Chapter 244: Chapter 235 Discovered_2 Chapter 244: Chapter 235 Discovered_2 “Well, your father’s word is law, and even mother doesn’t dare to disobey. I’m just worried about you; looking at your father, he doesn’t seem the faithful type. With so many wives and concubines, a woman’s prime years are but a few, and once you age and lose your beauty, what man will still cherish you? You have to think for yourself and getting a son out of the way early is the priority.”
The Wei Family had previously given Mrs. Wei a good reason to be disgraced. She was still feeling uncomfortable and was wondering if it had been the right decision to send her daughter to become a concubine in the Wei Residence. Still, had it not been for the marriage to Old Master Wei, how could her daughter live such a luxurious life adorned with gold and silver? It was only because her daughter had not yet produced a son that she held no status in front of Old Master Wei. Once there was a son, everything would be better.
“Mother, how could I not know what you’re saying? But I’ve tried so many remedies and medications to conceive, and none of them has worked. What else can I do?” Zhao Lingxiang said with a hint of distress on her face. She stopped the conversation when she saw someone coming toward the kitchen, sat down gracefully, and adjusted the golden hairpin on her head, presenting the image of a proper, well-to-do lady.
“Mother, I’ve asked again, and Erhu still says he can’t come. I think we might as well forget it. Since they don’t want to come, why should we honor them so? It’s like we’re begging them,” Jin Family said, coming over from Erhu’s house with a stomach full of fire. That family was really too ungrateful. When she had visited, they had made her stand outside the door without even the courtesy of an invitation to come in for tea. Truly, they had no sense of manners.
“Mother, father rarely comes back, and he just wants to have a family meal. It wouldn’t be right without Erhu and his family. I think Erhu is becoming estranged from us. Why don’t you go and invite them yourself?” Zhao Lingxiang spoke sweetly in front of the Jin Family, but Mrs. Wei understood the underlying message: Old Master Wei was probably back because of Erhu. If they couldn’t manage this small task, Zhao Lingxiang wouldn’t look good in front of Old Master Wei.
Mrs. Wei was usually one to show off, and now that her wealthy son-in-law had come, she was eager to flaunt their status in front of the village. She was reluctant to lower herself to personally invite Erhu’s family for dinner. If Erhu didn’t come, her son-in-law might be displeased with her daughter. Considering Zhao Dahuo and his wife had good relations with Erhu’s family, she called Mrs. Liu, Dahuo’s wife, and asked her to invite them.
“Dahu’s wife, I’m leaving this matter in your hands. You must get Erhu’s family over here. After all, they’re our own siblings, and Old Master Wei is Erhu’s brother-in-law. Since the brother-in-law has come, it’s only right that his brother joins him for a meal. We can’t afford to neglect this courtesy. If they still refuse after you ask, I will have his father personally invite them,” Mrs. Wei said, her words carrying a veiled threat.
Feeling helpless, Liu accepted her mother-in-law’s command and went to Erhu’s house, not understanding why Mrs. Wei would act this way. Since the order was given, she could only comply, and whether Erhu and his spouse wanted to come or not was beyond her control. Her father-in-law’s name could be very effective when used on Dahu, but not on Erhu and his wife, who were not so easily swayed. Ever since the incident that spread through the village, Erhu only provided annual support fees to his father, effectively cutting off relations with the old Zhao house.
“Younger brother, sister-in-law, these are mother’s exact words, and I’m just passing them on to you. As for whether or not you’ll go, it’s up to you. Mother has been oddly persistent today. You’ve already said you won’t go, but she keeps insisting on your presence. I don’t know what she’s thinking. Perhaps she really wants you to accompany Old Master Wei and doesn’t want to let him know about your disagreements.”
Lin Yue had already started cooking when she saw Mrs. Liu arrive, asking them again to join for dinner. She exchanged a glance with Erhu; unlike Liu, they weren’t simple-minded and guessed there was an ulterior motive behind Mrs. Wei’s insistence and even invoking Zhao Jingen’s name. They felt obliged to go and see what games Mrs. Wei was playing, to know her intentions and be forewarned against any schemes.
Lin Yue and Erhu had an increasingly unspoken understanding. With just a look from Lin Yue, Erhu knew exactly what his wife meant. “Elder sister-in-law, we’ve heard you. You can go back first, Yueyue and I will change our clothes and soon bring the children with us,” Erhu responded.
“Alright, then I’ll go back to mother now,” Mrs. Liu said.
When Erhu’s family arrived at the old Zhao house, Zhao Quan and Zhao Xing, the two brothers, were fawning over Old Master Wei, each trying to curry favor. Meanwhile, Zhao Cheng sat to one side, largely silent. Not only was he less glib than his brothers, but he also remembered how he had been turned away when sent to the Wei Residence by his mother a year before. Being rejected and sent away like a beggar was the most humiliating experience of his life. He couldn’t bring himself to ingratiate himself with Old Master Wei as his brothers did.
Upon seeing Erhu’s family arrive, Wei Xingye merely lifted his eyelids and wore an expression of pride and self-importance. Although he needed something from Erhu, in his eyes, allowing a country man like Erhu to share the same room was already a great honor and grace bestowed upon him.