Chapter 5: 5. Chapter 5: Making a Match

Chapter 5: Matching Pairs

Little Mrs. Xu felt like she was about to have a breakdown upon hearing this!

Even though she had married into the Hu family, she had never truly established a foothold!

Her natal family was poor, and her father and brothers were good-for-nothings; she was always a step below everyone in the Hu household. If this pregnancy turned out to be a girl...

Yu Tingwan offered timely comfort: "Don't cry."

Little Mrs. Xu covered her face:...I'm not crying, I'm just preparing.

If you keep talking, the tears really will fall!

There was no emotion in Yu Tingwan's eyes, but she turned her head to fight her corner: "Auntie, please forgive her this once. Is it something to be proud of when Eldest Cousin divorces his wife to marry another?"

The harvest was good this year, and every household had made money from selling grain. The Hu family was somewhat more well-off, but supporting a scholar was not easy; they hadn't even gathered enough for next year's tuition, so everything had to be saved.

A bag of rice on the outside couldn't buy a wife anymore.

If it weren't for the fact that Yu Tingwan was the instigator of this whole mess, Little Mrs. Xu would have been moved to tears.

Then, she heard Yu Tingwan speaking with rhythmic cadence.

"Did Sister-in-law do anything wrong? She was merely being too blunt. Ultimately, this matter boils down to the fact that the bean rice was unpalatable..."

"It is all your fault, Auntie!"

Day after day, Mrs. Wang was going to be worked to death by anger.

"What did you say?"

"Say that again!"

Yu Tingwan calmly uttered a sentence: "I have decided. Auntie, apologize to Sister-in-law, and this matter will be over."

"There shouldn't be any grudges held overnight among family members."

Mrs. Wang felt a wave of dizziness.

She was going to be killed by Yu Tingwan sooner or later!

Since when was it Yu Tingwan's place to decide!

Clearly, a few days ago when she had disciplined Yu Tingwan, the girl hadn't dared to complain or make a sound.

Could it be true, as Little Mrs. Xu said, that Yu Tingwan was possessed?

Otherwise, how could her temperament have changed so drastically?

No.

Mrs. Wang suddenly remembered the scene from years ago when the head of the household brought Yu Tingwan home.

Wasn't Yu Tingwan a troublemaker back then?

She stared fixedly at Yu Tingwan, only to be met by a pair of indifferent eyes that viewed her as a mere clown, as if she could see right through her.

A sudden chill ran down Mrs. Wang's spine.

She had to send Yu Tingwan away as soon as possible to avoid any future trouble.

Perhaps because she was used to being busy all day, Yu Tingwan found herself unable to stay idle once she stopped.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Auntie Wu from next door peeking in and out. When caught red-handed, the woman showed no shame, her eyes filled with scrutiny: "Going out again?"

Toward her, Yu Tingwan was still quite polite.

Auntie Wu was neither kin nor friend to her, so she wouldn't clash with Mrs. Wang just to defend her.

But when Yu Tingwan first arrived in Xilin Village, she often went against Mrs. Wang. It was Auntie Wu who couldn't stand it and gave her private advice.

[Child, if you take my advice, do not provoke your auntie's displeasure.]

[Your uncle feels guilty toward your mother and pities you, so he bickers with her every day. But they are husband and wife after all; you, as a niece, are on the outside.]

[Your surname is Yu, but the Hu family is not your family. Regarding that matter back then... if it weren't for what happened to your parents, I doubt there would even be contact today. I know you feel wronged, and that Mrs. Wang is shrewish and won't accommodate you, but since you have no leverage, you must endure.]

Though the words were harsh and unpleasant, they were heartfelt.

After all, she was an outsider.

Over time, Yu Tingwan had learned to live at the mercy of others.

She thought that by bowing her head, she could secure a corner of peace.

But the hardships of her past life had dealt her a heavy blow; a rogue like Mrs. Wang would only push their luck if given face.

Yu Tingwan smiled: "I'm going to gather some firewood to roast at night; it'll help keep warm."

The firewood gathered at this time was wet and wouldn't burn.

But she had some stored in her room, gathered bit by bit from outside before the snow fell. It wasn't much, but it would last a few nights, and she figured if she left the wet wood by the side, it might dry halfway and be usable.

She couldn't count on the firewood in the Hu family kitchen; she had to rely on herself.

With this wretched weather.

Her quilt was thin and the windows were old and drafty; Yu Tingwan feared she wouldn't survive this harsh winter.

Auntie Wu nodded repeatedly: "That makes sense. I don't know what's wrong with this year, but it's gotten so cold. Not many people are surviving the freeze; people outside are saying the Heavens are coming to collect souls."

Just as she was about to say more, she saw Yu Tingwan raise her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

The girl's old cotton clothes didn't fit well; with a slight movement, the sleeve slipped down, revealing a section of slender, pale wrist.

Auntie Wu stared intently.

Good heavens, the bruises on the wrist were glaring.

She gasped: "Did she lay hands on you too?"

Yu Tingwan froze, then looked down following Auntie Wu's gaze.

"It wasn't..."

Auntie Wu interrupted: "That wicked woman!"

"You've misunderstood, Auntie. I just bumped into something in the dark while getting up at night."

Auntie Wu refused to believe it, her eyes full of pity: "I know you're trying to help cover it up."

Yu Tingwan: "It really wasn't..."

"I understand everything!"

Yu Tingwan fell silent, but her peripheral vision caught sight of a thin, elderly woman nearby watching the drama unfold.

She recognized her.

This person's surname was Fan, and she was the village gossip of Xilin Village.

Anything that passed through her mouth could spread rapidly.

Most importantly, Granny Fan had a grudge against Mrs. Wang.

Yu Tingwan immediately put on a sorrowful air: "This little injury is nothing."

"Nothing is more important than family harmony."

"As a junior, how could I possibly take offense?"

"It doesn't hurt."

Yu Tingwan: "My! Life! Is! Still! Here!"

Granny Fan:!!!

Work had arrived!

She dashed toward the most crowded part of the village, unable to hide the joy in her eyes.

"Everyone, stop! Listen to me. I just came from the Hu house, do you know what I saw?"

She spoke without hesitation: "Mrs. Wang laid hands on that niece again, as fierce as if she wanted to eat someone alive. I saw with my own eyes how she swung a stool to strike! When Hu Dazhu was around, she restrained herself, but this time, it's hard to say."

"Last time she fell into the water, I suspected Mrs. Wang pushed her."

Someone didn't believe it and spoke up in defense: "Mrs. Wang has a bad temper, but even if you don't get along, you shouldn't slander her like that."

Granny Fan sneered: "Do I need to slander her?"

"She is a malicious person by nature."

She narrowed her eyes knowingly: "Why are you defending her? Don't tell me you're hoping to marry your daughter to their second son."

"Save it. Her head is in the clouds; do you think she'd ever be your in-law? Last time, she even called your granddaughter a toad dreaming of swan meat."

A young wife spoke up: "Raising a niece under your own roof—if she's not blood-related, what's wrong with treating her a bit harshly?"

The words were crude but not without logic, and the crowd nodded in agreement.

Granny Fan grew agitated.

"Those who know call her a niece; those who don't would think they've taken in a slave."

"What does a new bride like you know!"

"Go back and ask your mother-in-law what heinous things the Hu family did back then. Hu Dazhu only has that one sister, not to mention he feels guilty; it's only right that he raises his niece."

The elders who knew the old stories looked at each other with sighs.

"Is that girl alright?"

Granny Fan waved her hand: "She's fine."

"She's still breathing."

"I just don't know if Wan-niang will be worked to death by Mrs. Wang first, or if the young master of the Wei family will be killed by Old Man Qian first."

"New Year is coming; having two deaths in the village is bad luck."

She scratched her head, amused: "Incredible! Even such things can be matched in pairs."