A Good Country Wife
Chapter 224 - 223 Too Kind_1

Chapter 224: Chapter 223 Too Kind_1

He still needed to ask his young wife later. If he really had done something wrong, even though his wife wasn’t holding a grudge now, he should apologize to her again. He didn’t want it to become a knot in her heart, which might explode whenever it was touched. He could no longer bear his wife getting angry, it was not so bad when she took it out on him, but she always ended up tormenting herself, leaving him feeling quite distressed without being able to voice it.

Seeing Zhao Erhu like this, Lin Yue knew that this matter had weighed heavily on his heart. Looking at his hesitation just now, she realized he had been afraid to speak because he didn’t want to upset her. However, it was good that he was considering her feelings, and with time, it would become a habit for him to have such a conditioned reflex.

After lunch, Zhao Fuquan was ready to take Dalang and Erlang back to Xiaoxi Village. Lin Yue prepared food, clothing, books, ink, paper, and inkstone for the two children, as well as gifts for the elders of the Zhao Family. Zhao Erhu had loaded everything onto the ox cart Zhao Fuquan had arrived in, taking up most of the space on the cart. He also remembered to put a large bundle of seedlings he had picked from the fields on it.

Zhao Fuquan saw Zhao Erhu continuously loading up the ox cart and asked, "Erhu, Yueyue sister, what are you doing with all these items?"

"These are for Erhu to show respect to the elders, and these are for Dalang and Erlang’s expenses while they are there. The elders are taking Dalang and Erlang in, which is a kind gesture, and we shouldn’t expect them to stretch their finances for their grandsons at their age. It’s not right to have that said about them either," Lin Yue replied.

Lin Yue had again acted before Zhao Erhu, causing him to secretly feel guilty once more. If it had been up to Zhao Erhu, he would have loved to bring some food to the elders, but considering his young wife’s feelings, he feared it would upset her just like the last time. He had decided against it and instead had secretly prepared two taels of silver, intending for his brother-in-law to bring it to the elders so they could buy some good food and necessities with it.

However, now that his wife had prepared so many items for the elders, it was far more than the mere two taels of silver. Even Zhao Erhu thought his wife was being overly generous. He didn’t say this in front of his brother-in-law but quietly pocketed the two taels of silver, no longer planning to give them away. He wasn’t one to squander the family’s resources. Doing what was expected for social etiquette was enough; he had to consider his wife’s interests too.

"No, no need, how much can the two kids actually need living with us? I can afford this little expense as their uncle. Take these things back. We cannot accept them," Zhao Fuquan insisted. His nature wouldn’t allow him to accept such things, and taking this many gifts back home would mean his parents would criticize him. He couldn’t accept them at all.

Zhao Erhu tried to persuade him a few times, but when Zhao Fuquan still refused to accept, he turned to his wife, letting her decide.

The reason Lin Yue did this was because she felt Zhao Erhu felt a sliver of guilt towards the Lin Family. Otherwise, with how much Zhao Erhu doted on her, he wouldn’t bear to argue with her if it weren’t for that guilty conscience at the back of his mind.

She didn’t want Zhao Erhu to harbor such thoughts any longer, so she preferred to spend a little more and use material compensation to repay the kindness of Zhao Family’s side. In doing so, she earned Zhao Erhu’s trust and gratitude, while also completing a social obligation to the Zhao Family. Zhao Erhu would then no longer feel guilty towards them, achieving three gains from one action.

Therefore, how could Lin Yue allow Zhao Fuquan to return the items? She intended to give generously and frequently in the future, so Zhao Erhu would eventually think she was giving too much—especially seeing Zhao Fuquan’s character and the descriptions given by Dalang and Erlang about their family. Even if their aunts had some clout, they didn’t seem like insatiable people. Having stayed with them for a while, Dalang and Erlang faced some cold attitudes but weren’t mistreated.

Lin Yue’s skillful persuasive abilities allowed her to turn black into white with ease—if she wanted to. Now, she was using her talents to ensure Zhao Fuquan accepted what they offered.

Eventually, Zhao Fuquan was silenced by Lin Yue’s persuasiveness, thinking that Zhao Erhu’s new bride was too honest, to the point of seeming foolishly naive. It was unusual for someone to be so generous to her husband’s former wife’s family. Besides, her family didn’t have any direct relation to her, yet she was so open-hearted. She didn’t hold back on sharing the sweet potato method either, explaining the planting techniques in meticulous detail.

If anyone suggested Lin Yue was being sweet on the surface but bitter inside and skilled at play-acting, Zhao Fuquan would have never believed it. Some things, even if they appeared one way on the surface, couldn’t disguise the fact that the items on the ox cart were real and substantial, things that cost real silver to buy. No one would use them as part of a scheme—it’s pointless. It just proved to him that Zhao Erhu’s new wife was indeed a good person.

But, as good as she may be, she was just a little too kind-hearted! If she encountered even a bit of wickedness, she might be sold out without realizing it. Lucky for her, he was not that sort of person. Since she showed such sincerity, he couldn’t just stand by. He needed to find an opportunity to have a proper talk with Erhu, advising him to keep a close eye on his wife. She was so innocent and hadn’t seen much of the world’s ugliness, completely unguarded against other’s malicious intentions. If someone took advantage of her, it would be too late for regrets.

"Dad, uncle, we don’t want to go to gran and granpa’s house today. Can we go another day?" After much indecision and right before climbing onto the ox cart, Dalang and Erlang finally voiced their thoughts.

Zhao Fuquan and Zhao Erhu both looked at Dalang and Erlang in surprise, and Lin Yue was also puzzled. Why hadn’t Dalang and Erlang spoken up earlier? Now that they were about to leave, why had they suddenly changed their minds and said they didn’t want to go?

"Dalang, Erlang, didn’t you agree to stay with uncle in Xiaoxi Village for a while, to spend time with gran and granpa? What’s wrong now, did something happen?" Lin Yue didn’t want Zhao Erhu and Zhao Fuquan to think that Dalang and Erlang’s change of heart was instigated by her. Being a stepmother was never easy, especially since Dalang and Erlang were sensible children. They must have their reasons for not wanting to go to Xiaoxi Village; she just needed to ask.

Zhao Erhu certainly didn’t think what Lin Yue did—his wife was straightforward and dignified in her dealings, above resorting to such tactics. If he didn’t want Dalang and Erlang to go, she would have outright told him, not doing these behind-the-scenes maneuvers.

Zhao Fuquan, a simple and honest man, didn’t even consider that possibility. Moreover, at that moment, he truly believed Lin Yue to be a woman too kind-hearted for her own good. How could he suspect her of such devious thoughts, considering children often change their minds impulsively? But their grandmother was still waiting at home, and if her grandsons didn’t return with them, she would likely be disappointed.

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