed, "I think Wei boy is in grave danger."

Aunt Wu sighed, "Now that the mountain is closed off, people from outside can't get in, and people from inside can't get out. They can't go to town to see a doctor. Old Man Qian only treats minor ailments like fever and headaches, and he charges a lot. I'm afraid he'll have to rely on wild ginseng to stay alive."

"The pension and Miko you mentioned are both in Old Madam Wei's hands. Would she be willing to part with even a single penny?"

Yes, Old Lady Wei is very cruel.

Feeling relieved that she couldn't stand seeing others do well, Wang asked, "How did they get back?"

Aunt Wu beamed with delight as she recounted, "It was discovered at the foot of the mountain. At that time, the second wife of the Wei family was gathering firewood when she saw a group of people gathered around saying that a stranger had rolled down from the forest. She went over to take a look and immediately burst into tears, saying that it was her husband."

“She has a hard life too. Now, her daughter died half a year ago, and this second wife is destined to have no descendants.”

After having breakfast, Yu Tingwan greeted the two women, called out "Aunt Wu," and then listlessly prepared to go back inside.

"stop."

Madam Wang scolded sternly, "All you do all day is hide inside the house. Have you fed the chickens? Cut the pig feed?"

Yu Tingwan answered honestly: "No."

"Why don't you go then?"

Yu Tingwan hung her head and said, "I'm sick and I have no energy."

Wang was stunned. Just before she left, Yu Tingwan was still arguing with her, making her grit her teeth in anger.

When did you get sick?

Yu Tingwan looked innocent, but she was stubborn: "Right now."

(End of this chapter)