A Good Country Wife
Chapter 209_1

Chapter 209: Chapter 209_1

If it were just a minor tiff, Lin Yue, even after knowing it was Erhu who made the soup, would usually pretend to be unaware and drink it, perhaps even appreciating the thoughtfulness of Erhu. However, this time she was genuinely angry, no bowl of soup could appease her irritation, so she only took a sip before putting the soup down.

"Sister-in-law, I’d like to rest now. Please leave the soup here; I’ll drink it later." If not for the reluctance to hear Mrs. Liu’s tedious lectures, Lin Yue might have asked her to take the soup away immediately. Even so, she had no intention of drinking any more of it.

"Alright, you rest well, I’ll go out for now." Seeing Lin Yue’s reaction, Mrs. Liu was certain she had tasted that the soup was made by Erhu. Thus, she did not urge Lin Yue any further but went to the kitchen with the uneaten lunch and told Erhu about Lin Yue’s response.

After Erhu had made the soup and Mrs. Liu took it to Lin Yue, he had been waiting in the kitchen. Seeing Mrs. Liu return so quickly and with the lunch brought back untouched, Erhu was heartbroken. Yet, seeing that the soup he had made was not taken out, Erhu felt somewhat relieved. Observing Erhu’s expression, Mrs. Liu seemed to understand his thoughts.

"Erhu, I don’t think your wife drank more than a sip of the soup, saying she wanted to rest and would drink it later. But I reckon she doesn’t plan to drink it at all. She probably didn’t insist on taking it out just because she didn’t want to hurt my feelings. Did she perhaps taste something off in the soup?" Mrs. Liu deliberately added that comment while looking at Erhu’s increasingly troubled face.

Strictly speaking, Erhu was Dahu’s own brother, but in Mrs. Liu’s heart, she sided with Lin Yue. Being a woman, her way of thinking and her concerns differed from her husband’s. She saw the practical side of things. Although Dahu claimed their family was living comfortably thanks to his brother’s help, Mrs. Liu believed the key was actually Lin Yue.

Over the years, the two brothers weren’t very close, and their interactions had lessened even more in recent years. It was only after Lin Yue became part of the family that the brothers’ bond began to heal. The fact that Erhu now asked his elder brother to help him with the work at home was likely influenced by Lin Yue.

Otherwise, with Erhu being so close to Wu Qiang—having grown up together and sharing a bond even tighter than that of real brothers—it might not have been Dahu who ended up helping. Their household might still be struggling as before. Let alone how well Lin Yue treated everyone in the family on a daily basis—if Dalang and his brothers had something, Afu and Alin would too, not to mention Qiuqiu, the only daughter.

If her own mother could not afford it, Lin Yue, their aunt, would buy it for her, even teaching her the craft of embroidery. Mrs. Liu had seen Lin Yue’s embroidery; the flowers and plants seemed so real that one could scarcely find such skill within a hundred miles. It was a treasured family skill, not lightly passed on, and yet Lin Yue taught it to Qiuqiu, her niece. Mrs. Liu did not expect Qiuqiu to reach Lin Yue’s level of expertise, but if the girl could learn even ten to twenty percent, she would never have to worry about her future.

In summary, Mrs. Liu had nothing but good things to say about Lin Yue. No matter the cause of their argument, Mrs. Liu believed Lin Yue couldn’t be at fault. She was such a good person, so understanding and kind to everyone. Surely, Erhu must have done something wrong to upset her. Besides, Erhu, a widower with four children, had married such a talented woman with both beauty and temperament of the highest caliber. What more could he possibly desire? Any other family would cherish someone like her. For a grown man, what’s wrong with pampering his own wife a little?

"Erhu, I’m not one to meddle, but your wife Lin Yue is truly irreplaceable. You’d be hard-pressed to find another woman like her in the entire village. Ask around and see if any other woman could take your wife’s place. You need to treat her well, and not get angry over trifles—ruining the relationship isn’t worth it. Besides, Lin Yue is still young. Women, you know, they like to hear kind words. Just say a few nice ones, and she’ll no longer be angry."

"Sister-in-law, nobody knows better than I do how good my wife is. But some things aren’t so simple, and I can’t lower my head in this matter." Zhao Erhu was clearly distressed and anxious; his wife was still feeling unwell. She had lost so much blood—this morning, he saw it, such a large patch, all bright red. Even a strong man would feel weak after bleeding that much, let alone Lin Yue with her petite frame. How much blood can she afford to lose? She has to eat.

"Why not? What are you going to do with Lin Yue feeling like this? She didn’t eat a bite of the lunch you sent, and I think she is refusing to accept the soup you made." Liu’s words were meant to make Zhao Erhu anxious, though in her heart she thought how men are all the same—proud and stubborn. It’s not easy to explain what’s right. What’s logical for a man and for a woman isn’t the same. It’s debatable who is right and who is wrong anyway.

"Sister-in-law, could you please try persuading her again?" Zhao Erhu looked hopefully at Liu. Right now, Lin Yue was angry with him, and he couldn’t say he would cut ties with the Zhao family’s parents or stop Dalang and Erhu from going to Xiaoxi Village. If she saw him, she might get even angrier. Anyone else’s persuasion would be more effective than his.

"Erhu, I really can’t help you with this. There’s a saying that the bell ringer must be the one to untie the bell. My going is useless; I’ve tried several times but Lin Yue never listens, so you figure it out. I have work to do."

Zhao Erhu watched Liu leave, then quickly went to Lin Yue’s room, pacing back and forth at the door like a caged animal, clueless. How could his wife be so stubborn? She couldn’t afford to be joking with her health. Concern eventually won over, and he braced himself, pushed the door open, and saw Lin Yue sitting silently in front of her embroidery frame, which only added to his irritation.

"Niuniu, can’t you give me some peace of mind? Instead of resting in bed, you’re here stitching away."

Lin Yue heard Zhao Erhu enter but refused to acknowledge him. She ignored him as if he didn’t exist, continuing her needlework and treating him like air.

Seeing Lin Yue like this, Zhao Erhu had no choice but to pick up the chicken soup from the table and bring it over. "Niuniu, I know you’re angry at me, but you have to keep things separate. Be mad if you must, but you can’t skip meals. I’ve stewed this chicken soup for a long time. The flavor is quite good. Have a little taste, drink some, and then you can go back to being angry."

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