chapter 4

Sister-in-law did not ask her to pay respects, she just kept smiling and said, “No need to pay respects today. Even taking a concubine requires a ceremony; let’s wait until the day of the formal rites.”

She smiled all the way. The doctor came and said her pulse was steady, mother and child were safe-she smiled. Mother said she would give the courtyard closest to Brother and Sister-in-law to Yaoniang-she was still smiling.

In the end, even Brother panicked. He grabbed Sister-in-law’s hand and pressed it to his own face, “Wife, if you resent me, just let it out. Hit me, scold me, whatever you want, just don’t keep smiling like this. It breaks my heart.”

Yaoniang heard this and began to cry as well, “It’s me who has wronged Sister. Feng Lang, I should leave. I don’t want to make things difficult for you.”

She weakly held her belly and walked toward the door with lotus-like steps. She had barely taken two steps before Brother let go of Sister-in-law’s hand and rushed over to grab her, “Nonsense! Where can a weak woman like you go, especially while pregnant?”

Mother always said Sister-in-law’s fierce look was frightening, but I think it’s the ones who cry so easily that are truly scary. I looked up at Sister-in-law; she was watching their clasped hands, then turned and left the courtyard without looking back.

Mother pulled me along as well. She smiled happily in front of others, but as soon as we were alone, she grabbed my hand and said, “Ruyi, your Sister-in-law is good to you. Tonight, sleep with her and try to comfort her. Just tell her I don’t like that Yaoniang at all. In our family, she is the only daughter-in-law married through proper rites. As for the other one, at most she’s just a concubine for bearing children.”

I felt wronged for Sister-in-law and shook off Mother’s hand, “If you want to comfort her, you go. I don’t have the face for it. Children, children-you only care about children. Brother promised he wouldn’t take a concubine. If he does, Sister-in-law will divorce him.”

Mother’s face darkened and she slapped my back, “You foolish child! Is divorce something you can just say so casually? If your Sister-in-law leaves, who will keep your brother in line? Besides, her father has already passed away; our family is all she has left. If she leaves, where will she go?”

I looked at Mother as if I didn’t recognize her. So she knew-Sister-in-law keeping Brother in check was actually a good thing.

She understood my expression and sighed, “I’m not stupid. Aside from complaining a little, when have I ever really set rules for her? But a woman is still a woman; a husband taking a concubine is unavoidable. It’s been three years and she hasn’t conceived. In any family, it would be time to take a concubine. Try to comfort your Sister-in-law and tell her to endure it. After all, even as a concubine, Yaoniang will still have to live according to her wishes.”