A Good Country Wife
Chapter 542 - 536_1

Chapter 542: Chapter 536_1

However, speaking of Zhang Qiusheng, he had led ****** back home, and as soon as he entered the door, he slapped ****** twice, then locked the person in a room and forbade anyone to see them.

Zhang Qiusheng’s mother and father had no idea what had happened, unsure why as soon as their son returned, he had hit their precious granddaughter, especially Chen Family, Xiao Yu’s own mother. Seeing the two handprints on her daughter’s face, her eyes reddened with pain.

"Child’s father, what are you doing? If Xiao Yu did something wrong, you should teach her properly. Why must you be so ruthless? After all, she’s a girl who will have to marry someday. If you damage her reputation, what will become of her future?"

"This reprobate girl, it’s because you all spoil and indulge her that she has become this willful, daring to do anything, even bold enough to scheme against the master of the house. If it weren’t for my face still carrying some weight with the madam, our family would not be facing such a dire situation. I regret ever having such a daughter. Marry off? After doing such a shameless act, who would dare take her!" Zhang Qiusheng was filled with anger that finally burst forth when he got home, growing angrier the more he spoke, his gaze turning somewhat distasteful toward his wife who knew only how to dote on their daughter.

"What exactly happened, child? Is it really that serious? What did Xiao Yu do?" The old Zhang couple were shocked by their son’s words, their attitude immediately shifting. After all, Zhang Qiusheng was their own son, and although they were fond of their granddaughter, she ranked below their son. They hurriedly asked for clarification.

"Sigh." Zhang Qiusheng originally didn’t want to talk more about the matter, but he didn’t want his parents and wife to continue indulging their daughter unchecked either. Discipline was needed to prevent future trouble. Besides, the matter of Fangcao entering the house also needed to be clarified with the family. He sighed deeply before sharing what had happened.

As the old Zhang couple listened, they were dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe that their granddaughter would do such a thing. In an era where women were conservative and lacking status, if any woman did something to violate societal norms, not only she but her entire family would be scorned and criticized by those around them. And what Xiao Yu did today, the whole village probably knew by now, not just an ordinary breach of norms, but colluding with another man, trying to scheme against her own father, and getting her own father involved in the mess. Such outrageous incidents were unheard of in their simple mountain village.

"I’m too ashamed to even mention it. Tell me, what kind of mess is this? My face has been completely lost by her. How can I ever face anyone again?"

Seeing their son so distressed, the old Zhang couple also felt a world of pain. They cared deeply for their own son, to the point of overlooking their granddaughter’s pain now. They fiercely scolded Xiao Yu a few times before comforting their son, "Child, don’t say that. What’s done is done, and life must go on. Besides, you are highly regarded by the madam, and no one will dwell on this matter forever. Rather, we should prepare to welcome Fangcao into the household soon, to give the madam an explanation, considering that Fangcao is from the Zhao Family."

The one thing that consoled the old couple was exactly this: their son was a sincere and devoted man. His wife had only given them a granddaughter who could not carry on the family line, and her childbirth had damaged her health, making it impossible for her to have more children. They had long hoped their son would remarry and produce a male heir for the Zhang family. Given their good circumstances, with a sufficient dowry, there would be many women from good families willing to marry in. But their son was stubborn and refused. They’d had countless arguments over it.

Eventually, they gave up hope. And then, burdened by their granddaughter’s affair, they lost everything and had to seek refuge with the Zhao Family, so they harbored even less hope. Unexpectedly, they now received this surprise. Although their reputation was tarnished, they accepted it. What was reputation compared to the importance of continuing the family line? In fact, considering the situation, they were even happy about the surprise. They had seen Fangcao before and could tell she was a fertile woman. Once she joined the family, she would certainly give them a hefty grandson next year, curing the old couple’s deepest worries. But still, this troublemaking granddaughter needed strict discipline from now on.

"Father and mother are right; Fangcao is already my woman and shouldn’t be kept waiting. We’ll need to trouble you to choose an auspicious day for the wedding and bring her into our home soon," Zhang Qiusheng mentioned the plan quite solemnly. Regardless of Fangcao’s reasons for going to the carpentry workshop, she was a maiden who had been with a man of his age.

"As for the dowry and such, how should we provide it? According to what customs? Child, you must inform us clearly so we can proceed properly," the old Zhang couple wished to be generous since this woman would bear their grandson, but they also needed to consider their son’s attitude.

"Let’s follow the formalities for marrying a primary wife. After all, it was Xiao Yu who erred first. We have wronged the girl. No matter what, she is still a maiden of marriageable age who has married my son. We must not shortchange her."

"Alright, as you say." With Zhang Qiusheng making the decision, the old Zhang couple had no objections. They had always let their son have his way over the years, content as long as he was happy.

The only one unhappy about this was Zhang Qiusheng’s first wife, from the Chen Family. Watching her husband and in-laws discussing bringing another woman into their home, and even insisting on not shortchanging that woman, Chen felt her heart turning into ice. She had no idea what to feel.

She had finally gotten over her illness and settled into a stable life, prepared to enjoy peaceful days. Who could have predicted such a disaster? And she was powerless to say or do anything, even to object. After all, it wasn’t her husband who wanted to marry again. It was her own daughter who had caused the trouble. Could she disagree? And whom could she blame? She couldn’t bear to blame her own flesh and blood. Yet her husband and in-laws had never once asked for her opinion from the beginning to end, probably blaming her for not raising her daughter properly. She had no choice but to swallow all the bitterness alone.

Chen walked out of the hall as if she had lost her soul and returned to her room, unable to keep her tears at bay. How hadn’t she suffered over the years? With only a daughter who couldn’t carry on the family line, her in-laws had long been dissatisfied. If it hadn’t been for her husband’s stubbornness about not taking a concubine, things wouldn’t be this way now. Still, she wasn’t prepared for this to happen at all. Who would have thought her own daughter would be the catalyst? If not for this event, she never would have imagined it—such an injustice! With this thought, Chen couldn’t help but feel a trace of resentment toward her own daughter Xiao Yu.