chapter 3
At first, Sister-in-law didn’t pay much attention. She frowned and asked, as usual, “What kind of tragic background does this one have? The usual rule: if it’s true and she wants to go back home, I’ll give her ten taels.”
Who would have thought that upon hearing Sister-in-law’s words, the young woman immediately grabbed my brother’s hand, tears streaming down her face as she said, “Feng Lang, I won’t leave. Even if I can only be a maid sweeping and cleaning by your side, I don’t want to be apart from you for a moment.”
She was the first to dare to grab my brother’s hand in front of Sister-in-law. Mother whispered to me, “It’s over, it’s over, your brother’s hand is going to be scrubbed raw, and those ten taels of silver will turn into five.”
Both she and I knew that my brother only dared to talk big; if anyone actually got close to him, he’d jump away faster than a monkey.
But this time, my brother actually held that hand in return.
His voice trembled as he spoke, but he still looked straight at Sister-in-law and said:
“Wife, I have respected you for three years. No matter how people laughed at me outside during these three years, I always knew you were my good Wife. Please, show some kindness and allow Yaoniang to stay. She has given me everything. I am a man, I must protect her. I swear, if you allow it this once, there will never be anyone else in my life. I will spend my days with just the two of you.”
I didn’t understand what he meant by “she has given me everything,” but Mother suddenly stood up.
She stared at the young woman’s belly, both nervous and expectant, and asked, “You little rascal, you let someone get pregnant before informing your elders?”
She called him a rascal, but the joy on her face was impossible to hide. After speaking, she realized something was off and sneaked a glance at Sister-in-law’s expression.
Normally, Sister-in-law would have flown into a rage, pulled out the Rolling Pin tied to her trouser leg, and gone after my brother.
But this time, she didn’t move. Her eyes were blank, as if she hadn’t understood what my brother was saying. I went to hold her hand, and it was icy cold.
My brother was scared too, but he still continued, “Yes, she is carrying my child. So, Wife, whether you agree or not, I am determined to take Yaoniang in.”
This sentence finally got a reaction from Sister-in-law, but it was one no one expected.
She wasn’t angry. She even smiled and said, “Adding to the family is a good thing. Let’s call a doctor to take a look and pray for peace.”
Everyone in the hall was stunned by her reaction. Mother was the first to recover, exclaiming joyfully, “My daughter-in-law truly has a kind heart. The one called Yaoniang, hurry and come pay your respects to the Mistress.”