A Good Country Wife
Chapter 179: Winning Hearts is Foremost_1

Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Winning Hearts is Foremost_1

Zhao Erhu drove the ox cart, stopping it in front of the meat shop, because now he was scheduled to deliver food supplies to the Government Office every other day. Having made arrangements with the butcher, the meat that Erhu required was already set aside, waiting for him to simply load it onto the cart. Since Zhao Yunxiang and her husband were at home today, Zhao Erhu also weighed some additional meat for them. There was no need for vegetables, as they grew their own, better than what was sold at the market, and they also had sprouted beans at home.

"Brother Erhu, wait a sec, I need to buy some stuff." As the ox cart reached the middle of the street, Lin Yue called a halt, disregarding the dagger-like glares from Zhao Yunxiang, and bought several kinds of candy from the candy store to take back for the little ones to eat, as well as two exquisite hair flowers for her eldest brother’s daughter Qiuqiu, who, as a little girl, loved such things.

Lin Yue spent money so carelessly with not an ounce of restraint; however, Zhao Erhu didn’t look the slightest bit displeased. In his eyes, the money his little wife carried was all earned by herself, and it was entirely up to her how she wanted to spend it—he never interfered. Even if the money wasn’t earned by his wife, he thought he should earn it for her to spend. He was willing to indulge her as long as she didn’t leave him. Even if his wife truly bankrupted the family, he would still be willing, for he had been poor before and if their home was thriving now, it was because of his wife. So, he couldn’t comprehend Zhao Yunxiang’s blood-vomiting frustration at all.

Zhao Erhu watched with sheer joy as Lin Yue came back carrying a bunch of candies. Unaware that Lin Yue had bought them for the children, he thought to himself that his little wife was still young at heart, with a liking for sweets. He decided to remember to bring some candies back for her every time he went into town.

"Is this enough, or is there anything else you want to buy? You didn’t eat much at the banquet just now, so how about I buy you some pastries to eat on the road? I’ve managed to fatten you up a bit these days; you’ve gained a few pounds, and we can’t have you getting skinny again." Zhao Erhu spoke with exaggerated concern, and had Lin Genfa not been holding her back, Yunxiang would hardly have been able to restrain herself from exploding.

Lin Yue didn’t really feel like eating, but seeing the threatening look from Zhao Yunxiang that seemed to dare her to accept, ’You try and see?’, Lin Yue was amused internally, a sly glint flashing in her eyes. She was determined to make Zhao Erhu buy the pastries just to annoy this absurd woman, not to mention she wanted to explore how the pastries were made and see how different they were from modern-day ones. Immediately, she said, "Okay, since I was upset during the banquet I couldn’t eat much, and now that you mention it, I’m feeling quite hungry. So, Brother Erhu, buy them for me. Actually, buy extra so we can keep them for later. I’ve been getting hungry at night lately, it’ll be good to have them as a snack."

Hearing this, Zhao Erhu felt guilty. If it weren’t for his elder sister, his little wife wouldn’t have been upset and left hungry. He immediately decided to buy pastries for Lin Yue, but Zhao Yunxiang, unable to hold back, stopped him.

Zhao Yunxiang saw that Lin Yue, the vixen, was doing it on purpose. What did she mean by not being able to eat because she was upset? Was she targeting her? And she wanted to eat pastries? As if she deserved such luxurious treats.

"Erhu, you know it’s not easy to make money. Who spends it like that? Your wife already had something to eat; she couldn’t possibly be hungry so quickly. It’s just her cravings. Besides, what if she’s hungry? She doesn’t have to work in the fields, she’ll be fine. You can’t spoil her like this," voiced Zhao Yunxiang, trying to sound as persuasive and heartfelt as possible.

Zhao Erhu felt that his sister was deliberately targeting his little wife today and felt somewhat helpless. His wife was so good; why couldn’t his elder sister like her? "Sis, it’s just some pastries. Even if my wife is indeed craving them, I don’t see anything wrong with buying them for her to eat. She’s too skinny now, and I want to nourish her so she can eat more and be healthy," he said.

"What kind of talk is that? So what if she’s thin, she’s not a pig. What’s the point of fattening her up, to sell her for money? I forbid you to spend this money, Lin Family clearly isn’t a thrifty woman, full of cunning fox tricks. Look at how she’s ensnared you. I have to look out for you on behalf of our mother down below, to make sure you don’t stray from the right path."

"Sister, what nonsense are you spouting? I’m going to say it again; you must not slander my wife like that. I’m off to buy some pastries now; you guys wait for me."

Zhao Erhu’s face darkened again, and as he was about to get off the ox cart, Zhao Yunxiang grabbed him. "Erhu, why can’t you just listen? I’m doing this for your own good, otherwise, why would I bother meddling? It seems you don’t want me as your sister anymore, treating my words like they’re just a breeze past your ear."

Zhao Erhu looked at Zhao Yunxiang, then Lin Yue, feeling a headache coming on. One was his elder sister, and the other was his wife, truly a dilemma that put him between a rock and a hard place.

Lin Yue was well aware of Zhao Erhu’s predicament, but refused to be the one to say they shouldn’t go. Otherwise, wouldn’t she be giving Zhao Yunxiang the upper hand? She hadn’t even formally confronted her yet and was already losing ground. That was absolutely unacceptable, yet Zhao Erhu’s hesitancy also couldn’t continue.

There’s an old saying: ’The heart is the best target.’ Lin Yue said nothing, just kept looking at Zhao Erhu with eyes full of accusation and grievance. She looked so pitiful that Zhao Erhu couldn’t bear it. Ignoring Zhao Yunxiang’s objections, he hurried towards the pastry shop.

He felt somewhat guilty about inviting his elder sister and brother-in-law to stay at their home earlier because, after all, his sister had just embarrassed his young wife in front of everyone at the feast, and his wife was still angry. He feared his wife might be unwilling, but then he saw how she had considered the bigger picture and didn’t make a fuss. Only then had Zhao Erhu felt relieved. Otherwise, he really would not know what to do with his wife. Now, wanting to eat pastries was a small wish he felt he should satisfy. If not, he worried it might reignite her desire to run away, which would be a real headache for him. Zhao Erhu had to admit he was being a bit petty, still remembering the wild things his wife did before they got married.

Lin Yue, unaware of Zhao Erhu’s conflicting thoughts, was holding a large bag of pastries he had bought and was delighted. She had won this round against Zhao Yunxiang. The wisdom of the ancients indeed was great. Holding a piece of pastry, she savored it slowly and with pride. Lin Yue didn’t forget to offer a piece to everyone else. If Zhao Yunxiang didn’t want it, she didn’t insist. That woman clearly had no taste for good things—if she didn’t eat, then forget it.

The pastries were just mediocre in taste. As she ate, a sudden inspiration flashed through Lin Yue’s mind—she could make her own pastries. If they turned out well, she could sell them to bring in extra income for the household. But how exactly to make them, what flavors to choose, that still needed some thought.

Remembering that the household was nearly out of glutinous rice, Lin Yue had Zhao Erhu buy more than twenty pounds of glutinous rice and five pounds of sugar at the grain and oil store, once again irritating Zhao Yunxiang. This time, Zhao Yunxiang knew she couldn’t stop Zhao Erhu and sensibly didn’t argue further. But the look she gave Lin Yue was like she had coated it with poison.

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