Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The sky was already dark. Two large lanterns were hung at the entrance of the central room. Although Han Xiangâs miserable appearance could not be seen properly, her cries could be heard loud and clear.
âWhat happened, Ah-Xiang?â
Han Xiang didnât say anything. She just cried and cried. The more she cried, the sadder she became.
The men were silent, and the women took turns to comfort and ask.
After a long while, Han Xiang finally said with a choked voice, âZhou Anshanâs mother snatched all the silver.â
âTen taels of silver, not a single cent left for me.â
âHis sister-in-laws even ganged up to beat me.â
The Han family was instantly furious.
This time, they had followed Heng Yi to hunt tigers in the mountains. Each of them had paid ten taels of silver, and they had left two taels for their sons. After all, they were risking their lives, not picking them up by the roadside.
How could he not leave a single cent for his own wife?
They all looked at Father Han and Han Yuan, waiting for them to speak.
Father Han looked at Han Qiao first. âAh-Qiao, what do you think?â
Han Qiao didnât expect to be asked about this matter.
She didnât care about Han Xiang at all.
âLetâs see what Han Xiang wants to do. Should we talk reason to them? Or should she make the Zhou family not dare to provoke her again? Oh right, what did Zhou Anshan say?â
âHe wasnât at home.â Han Xiang sobbed.
Han Qiao finally understood. Han Xiang had no intention of giving the Zhou family the ten taels of silver. She wanted to keep them all to herself.
That was why her mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law had snatched the money away from her.
âThen what are your plans?â Han Qiao asked.
âI⦠I want the silver back.â
At the end of the day, she was still reluctant to part with the money.
Of course, no one would be willing to do so.
Ten taels of silver were not ten measly copper coins.
âThen Iâll have to trouble a few uncles and sisters-in-law to come forward.â
Han Qiaoâs plan was simple.
Tomorrow, a few uncles, aunts, and biological mothers would bring a dozen sisters-in-law to the Zhou family. When they arrived at the Zhou family, they would not say anything. They would first beat up Zhou Anshanâs mother, then First Sister-In-Law, and Second Sister-In-Law. They did not have to beat them up so badly that they would not be able to return the favor.
Then, they would pack Han Xiangâs clothes and bring her two children back home.
If you came to pick someone up, you would have to return ten taels of silver without missing a penny.
If they didnât want to live together, then she would have to leave.
âLeave?â Han Xiang was shocked.
She didnât want to be separated from her husband. Zhou Anshan treated her well.
He would not hit her.
âLeaving is just an excuse to scare the Zhou family. Iâm afraid that the Zhou family would rather ask for money than you and the two children.â
âThen we must get the money tomorrow and bring the children here.â
If it wasnât for Han Xiangâs sake, they would not have brought him into the mountains to hunt tigers. Who was Zhou Anshan to them if not Han Xiangâs husband?
After comforting Han Xiang, Han Yuan decided to bring her home to wash her and cook some food for her.
Before Han Xiang left, she tugged at Han Qiaoâs sleeve. âSister, can you go tomorrow too?â
Han Qiao didnât want to go, but she looked at her pitiful sister and the Han family.
âIf I do, will you stop blaming me in the future, no matter what?â
Han Xiang wasnât stupid. She knew that if she didnât scare the Zhou family this time, she wouldnât be able to hold her head up high in the Zhou family. She could forget about living a stable life.
âI will not blame youâ
âAlright then.â
Han Xiang didnât want to separate from her husband, that was one of the reasons.
Secondly, Han Qiaoâs life was getting better and better. If she appeared, the Zhou family would be afraid.
Han Yuan brought Han Xiang home, and the uncles and aunts also returned to their homes.
When told about the plan, Zhou Anshan had rushed over to the Han familyâs house with his two children. This showed that he still had some feelings for Han Xiang.
Of course, there could be other reasons.
The current Han family was different from the Han family of the past.
Zhou Anshan was very sincere.
First, he apologized. Then, he handed Han Xiang ten taels of silver. However, everybody noticed the palm print on his face.
Han Xiang took the silver and felt sorry for her son and husband.
Initially, she had agreed to give Zhou Anshan half of the money, but her mother-in-law had asked for all of it. Of course, she was unwilling.
Han Yuan asked her sister-in-law to cook something for them to eat first. Han Xiangâs children were so hungry that they cried. Zhou Anshan and Han Xiang hadnât eaten either.
In the central room, Zhou Anshan sat and stood uneasily. Although his father-in-law, mother-in-law, and three brothers-in-law didnât do anything to him, he couldnât help but feel restless.
They were usually very polite when he visited the Han family, but today, he just received a cold shoulder. The Han family didnât hit him or even say anything bad to him, but he was still afraid.
If his three brothers-in-law jumped up and hit him, he wouldnât be able to retaliate. He could only take the beating.
When Han Xiang came over to call him to eat, Zhou Anshan heaved a sigh of relief and quickly got up to join her at the table.
In the countryside, it was normal for mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to quarrel and fight, but it was not something that could be taken lightly when sisters-in-laws fought.
Moreover, they had stolen the silver from his wife.
The Han family was in the right this time.
Father Han asked Han Ming to leave and tell Han Qiao about Zhou Anshanâs arrival. Were they still going to the Zhou familyâs house tomorrow? Would they still make a move if they went to the Zhou family?
When Han Ming came over, Han Qiao was taking a shower.
Heng Yi and he sat in the central room.
âBrother-in-law.â
âYes!
Then, there was silence.
Han Ming wasnât a talkative person, and Heng Yi was even less of a talker.
When Han Qiao centered, Han Ming immediately stood up, âThird Sister.â
âWhy are you here? Did you bring the children back?â Han Qiao asked.
The children were still waiting in the kitchen to eat sweet potato balls, and their laughter floated into the central room.
They are still carefree. Even if they are a little worried, they still want to eat delicious food and want to wear beautiful clothes.
Han Ming shook his head. âNo, Zhou Anshan came.â
âHe brought over the two children and returned the silver to Ah-Xiang.â
âFather asked me to come over and ask you if youâre still going to the Zhou family tomorrow.â
Han Qiaoâs hand that was drying her hair paused.
âWhat do you think? Just like when I was beaten up by Sun Yiming for the first time, did Father and Mother also think about whether they should seek justice for me?â Han Qiao asked.
Han Ming was silent.
âActually, thereâs a significant difference in meaning about visiting their house. Father doesnât have to ask me. As a biological father and an elder, if his daughter is wronged in her in-lawsâ family, he should go and support her.â
âRemember, itâs to support, not to reason.â
âIf your own daughter has been wronged, what reason do you have?â
Han Qiao exhaled lightly before continuing.
âWhy are you asking for my opinion? Han Xiang and I are sisters. Thereâs not much I can do and I canât promise her anything.â
âIf she doesnât get up on her own, there will be a next time after this.â
Han Ming was embarrassed.
After sitting for a while, seeing that the children were unwilling to go back, he prepared to go home.
âAh-Ming.â Han Qiao called out to him.
âAh-Hui is about to give birth, right?â
Han Ming nodded. âItâll be in the next few days.â
âIf itâs still a daughter this time, what are you going to do?â
ââ¦â Han Ming stood still.
After a while, he said, âThird Sister⦠Iâm under a lot of pressure. Eldest Brother and Second Brother both have a few sons. I only have a few daughters-â
Han Qiao couldnât bear to hear this. âWhatâs wrong with having daughters? Isnât your daughter still of your own blood? I thought you would go to choose a good name for the children, but itâs been a few months, and you havenât done anything.â
âLet me ask you this. If Ah-Hui gives birth to another daughter, what are you going to do?â
âI might give her away.â
When Han Qiao heard this, she angrily raised her hand and hit him on the back a few times.
âDo you want a son so much? Why donât you give the older ones away? I think your brain has really turned into paste!â