A Good Country Wife
Chapter 175: Angry at Their Complacency_1

Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Angry at Their Complacency_1

Because Zhao Dahu and his wife were also going to attend the feast, the people from the Zhao family’s old house were very mean to Zhao Dahu and his wife. Being frugal themselves, they definitely planned to walk to the city to save a few copper coins. Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue were reluctant to go to the Zhao family’s old house, so they waited early by the roadside at the village entrance and took Zhao Dahu and his wife to the city in an ox cart.

Seeing Zhao Erhu brightened Zhao Dahu’s eyes. He hadn’t visited his brother since the accident that had left him unconscious, not out of indifference, but the moment Wei family found out, they would never leave him in peace. It was bearable for him, but he feared that the Wei family would make life difficult for his wife and children. Moreover, his presence wouldn’t have been of any help, so he had forcefully suppressed his concern. However, the guilt in his heart was unbearable. After all, blood was thicker than water, and how could there be no affection between brothers? Now that he saw Zhao Erhu standing intact before him, Zhao Dahu’s eyes reddened slightly.

"Younger brother, sister-in-law, what are you doing here? Waiting for someone?" Zhao Dahu asked, suppressing his excitement, never having imagined that Zhao Erhu would have been waiting there for them in particular, and assuming Zhao Erhu had made some other arrangement.

"No, my wife and I knew you were going to the city, so we waited here specifically. Brother, sister-in-law, we’re going to a feast, why are you dressed like this?" Zhao Erhu felt a pang of heartache looking at his older brother and his wife’s weary appearance and clothes. The group at the Zhao family’s old house was really too much—look at what they had reduced his older brother and his wife to—without even proper attire to go out in. Compared to Wei family’s sons who not only dressed well but also had money to spend in the city on entertainment, yet they treated his older brother’s family like beasts of burden. He had never seen such shamelessness.

"Younger brother, we..." Zhao Dahu and his wife felt so awkward under Zhao Erhu’s gaze, they hung their heads and were at a loss for words. Due to enduring hardships for so long, their backs seemed to have been bent under the pressure, making them appear hunched and shrunken.

They too knew they were dressed in a shabby manner, but it was out of helplessness. For today’s feast, they had dressed more neatly and cleanly than usual, and although their clothes had been washed to the point of being faded, at least they were patch-free, the best they could find in their home.

The Zhao family’s old house had not been separated, and being under the control of the formidable Wei family, all the silver Zhao Dahu earned from hard labor had been handed over to the Wei family without keeping a single coin for himself. The Wei family was too busy exploiting his family to give them money for new clothes. However, Liu’s wife had stealthily stayed up late at night doing needlework to save a few coins, but she didn’t dare spend it on such things. There were children to consider at home, and if anyone fell sick, there would be no money to hire a doctor. The money had to be saved for emergencies.

Zhao Dahu had originally planned to just deliver the goods and then leave immediately, not intending to go to the restaurant for the banquet, to avoid embarrasing Zhao Xinglin by letting people know he had such poor relatives. Although Zhao Dahu and Zhao Xinglin did not have as deep a relationship as between Zhao Erhu and Zhao Xinglin, they still got along well.

Seeing Zhao Dahu’s resigned demeanor made Zhao Erhu feel even more stifled, "Wei family and her sons are really too much, big brother, do you plan to just endure this, even if you don’t think for yourself, shouldn’t you consider your sister-in-law and your nephews? Do you really intend to keep being so weak and let your wife and children suffer along with you?"

"Erhu, I know you mean well, but just...ah, you better not meddle in my affairs. It’s fine as long as you live well yourself."

"Big brother, you really are, what should I say about you!" Zhao Erhu was somewhat disappointed, feeling like he was dealing with someone who won’t toughen up, as Zhao Dahuo and his wife were being bullied by the Wei Family mother and son. The Wei Family was certainly hateful, but wasn’t there a cause in themselves as well? Their own big brother was too soft and honest, always only enduring and yielding without knowing how to fight back, which was why the Wei Family dared to push so far.

Lin Yue watched the two brothers facing off and sighed. She too felt that Zhao Dahuo was too weak, but such matters were not for Zhao Erhu to decide. If Zhao Dahuo wouldn’t stand up for himself, then no matter how much Zhao Erhu said, it would be useless.

"Alright, Brother Erhu, it’s getting late, and we still need to head to town for the full moon feast. Can we talk about this later, please? We haven’t even left the village yet. I think it’s better like this, let big brother and his wife come back to our house first, to get a set of our clothes for them to change into."

After all, their body sizes were different. Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue’s clothes didn’t quite fit Zhao Dahuo and his wife; Zhao Dahuo and Zhao Erhu were about the same height, but Zhao Erhu was more robust and larger in frame than Zhao Dahuo, making Zhao Erhu’s clothes a little too big for Zhao Dahuo. And although Liu’s was thin, her frame was bigger than Lin Yue’s, so Lin Yue’s clothes were a bit tight on her, but at least wearable.

The two of them made do, looking much better than they had before, but this also delayed them quite a bit. If they missed the noon feast, it would be impolite. Thus, they hurried their pace, rushing towards the town at a faster speed.

On the other hand, Zhao Yunxiang and her husband had also received the good news sent by Zhao Xinglin. They set off early in the morning to head into town for the full moon feast. Zhao Yunxiang was still concerned about Erhu, knowing he had already woken up was a relief, but her heart was unsettled until she saw him with her own eyes.

Zhao Yunxiang remembered Erhu had always been close to Zhao Xinglin since they were young, and if Zhao Xinglin was hosting a feast, Erhu would surely go. She would be able to see her brother then, but just thinking about that woman who was not presentable made Zhao Yunxiang frown. Unfortunately, that woman was also her sister-in-law. Upon seeing her brother, she would have to tell him to properly control the Lin Family. If Lin Yue dared to cross her, she would insist her brother divorce her and remarry someone else.

Yes, that’s what she would do. Before, Zhao Yunxiang might have hesitated because Erhu had a bad reputation, and marrying a wife cost money. But now she heard that the Magistrate held her brother in high esteem, to the point where he could sell foodstuffs directly to the Government Office. Who else in their village had such ability, and with the money earned, wouldn’t finding a wife be a hurdle easily overcome?

Zhao Yunxiang thought smugly, feeling more and more satisfied. Her brother had finally made something of himself. But when she thought about her own family situation, Zhao Yunxiang felt anxious. Their family had little land, and the food they grew was barely enough for their own consumption, not to mention the taxes they had to pay. Her husband labored outside and earned very little, exhausting himself daily. Zhao Yunxiang was extremely distressed about this. Now that her brother had become capable, it was only right for him to help her brother-in-law. She planned to have a good talk with Erhu later to see if he could find a job for her husband at the Government Office.

Zhao Yunxiang was plotting ambitiously, without considering whether Erhu had the influence or ability to do as she wished. Ever since she got married and left, the times she had seen Erhu had been few and far between, so much so that she still thought of Erhu as the obedient little brother who used to listen to her in their childhood. The Erhu of today had been through a lot and, although he still maintained his love and respect for his older sister, his priority was his own family, and he would not allow Zhao Yunxiang to pull his strings.