Chapter 7 : Butterflies on Feet

“Okay, okay, stop arguing. If mom hears you, she’ll scold you again.” The second sister-in-law, who had always had little presence, finally spoke up and tried to be a peacemaker.

After just ten minutes of argument, Jiang Sui finally understood that the third sister-in-law was a troublemaker and talkative person, and liked causing trouble. The younger sister-in-law and the third sister-in-law did not get along, and this was considered a daily quarrel between the two.

The second sister-in-law was the peacemaker. Seeing the conflict intensify, she came out to mediate and brought up her mother-in-law, who was the one who could calm them down.

Sure enough, the sister-in-law became obedient after Xiao’s mother being mentioned. It can also be seen that Xiao’s mother is very smart, otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to control her two daughters-in-law.

As night fell, the house was cleaned up and everyone had left. Mother Xiao was still calculating favors in her room.

After deducting today’s expenses from the money she received from favors, she still had a little left. She discussed it with her husband, took out a hundred dollars, and put it in her purse, then went to Jiang Sui’s room.

When she left, Mother Xiao looked around to make sure no one saw her before leaving.

At that time, Jiang Sui was worried about how to sleep at night. After all, it was embarrassing for her, a modern person, to sleep with a man she was not familiar with, even though the man’s mind was just that of a child and he had no idea of the relationship between men and women.

But she still felt embarrassed when she thought about it.

Xiao Hechuan carefully brought in a basin of water and placed it next to the kang.

“Wife, wash your feet. Mom said that you have to wash your feet before going to bed at night. You wash first and I’ll wash later.”

It is April now, and the spring cold has just passed. It is still a bit cold at night. In addition, it is not convenient to use water in the village. You have to go out to fetch it. Therefore, at this time of year, people basically don’t take a bath every night.

“Who told you to make this foot washing water?” Jiang Sui asked doubtfully.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hechuan blinked his beautiful peach blossom eyes and answered seriously

“No one told me to do it. I wanted to do it. My mother told me to be nice to my wife.”

Xiao Hechuan didn’t remember anything else, he only remembered his mother’s repeated instructions to be good to his wife, and that a real man should not let his wife be bullied or wronged.

Jiang Sui looked at his serious expression and sincere eyes. She knew that he would not have any bad intentions and that what he said came from his heart.

Jiang Sui couldn’t waste the kindness of the “child”, so she took off her shoes and started to soak her feet. Her cold feet were soaked in the warm water, and the coldness in her body was dispelled.

Xiao Hechuan took a dry towel and gave it to her

“Here, wife, use it to wipe your feet.”

The handkerchiefs were all new ones prepared by Mother Xiao. Xiao Hechuan carefully noticed that there was a butterfly on his wife’s ankle.

“Look, my wife, there are butterflies on your feet!” He pointed at Jiang Sui’s feet and said in surprise.

Jiang Sui lowered her head, knowing that he was talking about her birthmark, and explained with a smile

“This is not a real butterfly, but a birthmark that has been there since birth.”

“What is a birthmark?” Xiao Hechuan scratched the back of his head, expressing his confusion.

This… Jiang Sui didn’t know how to explain it, and she was really at a loss.

At this time, Mother Xiao came in. She saw that the door was ajar and walked in directly. When Jiang Sui saw Mother Xiao, she was about to get up, but was stopped.

“No, no, go ahead and relax. Mom has something to tell you. Hechuan, go play with Goudan at your big brother’s place first and then come back. Be good!” Mother Xiao deliberately sent Xiao Hechuan away.

Xiao Hechuan didn’t understand why, but he still obeyed and went out.

After he left, Jiang Sui asked: “Aunt Xiao, what’s the matter?” Seeing her mysterious look, Jiang Sui thought it was something serious.

When Mother Xiao heard that she was still called “aunt,” she immediately scolded

“You’re still calling me aunt? I’m not happy about that.”

When Jiang Sui heard this, her face turned red uncontrollably, and a word came out of her mouth

“Mom!”

“Hey, that’s right, girl, your voice is quite pleasant, soft and sticky.” Mother Xiao felt relieved when her fourth daughter-in-law called her “mom.”

This fourth daughter-in-law seems to be a worry-free and sensible person, and she probably won’t have to worry about anything in the future.

As she spoke, she took out a bulging gray cloth purse from her bosom and stuffed it into Jiang Sui’s arms.

“Mom, what is this?” Jiang Sui asked.

“Here is a hundred coins, for you to keep as a personal treasure. Don’t think it’s too little. Mother knows your situation, and it’s a shame for you to come to our house. This money is what I have left after counting the favors I’ve received today. I’m giving it to you. You can buy whatever you want to eat. But you have to keep it well, and don’t tell your two sisters-in-law. Do you understand?”

Mother Xiao was not partial. When the second and third daughters married into the family, their families gave them some dowry. Jiang Sui was alone, and the 100 wen was not much. It was just pocket money and could not be a big deal.

When Jiang Sui heard this, she quickly returned the purse

“Mom, this won’t work. I can’t accept this!”

The other party had spent a lot of money to marry her into their family, and she was embarrassed to begin with. She knew that usually, families would give three taels of silver as a gift to marry a daughter-in-law, but they had given five taels. The other party already thought highly of her, so she felt embarrassed to take the money.

“What’s wrong with that? If I say it’s okay, then it’s okay. If I tell you to take it, then take it. I won’t argue with you about this nonsense. I’m leaving now, so you hide it.”

Mother Xiao simply stuffed the purse under her pillow and left.

Jiang Sui was still soaking her feet, and for a moment, she didn’t know whether to move forward or backward, so she could only smile helplessly.

She was lucky to be in a good family and have a good mother-in-law.

Jiang Sui hid the purse at the bottom of the cabinet. Soon, Xiao Hechuan came back. He fetched water to wash his face and feet. After finishing, he lay on the inside of the kang and covered himself with a quilt. He was so well-behaved.

Jiang Sui was still a little embarrassed, so Xiao Hechuan lifted the quilt and patted it

“Wife, aren’t you cold? Come up and lie down!”

Jiang Sui blew out the lights and lay down next to Xiao Hechuan, her whole body stiff. She slept at the very edge, and the distance between them felt like there was room for another person.

“Wife, why are you so far away from me? We need to sleep together to keep warm.” At this time, Xiao Hechuan didn’t understand the distinction between men and women, so he took the initiative to move closer.

Jiang Sui held her breath, not daring to breathe. Fortunately, Xiao Hechuan was not too close to her, just shoulder to shoulder.

Xiao Hechuan’s feet touched Jiang Sui’s feet, which were still cold. In the dark, he frowned and pouted

“Wife, your feet are so cold, let me warm them for you!” Xiao Hechuan said, and then he lifted her feet and put them into his calves to warm them tightly.

Jiang Sui was petrified on the spot, feeling like her heart was in her throat.