Chapter 72: 72 Feng Shui changes in turn
“No wonder there was such a fuss at your house today,” she remarked. “Just now when Mrs. Li left, she was shaking so violently that she seemed to stagger thrice with each step. People asked her about it, but she just hesitated, looking like she had been greatly wronged. Behind the scenes, everyone was saying how your mother-in-law is too harsh, deliberately making life difficult for Mrs. Li and her daughter. Who would have thought there was such a drama behind it all!
But Mrs. Li really doesn’t know any better, does she? Times are tough for every family, who has the spare silver to spend on quilts? At least she still has clothes to wear when she goes out. The children in Wang Laizi’s family from the next village have to share one outfit between them, even in the dead of winter. His teenage daughter still has to sleep naked with her brothers under the same blanket,” she said.
Mrs. Zhao really didn’t know, and when she heard that Mrs. Li dared to tarnish Mrs. He’s reputation, she was so taken aback that she immediately wanted to rush home to report it. Perhaps she could even gain some favor in her mother-in-law’s eyes.
Especially if it meant getting her hands on a few taels of silver from the family funds.
At the same time, Mrs. Zhang went to the Wang Family’s sister-in-law, who loved playing matchmaker and had a way with words. There was hardly a time during the farming off-season when she didn’t have visitors.
Discussing marriage arrangements is almost always a matter for the mothers while they are still alive, and few would involve an in-law like Mrs. Zhang. When she made an appearance, it was inevitable that people would ask her a few questions.
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Mrs. Zhang didn’t beat around the bush and told the whole truth about the goings-on at home. Once people heard that Mrs. Li’s desire for a quilt had angered Mrs. He to the point of collapsing on the kang, no one thought she was right!
Mrs. Zhang knew that Mrs. He had sent her to discuss marriage proposals only as a secondary motive. Her main purpose was to expose Mrs. Li’s intention of using the incident to ruin Mrs. He’s reputation.
So, Mrs. Zhang wasn’t in a hurry despite the gossip. She waited for everyone to finish speaking before asking Wang Family’s sister-in-law to arrange Gaosheng’s marriage proposal.
When Mrs. Zhao returned home and relayed everything she had heard outside to Mrs. He, she was met with nothing but an eye-roll from her.
After decades of strife, didn’t Mrs. He understand Mrs. Li’s character?
Otherwise, why would she bother faking illness?
Even the actions of Mrs. Zhao and Mrs. Zhang after leaving the house couldn’t escape Mrs. He’s speculation.
Despite not leaving the house herself, Mrs. He was certain that, thanks to Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Zhao’s trips outside, there was definitely no one in the village who would dare say she was the one being wronged. After all, it was true that every household was having a rough time, and Mrs. Li’s stupidity had indeed made her so angry that she’d ended up lying on the kang.
Mrs. He was also pleased with the admiration she received from Ye Jiu.
No sooner had Mrs. Zhao left than Ye Jiu looked at Mrs. He with a beaming smile, “Mother, you really are clairvoyant, knowing exactly how Mrs. Li would behave after she went out.”
Mrs. He had already explained the situation to Ye Jiu while they were alone, including her predictions of how Mrs. Li would act after leaving the house, and everything was spot-on.
The admiration in Ye Jiu’s eyes made Mrs. He incredibly proud. “Of course, didn’t she see that back in the day, Mrs. Li, even with a good hand, was outplayed by me? Not to mention now when she’s faded and without any backing!”
Ye Jiu, holding Mrs. He’s hand, didn’t respond; however, this made Mrs. He feel a bit uneasy. “I’ve been busy all my life, but now it feels somewhat strange to lie down on the kang.”
“It’s good for you to put your mind at ease and rest up, mother,” Ye Jiu consoled her.
“Your father is heartless too,” complained Mrs. He. “After losing the argument to me, he just ran off, and now he’s nowhere to be seen.”
Mrs. He wasn’t worried that Old Man Ye had gone to help Mrs. Li with her chores. Perhaps in the past, he might have been swayed by Mrs. Li’s pitiful act, but now, it simply wasn’t possible.
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After all, when Mrs. He herself had been at her lowest, his mother and Mrs. Li had made sure he kept out of it. Now that the tables had turned, if he dared to assist Mrs. Li, Mrs. He could make sure that no one in the Ye Family would have a day of peace.