Chapter 525: Chapter 271 Insulting Each Other_1
Lady Zhou, Lian Xiuxiu, and Zhao Xiue all had clear and resonant voices, speaking with full breath and confidence. Even though Lian Manman and the others were busy at work, they couldn’t help but stop and turn their heads when they heard the commotion.
Lady Zhou was scolding Zhao Xiue for her insolence towards her elder daughter, Lian Xiuxiu.
Zhao Xiue’s skin was fairer than that of other women from the farmstead, so her blush was particularly noticeable.
Having no other choice, she returned to the Lian Family. Before she came, her parents and brother and sister-in-law took turns advising her to temper her mood, to endure any immediate displeasures and wait for happiness to come eventually. She listened and bore it for a few days.
Although she still found the Lian Family’s people unpleasant and was unaccustomed to the village life, the family seemed to feel guilty about how they had treated her, and so they didn’t dare to bother her. After enduring for a few days, she seized an opportunity and easily subdued Lady He, making their mother-in-law/daughter-in-law roles reverse; the Lian Family didn’t intervene and let everything happen.
This emboldened Zhao Xiue; moreover, endurance was both what she was least skilled at and what she loathed the most.
Just now, acting on her temperament, she had provoked Lian Xiuxiu, bringing Lady Zhou into the fray. A trace of regret fleetingly crossed Zhao Xiue’s heart, but this regret came swiftly and departed even swifter. It was replaced by a heart full of resentment and indignation.
Who was she, Zhao Xiue, after all? Even if all the Lian Family’s men and women were put together, she would not be intimidated. Besides, the Lian Family owed her; how dare they not give her face, posture before her, and talk to her about rules? Was she, Zhao Xiue, someone easy to bully?
Filled with resentment and spite, Zhao Xiue cast aside her family’s advice.
"Hey, so you’re lecturing me about rules?" Zhao Xiue straightened up, confronting Lady Zhou without a trace of weakness, "You talk about others—why don’t you look in the mirror at yourself? You’re the one with the rules, grand rules at that. Everything centers on your precious elder daughter, grandson’s wife, this and that, treating everyone else like dirt under your feet, to trample as you please, to treat however you like. Even rationing food during meals, afraid someone might eat one grain of rice too many? And the daughter-in-law carrying a child still has to work like an ox for you? You won’t even spare a bite to eat for her, who is bearing and raising children for your family!"
Speaking thus, Zhao Xiue let out a cold laugh.
"Zhao Xiue, how dare you speak to my mother like that?" Lian Xiuxiu, seeing Lady Zhou shaking with anger, immediately responded furiously, "Do you have no respect for your elders? Erlang, are you just going to stand there and watch your wife insult your own mother?"
"Xiue, stop it, come back to the room with me." Erlang’s face was ashen as he reached out to pull Zhao Xiue back to the West Wing Room.
"Why are you pulling at me?" Zhao Xiue’s anger rose at Erlang’s attempt to pull her away, and she violently shook off his hand, "Look at you—how could I have been so blind to marry you? It’s been only a few days since I entered your door, and I’ve suffered all the grievances I’ve never suffered in my entire life. You, with neither guts nor spine, watch others bully your wife and don’t even dare to let out a peep... All those things that are indecent, out there in the sunlight, I have nothing to hide, why should I be the one to hide away?"
Erlang, who had married a capable woman like Zhao Xiue, was absolutely terrified. His fear stemmed from love, and he was naturally reticent and tongue-tied, which was in stark contrast to Zhao Xiue’s sharp-tongued and fiery temper. Barely a couple of days into their marriage, Erlang was already firmly under Zhao Xiue’s control and was completely powerless around her.
Moreover, he felt guilty towards Zhao Xiue as her dowry had been stolen.
Fortunately for Zhao Xiue, irrespective of the situation, the Lian Family did not have a tradition of men beating women.
Zhao Xiue broke free of Erlang and turned back around, advancing two steps towards Lady Zhou.
Lian Xiuxiu stood in front of Lady Zhou, extending a hand to push Zhao Xiue away as she approached.
"Go ahead, hit my stomach?" Zhao Xiue didn’t dodge, but instead thrust her belly towards Lian Xiuxiu, "This is your nephew’s son inside me, go ahead and kill him; then we’ll all be clean. I know you; you’re dark-hearted and cruel—unwilling to spare even a blood-related nephew, so what is this lump of flesh in my stomach to you? Hit me, quickly kill her, and if I retaliate, I will no longer bear the name Zhao!"
Lady Zhang’s hand trembled, and she set down the chicken she was holding. To her, it had seemed like just a small spat, and if both parties walked away, that would be the end of it. But now, it had escalated into this situation. Although she felt conflicted, it was all happening right before her eyes, and she didn’t think it was right to simply stand by, so she thought about intervening. But after hearing Zhao Xiue’s tirade, she was torn between soothing and not soothing the situation.
