"Mother!" Zhou Jingyi’s face flushed with embarrassment as she said, "But, in the end, your daughter will have to return home one day. We may feel relieved now, but how will your daughter live in the future?"
Mrs. Zhou snorted, "What’s so difficult about that? If life becomes unbearable, then divorce him! Is my daughter of the Zhou family worried about not finding a better match? Even the worst match would be better than staying in an empty room alone!"
"I don’t want that!" Zhou Jingyi’s face changed slightly as she firmly said, "Mother, I—I will not remarry!"
Mrs. Zhou, frustrated with her daughter’s intransigence, poked her on the forehead in anger, "Don’t tell me you still have feelings for that heartless man! That faithless scoundrel! My daughter, wake up! A man who elopes with a prostitute cannot be relied upon! Even if you choose not to marry again, you absolutely cannot spend your life with him! Today he elopes with a prostitute, who knows if tomorrow he might elope with a maid! Who knows what he’s capable of doing! You’re going to prevent your mother from resting in peace even after a hundred years!"
"Mother!" Zhou Jingyi’s eyes brimmed with tears as she said, "Mother, please don’t say that! I, I—"
The mother didn’t mince words, and although she was verbally attacking Shi Fengming, at the end of the day, he was still Jingyi’s husband. Every harsh word felt like a slap to her own face! Zhou Jingyi’s face was burning with shame and the tears flowed ceaselessly. No matter how bad he was, he was her husband, and moreover, she truly loved him.
Mrs. Zhou sighed deeply, pulling her daughter into her arms and gently patting her back as she sobbed, "What a disappointment, you are intent on breaking your mother’s heart!"
"Mother!" Zhou Jingyi, overwhelmed with sorrow, couldn’t help but burst into tears.
"Stop crying, stop crying!" Mrs. Zhou, her heart aching for her daughter, sighed, "Now tell me, what do you want? Are you going back with them?"
Go back? Given that her mother-in-law had sent people to fetch her, she surely wasn’t doing so out of goodwill. Returning would only subject her to pointless wrath and torment. Only a fool would go back!
"I’m not going back!" Zhou Jingyi wiped away her tears and shook her head, her voice nasal, "I won’t return until my husband comes back!"
Mrs. Zhou felt some of her anger dissipate upon hearing this, thinking to herself that at least this girl has some sense, sparing her mother from dying of rage!
"What if he never returns? Will you live for the rest of your life? I don’t mean to scorn you; your brother has always cherished you, and your sister-in-law is virtuous. Even if you live at home for the rest of your life, they would never despise you. But, my daughter, this is just not worth it!" Mrs. Zhou couldn’t help but blurt out yet again.
"That won’t happen!" Zhou Jingyi’s heart twitched abruptly, and she shook her head, "That won’t happen, it definitely won’t! How could my husband possibly not return? Even if he doesn’t care about me, his parents are still here; I refuse to believe that he would stay away forever! Moreover, my uncle has been searching for him these past two years, there will certainly be news one day!"
Mrs. Zhou sighed helplessly and wanted to ask, "What if he is already dead out there?" But considering the upcoming New Year, deeming the thought inauspicious and not wanting to break her daughter’s heart further, she swallowed her words, merely saying, "Let’s hope so! Let’s hope that boy comes to his senses! Hmph, if he shows his face, even if I have to tie him with a rope, I won’t let him leave again!"
Zhou Jingyi found these words amusing and had to suppress a laugh as she quickly said, "Mother, about those people from the Shi family—"
Mrs. Zhou gave her a stern look and said to Mrs. Yang, "Go ahead, invite them in!"
Mrs. Lin and the servants had been sitting in the reception area for quite a while without any sign of action. Becoming anxious, Mrs. Lin forced a smile and asked the doorman to announce their presence once more. Everyone in the Zhou family was aware of the young lady’s situation; how could they possibly welcome people from the Shi family? They merely excused themselves and stalled.
After all, they were on someone else’s territory, and after some fruitless negotiations, Mrs. Lin could say no more, merely waiting patiently.
Finally, an old maid came to inform them that Mrs. Zhou was ready to see them. Mrs. Lin quickly straightened her clothes, thanked her with a smile, and followed the others.
Mrs. Zhou was waiting in the side hall, with her daughter-in-law Mrs. Lu standing behind her, while Zhou Jingyi had already slipped away.
"This servant pays respects to the mother-in-law!" Mrs. Lin approached with a smile and knelt down to kowtow.
Mrs. Zhou waited for her to kowtow properly before she lightly said with a smile, "No need for such formalities among relatives; please rise! You look familiar; are you the Mrs. Lin who serves my in-law?"