Chapter 2, Oh my brother

At that moment, Wang Gui returned with the medicine. The old lady was busy making shoes and, upon seeing him carrying the medicine, immediately exclaimed with great joy, "Did they really give it?"

Before lunch, the old lady sold out all the shoes and brought home two sets of medicine for Wang Xian. She felt quite pleased with herself, as she managed to negotiate the price of the medicine, originally one hundred wen per set, down to one hundred seventy wen for two sets. In Fuyang County, there are probably only a handful of experts who can pluck feathers from the iron rooster that is Lu Yuanwai.

Thus, seeing that she still had not come out to eat, the family knew that Wang Gui's wife was once again eating alone. However, since she was spending her own dowry and not eating in front of them, no one could directly say anything to her.

First, I want to separate. I do not want a single thing from the Wang family; I just want to separate! The Hou family member did not dare to look at her mother-in-law, lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling, finally expressing the words she had been holding in for two years: Second, he must take a solemn oath that after we separate, he is not allowed to give any money to his family; otherwise, he will have no sons!

In the afternoon, Hou's elder brother and younger brother finally arrived, both dressed elegantly and exuding an air of superiority, accompanied by several laborers, creating a grand scene. Their family owns hundreds of acres of tea gardens and has members working in the county, which naturally gives them a psychological advantage over the Wang family, a household in decline.

"That is true, just based on you..." Wang Gui's wife scoffed disdainfully. Suddenly recalling that morning when she and her mother were worried about Wang Xian's medical expenses, she realized everything. It turned out that Wang Gui had stolen her dowry to buy medicine for Wang Xian

"So expensive?" I gasped, wiping my sweat and said, "This would take a month to eat; even selling myself wouldn't be enough..."

Until the mother-in-law and husband are left with nothing, they must provide for Wang Xian's life and books. Finally, Wang Gui's wife began to throw a tantrum; she firmly opposed spending money on a living dead person. A phrase she often repeated was, 'Even if he is saved, he will still be a disaster; it would be better to let him die cleanly!'

This woman is tall and strong; if she were to strike him, Wang Gui would truly be unable to withstand it, and he could only run around the yard, pleading as he ran: "Even if I borrowed it, it would still be fine. Once I make money later, I will repay you!"

Over time, Wang Xian became the embodiment of her resentment towards the Wang family. Whenever Wang Gui mentioned him, he would fly into a rage, let alone the fact that he had stolen her money to buy medicine for him! Wang Gui's wife was now furious, lunging at Wang Gui and exclaiming, "Wang Biti, do you know what I hate the most? I won't live with you any longer!"

"Oh no, someone has been killed..." Hou was in such pain that he was disoriented. When he touched his forehead again, his hand was covered in blood. He shouted desperately, 'Help! Help!'

Wang Gui did not dare to argue back with his mother and shrank his neck, remaining silent

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent. The hand of the old woman, tucked within her sleeves, was already clenched tightly, making a clicking sound, yet she still did not express anything.

As soon as she entered the door, she saw the bloodstains on the floor, and she immediately became furious, saying, "While I am not at home, you have turned the world upside down! Wang Gui's wife, come with me to the yamen to settle this!" From her years of experience, she was certain that Wang Gui's brute had been beaten by the Hou family and had bled...

Think of another way..." Wang Gui sighed and said, "Mother, I will go check on my younger brother." After saying this, he sat in the west wing for a while, then left with a heavy heart.

I said... sighing in disappointment, "A dog cannot change its nature."

Wang Gui felt guilty, shouting "I won't dare again, I won't dare anymore!" while hiding and dodging in the courtyard of the Tushutianjing. Hou Shi spent the whole day sitting still in the house, feeling quite ungrounded. After a good chase back and forth, she, feeling guilty and short of breath, stumbled and fell hard to the ground, hitting her head against a shovel, and immediately blood streamed down her face

A group of blind fools, this is clearly real gold! I am not the least bit embarrassed, putting that gold-plated bracelet on my wrist, and no longer bringing this up, "Then how did you catch the medicine?"

Hou knew she had entered, but relying on her illness, she did not rise. She had already sent someone to notify her family, saying that any matters should wait until her family arrived, to avoid being subjected to this old fool's tirade. Back then, she was unaware of her own limitations and even thought of challenging her mother-in-law, only to be directly scolded into unconsciousness. Now, thinking back on it still sends shivers down her spine

"Who are you accusing of theft?" If it were a general insult, Yinling would pretend not to hear it. However, upon hearing her sister-in-law call her elder brother a thief, she immediately became furious, slammed the bowl onto the table, rushed to the door, and confronted her sister-in-law.

In this situation with the Hou family, I have nothing to say. She may be fierce, but she is quite astute, knowing that in matters like this, she cannot get involved and can only observe the developments.

This touches upon her taboo! She married into the Wang family when they were prosperous, a match of equal social standing, and her dowry was quite substantial. However, after her father-in-law committed a crime, the Wang family quickly fell into decline, which has left her harboring resentment. Unfortunately, she has a formidable mother-in-law, preventing her from expressing her frustrations.

As soon as they entered the door, they covered their noses, as if standing in this dilapidated courtyard for even a moment would tarnish their own nobility

After the siblings finished their meal, Yinling tidied up the dishes while Wang Gui, with a troubled expression, returned to his room, not hearing his sister calling him.

Until they were parched from speaking, the two stopped to drink some water... They had brought their own purple clay teapot from home, filled with their own water, to brew their own tea... Then he asked his sister: "Everything that needed to be said has been said, and I believe he won't dare again in the future. Do you have anything else to say?"

How is it? Seeing his bear-like expression, the mother understood everything and awkwardly smiled, saying: "They weren't fooled?"

Helplessly, I drove all the idle people out and only allowed the Hou brothers to come in

Yin Ling, feeling frustrated, slapped her forehead and muttered, "Here we go again... If you have the guts, scold me when I'm at home." Although she was angry, being just a child, she had no way to intervene and could only listen.

"Don't talk nonsense," Wang Gui felt increasingly embarrassed in front of his younger sister, "How could that be possible?"

Uh, Hou's brother felt that this statement was rather inappropriate, so he hurriedly clarified: "What my sister means is that we can live apart but still remain a family. We can live separately and spend our own money. This way, since we can't live together, we can each go our own way, and everyone can be at peace." After a pause, he looked at Wang Gui's mother with a hint of guilt and said, "Right, Mrs. Wang?"

"It wasn't..." Wang Gui sighed and said, "It was when she was chasing me that she fell herself"

"What do you mean by stealing between a couple?" Seeing that his sister had also come out, Wang Gui's face turned bright red, and he awkwardly said, "Mother said that husband and wife are one; what is yours is also mine."

"Alright, you snotty-nosed brat, after a lifetime of being a snot, you've finally learned a skill!" The voice suddenly became much clearer, indicating that the battlefield between the two had shifted from indoors to the courtyard, "You've actually learned to steal!"

Hmm. Wang Gui nodded, handed the medicine package to the old lady, and then took out a bracelet from his bosom, offering it to her.

I haven't asked yet, how much does this medicine cost for a set

"Go ahead and speak." Her brother nodded.

Seeing what Mother brought out from the books, one must be extra cautious. Wang Gui muttered, "Let someone knowledgeable take a look; they'll say it's copper, just coated with a layer of gold dust"

Seeing that Wang Gui's wife had not come out yet, I divided the bowl of rice I had prepared for her among my children, saying, "Don't waste it." No one worried about whether Wang Gui's wife would go hungry, as she always managed to secretly buy delicious food and would hide in the house to enjoy it while Wang Gui was at work

After coming out of Wang Guifang's room, the old lady started a fire to cook, ate, washed the dishes, and then gave Wang Xian another massage. Seeing that the Hou family had not yet arrived, she scolded, "What a delay!"

"What?" I immediately relaxed and said, "The sun must be rising in the west; my son has actually become a man this time!"

She put down the medicine and glanced into the east wing, only to see that Mrs. Hou's head was wrapped like a spindle, lying on the bed and groaning. Fresh blood seeped through the gauze, and it indeed looked quite alarming

Hmph, so pretentious. I curse out loud, "The Lin family has caused our family such misery; if she dares to come to our door, I will break her legs"

Seeing his younger sister lying on the bed, appearing as if she were on the verge of death, both of them instantly became furious, scolding Wang Gui as if they were reprimanding a grandson. It was only because Wang Gui's mother was present that they refrained from using foul language. It was not out of respect for the elderly, but rather due to the reputation of the person and the shadow of the tree; once this tigress was provoked, it would be unclear who would be reprimanding whom.

During lunch, I noticed that Wang Gui's wife had not come out again, knowing that she must find the food unpalatable. The Wang family almost exclusively had brown rice soaked in vegetable soup three times a day, with perhaps a bit of pickled broad beans added, which indeed made it hard to swallow. Of course, one must have options to be picky. I, along with Wang Gui and Yin Ling, had no choice but to eat everything without leaving a morsel behind.

"One hundred wen..." Wang Gui said softly

And - Picture - Book "You ask him yourself, did he steal or not!" Wang Gui's wife, holding a broomstick, pointed at Wang Gui, who was hiding behind the water tank, and said with a fierce expression, "He took advantage of my sleep to steal my jewelry, and I caught him in the act!"

"Two matters: if you agree, I will continue with him; if you do not agree, we will part ways." Hou was suffocated under her mother-in-law's shadow. She spent her days hiding in the house, unable to face her mother-in-law's cold gaze! Hou felt that if this continued, she would go mad within six months. This time, she had finally found an opportunity to assert herself and was determined to change her circumstances!

"Mother..." Before her words could finish, Wang Gui lifted the curtain and came out of the room, whispering, "It wasn't me who was hurt, it was Cui Lian..."

The young lady from the Lin family was preparing medicine for her mother when she saw me being robbed by those people, so she stepped in to help me. Wang Gui replied honestly, "She said she would come to see her younger brother in a couple of days"

Thinking that her brother had quarreled with his wife again, Yinling did not take it to heart. After finishing the household chores, she took the bowl of medicine and went to feed Wang Xian his medicine. Just as the large bowl of medicinal soup was nearly finished, a sudden outburst of scolding from Wang Gui's wife erupted from the east wing.

"How dare you! That is my dowry!" Seeing Wang Gui's evasive arguments, Wang Gui's wife angrily rushed towards him: "That is the property of the Hou family, it has nothing to do with your Wang family!"

"Why did you steal my jewelry? Are you seeing someone outside?" Wang Gui's wife said angrily

After finishing her meal, she packed the more than ten pairs of cloth shoes she had secretly made over the past half month into a bundle and went to the market to sell them. ... Today happened to be market day; she was supposed to go in the morning, but was delayed by matters concerning Wang Xian.

... ...

But I remained silent as if I had changed my nature, allowing them to scold my son until he was utterly confused, my face darkened as I pondered in silence