Chapter 49.1

Translated by Aviana

As soon as He-shi left, Lin Qingwan went over and closed the door.

Yang Tiezhu, who had been harboring doubts all along, finally asked her what was going on.

Lin Qingwan first untied his clothes to check if his wound was bleeding before slowly narrating Yang-shi’s and her thoughts and plans.

Perhaps Yang Tiezhu was unable to accept it momentarily, as he silently remained seated on the kang, without any utterances, as if he was deeply contemplating about something.

Seeing such Yang Tiezhu and his not-so-good expression, Lin Qingwan couldn’t stop dread welling up in her heart.

Grasping his hand, she explained weakly, “Husband, don’t be mad at me, alright? Fearing that you might think ill of me, I didn’t inform you about it in advance.” As she spoke, the rim of her eyes turned red.

Yang Tiezhu had never treated her in such a manner. He would usually hold her in the cusp of his hands, fearing that she might fall, cherish her in his mouth, fearing that he might melt her. This was nevertheless the first time he had shown such a face in front of her.

Yang Tiezhu was actually deeply immersed in his thoughts and hadn’t noticed Lin Qingwan’s thoughts. But after seeing her reddened eyes, he quickly grasped her hand while softly coaxing her: “Wife, I wasn’t mad at you. I was just mulling over an issue.”

Unfortunately, his words came too later, as tears were already trickling out of her eyes.

After being pampered and spoiled by her husband every single day, she had become crystal-hearted. How others view her or how they think of her, she doesn’t care about them. But she couldn’t bear her husband not favoring her in his heart.

When she glimpsed at his face looking bad, she couldn’t help but feel stuffy in her heart, wishing to cry, a complete contrast of her staunch and strong self in the former life.

Yang Tiezhu again coaxed and amused her for half a day before her tears showed signs of stopping.

Still not feeling at ease, with her reddened eyes filled to brim with the tears and mouth puckered, she explained her thoughts to him once again in a low voice.

Listening to her reasonable words and glancing at her pitiful, lovable, and timid appearance, Yang Tiezhu, this tall and robust man, was distressed to the max, wishing to hammer himself to death.

What was there to think?! How can you not notice your wife’s feelings?! Even made her cry! He couldn’t but feel distressed in his heart!

The two lingered on the knag for half a day before Lin Qingwan returned to normal.

Actually, Lin Qingwan also found herself somewhat unbearable. She felt all wronged by herself when it was a mere trivial matter, even bawling her eyes out. Lin Qingwan couldn’t stand herself a bit now. Originally it was just a simple explanation, but she took half a day to convey it properly.

She had become an utterly spoiled woman.

But watching nervousness and distress all over Yang Tiezhu’s face as he coaxed her, she felt quite happy and cheerful.

Sigh! One can only say that women’s thoughts are quite complicated….

Yang Tiezhu pulled his wife into his arms. Lin Qingwan had no inkling when she had laid on kang as the two of them warmly cuddled in each other’s embrace under the quilts.

“Wife, I understand what your and eldest gu meant. You want to use this situation to test family, right? If they are heartless towards us, we will take advantage of this opportunity to separate from the family.” Yang Tiezhu was not a fool. After hearing his wife’s inarticulate explanation, he was able to decipher the intention of the two.

姑 (gū): father’s oldest sister /Paternal aunt

Lin Qingwan nestled in her husband’s embrace and nodded obediently.

“Then what if they are not heartless?”

Truly speaking, regardless of how Yang jia treated him, all the hopes in Yang Tiezhu’s heart toward them were already extinguished. Nevertheless, at the moment, he was feeling extremely complicated in his heart, dreading the callousness of his family, yet also hoping that his family might show warmth towards him. But at the same time, there was also an incessant voice from within his heart, warning him to not get carried away by his wishful thinking…..

Lin Qingwan silently snuggled her face by her husband’s chest. She didn’t wish to dishearten her husband by any frank remarks.

It was unlikely of them to not be heartless!

She had completely understood the psychology of this family. If you don’t believe it, wait and see, their tricks will be unveiled one after the other!

Seeing his wife not replying, Yang Tiezhu took a deep breath in.

“Alright, let the facts prove—”

And the facts indeed proved her correct—

That same evening, He-shi commanded Lin Qingwan to cook the family’s meals. Further adding that she had been sitting idle the past few days at home. And all of her daily house chores were shared by Wang-shi and Yao-shi. Since she was also the daughter-in-law of the Yang jia, she was also not an exception.

He-shi gave an ultimatum that henceforth, Lin Qingwan would have to do all the work at home as of now. When she would be pleased, the three daughters-in-law could start working on a rotational basis.

Lin Qingwan was apathetic to this, but Yang Tiezhi was nevertheless was furious.

Cooking is just preparing a meal; he had nothing to say about it. But what does this would be continued till his mother would be pleased? Doesn’t it mean that as long as He-shi isn’t feeling pleasant, his wife would have to work like an ox and horse every day?

做牛做 马 (zuò níu zuò mǎ ): lit. to work like an ox, to work like a horse; fig. to work extremely hard

Lin Qingwan soothed Yang Tiezhu for a while before honestly going to the kitchen to work like an ox and a horse.

It’s not like she hadn’t cooked meals before and wasn’t of much of an issue. She was aware that He-shi was pent up with anger in her heart, so let her vent it a bit on herself first.

When her anger is extinguished, her brain will truly start to think of the issues that she should consider.

In modern terms, this was simply an appetizer. For the sake of a comfy and pleasurable future, she can endure it!

Yao-shi originally wanted to lend her a hand, but He-shi furiously reprimanded and asked her to go back. She then continued to deride Lin Qingwan yet again to stop pretending to be delicate and innocent, for she wouldn’t tolerate her any longer in the future if she continued to act as such.

Lin Qingwan closed her eyes, silently took a deep breath without a word, and resumed cooking.

After everyone had the meals, Lin Qingwan collected all the cutleries to the well to wash them.

She usually used hot water to wash them. Thus, this time too, like always, she boiled water in advance.

When He-shi chanced upon her washing the utensils with hot water, she reprimanded her again and stopped her from using hot water, prohibiting her from using the same in the future as well, as there wasn’t much firewood at home, and they needed to use this till next spring.

Lin Qingwan was well aware that there was a room full of firewood in the house. Post-autumn harvest, her husband and Yang Tiegen trekked into the mountains to chop them in preparation for the upcoming winter.

He-shi’s chiding her for wasting firewood was nothing but one of the means to sort her up

It’s okay! She can endure!

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