Chapter 10: Henpecked Husband, Returning to Her Mother’s Home

But after waiting and waiting, she still did not hear her mother-in-law call her. Zhuang Meifeng could not hold back any longer.
“Mom, did you forget something?”

Zhao Menglan was not so forgetful. She shot Zhuang Meifeng a sidelong glance.
“What, you want fabric too?

Did you forget that just yesterday you quarreled with your third sister-in-law over a few meals? People need dignity, just like a tree needs its bark. How could you shamelessly reach out for something now?”

In her opinion, the eldest daughter-in-law was simply muddle-headed. Since she had married into the Lu family, they were all one family. She could understand quarrels between sisters-in-law, but she should never have dragged the younger generation into it. After all, they were all Lu family’s children—so what if they ate a meal?

If the third household were truly angered, it would be hard to smooth things over. Zhao Menglan saw clearly that if she had not spoken up first that day, the third household had been ready to retaliate against the eldest branch.

The braised pork Ye Qiu had given, Zhao Menglan had not kept for herself. She put it in the kitchen for the second branch to reheat in the evening so everyone could share. Because of Zhuang Meifeng’s fuss, even Wu Laidi—no matter how reluctant to work—had to get up.

She was timid and feared that if things continued like this, her in-laws would hold it against her. If they ever told her to go back to her mother’s home, she would be finished. So she followed the Lu family’s rules and took turns cooking with her co-sister-in-law.

Once Zhao Menglan returned to her room, she pulled out half a packet of candied rice sticks and some popcorn from her pocket.
“Old man, have a taste.”

Hearing this, Lu Zhongming looked up and asked without thinking,
“From the third household again?”

“Of course. People who eat well really are different. You haven’t seen Da Wa and Xiao Wa—these past two days I feel like they’ve even put on some weight on their faces.

Chuanzi’s wife really can cook. The meat she makes is delicious, and even the rice tastes so good.”

As Zhao Menglan spoke, she began to crave it herself. Lu Zhongming glanced at his wife, then simply closed his eyes and lay down to sleep on his side.

“How can you be sleepy already? I’m not done talking.”

“If you keep talking, I’ll just get hungry. Better stop thinking about the third household’s food—otherwise you won’t even want to eat what we have at home.”

Lu Zhongming could not say it outright, but the truth was that the meals made by the eldest and second branches were practically pig slop. The vegetable stews were edible, but the taste was nothing special.

That evening at dinner, Zhao Menglan suddenly patted her head.
“Almost forgot. One of you should go hoe the land in Chuanzi’s wife’s yard.

And while you’re at it, rebuild the wall next to her kitchen. I think it’s about to collapse.”

Lu Hailiang and Lu Huaiguo both nodded.
“Alright, we’ll go tomorrow.”

Zhuang Meifeng curled her lips just in time for Zhao Menglan to catch it. Her face turned cold.
“What’s wrong, First’s Wife? Mouth itching again?”

“Mom, I didn’t.” Zhuang Meifeng fell silent. But once her husband returned to the room, she pulled at Lu Hailiang’s arm, whispering insistently in his ear.
“Tomorrow, we mustn’t go.”

“We’re all one family. What’s wrong with helping out? What’s gotten into you lately, always trying to go against your third sister-in-law? She’s raising two kids on her own—it’s not easy. Search your heart and tell me how your third brother has treated us. For his sake, you should put up with it.”

“Third brother is third brother. I just can’t stand Ye Qiu. Why is it that all of us Lu family daughters-in-law have chores, yet she does nothing? Mom even helps her take care of the kids. When I gave birth to Tianjie, why didn’t Mom help me?”

Lu Hailiang looked weary.
“Because you didn’t let Mom hold him back then—you were afraid he wouldn’t be close to you later.”

Whenever there was an argument, Zhuang Meifeng would bring up some old grievance. He was sick of hearing it.

“In any case, you’re not allowed to go. The second branch agreed so quickly—let’s see if they go or not.” Zhuang Meifeng leaned against her husband, seriously instructing,
“Tomorrow, come with me to my mother’s house.”

“What for?”

“My nephew’s birthday is tomorrow. Let’s go see them and bring Tianjie along. It’s been a while since he’s seen his grandmother.”

Lu Hailiang really did not want to go. The Zhuang family were all snobs—if you came bearing good gifts, they would call you ‘son-in-law’ with warmth. If you came empty-handed, they would find every way possible to mock and belittle you. Yet Zhuang Meifeng never seemed to notice.

Under her persistent coaxing and pestering, Lu Hailiang reluctantly agreed. He thought that after coming back from the Zhuang family, it would not be too late to help his third sister-in-law.

Early the next morning, before dawn, the couple set out with gifts, with Lu Tianjie following behind them. Zhao Menglan watched the eldest branch’s retreating figures, her gaze sharp. If she had lived half her life and could not see through this, she might as well have lived in vain.

Her eldest son was soft-eared and could not stand repeated persuasion. She had just said the night before that they should help at Ye Qiu’s house, and today they were off to the wife’s mother’s home. Without Zhuang Meifeng’s meddling, she would not believe it for a second.

Seeing the eldest brother walk farther and farther away, Lu Huaiguo stood there uncertainly and spoke dryly.
“Mom, I’ll go then. It’s not much work—maybe I can finish it myself.”

Wu Laidi, holding fabric scraps as she sewed tiny shoes for the baby in her belly, urged her husband to hurry.
“Huaiguo, go on, don’t keep third sister-in-law waiting.”

She thought the fabric scraps had been specially sent by Ye Qiu through Zhao Menglan, so she urged her husband to get to work early.
“And don’t eat lunch at their place. I’ll have Da Ya bring you your meal.”

Hearing Wu Laidi’s words, Zhao Menglan regarded her with new appreciation. She had not expected the second branch to be the clear-headed one, and her expression softened. That morning, she even boiled Wu Laidi an egg.

Sensing the change in her mother-in-law’s attitude, Wu Laidi became even more pleased with herself. She had long seen that among the sisters-in-law, the one Zhao Menglan liked most was the third branch. As long as she treated the third branch well, better days were ahead.

The eldest sister-in-law truly had no brains. What benefit was there in opposing the mother-in-law in the Lu family? And to deliberately go to her mother’s home too. They were all the same—once a daughter was married, she was like water poured out. Zhuang Meifeng might not even eat as well at her mother’s home as she did here.

Little did she know how accurate her guess was. She lay happily in the house, enjoying herself.

Meanwhile, over on the other side, Ye Qiu saw Lu Huaiguo starting work early in the morning and quickly went to pour him some water.
“Thank you, Second Brother. Have some water and rest a bit.”

“It’s fine, just a bit of work. You go rest, sister-in-law—I’ll be done soon.”

Lu Huaiguo worked vigorously. After finishing hoeing the land, he even rebuilt the wall, not stopping for a moment. By the end, his back was drenched with sweat.

Ye Qiu made him a cup of malted milk and specially cooked something in the kitchen—bean sprouts stir-fried with vermicelli, and chili stir-fried pork belly.

Just as the soup was about to come off the stove, Da Ya arrived carrying a lunch box, standing timidly at the door.
“Third Aunt, my mom asked me to bring lunch.”

Ye Qiu smiled, crouched down, and pinched Da Ya’s thin little cheek.
“Your dad’s been helping me work. How could he leave without eating?

Take the food back. Today, eat here at my house, and you stay too.”

But Da Ya naturally did not want to. Her grandmother had told her that third aunt was raising two younger brothers on her own, and it was not easy—she must not eat for free.