strictlysupreme Chapter 75
Chapter 75
“I am firmly against splitting up the family. I, Wang Guixiang, am making this clear: anyone who wants us to split up the family has ulterior motives. If we split up, how could I bear to let my second son go out and suffer?” Wang Guixiang suddenly became aggrieved.
"They say a son is flesh of his mother's flesh, how could I bear to let my second son go out? If Cheng Jinxiang wants to come back, let him come back. If he doesn't come back, there's nothing I can do. But if he wants to separate from the family and then come back, that's absolutely out of the question."
Zhao Tingxu said a few words, but Wang Guixiang still refused to give in no matter what.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Zhao Tingming finally asked, "So, your family isn't showing any sincerity in asking your daughter-in-law to come back from her parents' home. What if, in the end, she doesn't come back at all? Wouldn't that mean you've lost everything?"
Wang Guixiang replied, "We weren't wrong to begin with. It was Cheng Jinxiang's family who bullied us. Not only did they give birth to a girl, but Zhao Da'e bought rice, flour, meat, and even coal, didn't he? That house is warmer than mine. I've never burned coal in my entire life, but Cheng Jinxiang got to enjoy it first."
Even so, Cheng Jinxiang wasn't satisfied. She sent a message to her family, urging them to come and cause trouble at our house. She made our Zhao family lose all face. I, as her mother-in-law, didn't even act like one; I had to humbly beg her to come back—that was already giving her a lot of face. Of course, if she comes back, I won't leave her without a reward. The vegetable garden behind our house will be hers from now on; she can choose to eat or sell the vegetables she grows. We'll also give her our three hens, including the laying hen. And the cow, too.”
Zhao Tingming didn't actually know the specifics of Zhao Tingxu's family's assets. He thought that giving a cow was already a generous gesture, so he said, "Alright, let's do it this way. Seventh Brother, go find Zhou Yuren, Da'e's uncle. After all, Zhou Yuren was a matchmaker before, and Cheng Jinxiang's older sister is also involved. We can't let them break up, can we?"
First, persuade Zhou Yuren to come along to the riverbank and bring the goose's mother home. You'll have to give her the cow then.
Wang Guixiang nodded: "Don't worry."
Zhao Tingxu frowned, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't. He really wanted to say that the cow was originally bought with Cheng Jinxiang's dowry money...
"Then let's send Tiesheng's older brother Tiebao, his uncle Zhou Yuren, Tiesheng, and Lao Liu's second son Tiezhu's wife Xiaosun. Xiaosun is a smooth talker, she'll definitely be able to make it happen."
Zhao Tingming was really worried sick. After arranging this, he instructed Zhao Tiesheng: "Tiesheng, go to Zhou Yuren's house and bring the goose back first. The most important thing here is whether the goose goes or not. If she goes, her mother will definitely come back. What mother would be willing to abandon a six-year-old child?"
"Your family is something else! This goose hasn't been home for over ten days, and you don't even care. It's been staying at her aunt's house all day long, is that appropriate?"
Zhao Tiesheng stammered, "I told Da'e I was going home, but she said: 'I, Zhao Da'e, am now waited on hand and foot. My cousin treats me like the Queen Mother of the West, feeding me mutton dumplings three times a day. I'm not crazy enough to go back and suffer...'"
Zhao Tingming laughed: "What kind of family is this? Three meals a day of mutton dumplings. Da'e is indeed a bit greedy. This girl doesn't like anything else, but she loves to eat snacks. Every time she comes to my house, I bring her some snacks. Da'e is a good kid all over: she's sweet-talking, soft-hearted, and strong."