Li Rouniang went into the woodshed, removed the gags from the two men, and told them about the marriage certificate.
Then, boasting, "Mom, look at me, as your sister-in-law, I'm quite competent, aren't I? Look, I've found a good family for our Dahua."
"Pah! Li Rou Niang, what wicked thoughts are you harboring? Brother Wu and I are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. Everyone in Zhao Family Village knows that. How dare you try to break us up!" Zhao Da Hua couldn't help but curse loudly.
“You can’t say that, sister. What’s so great about that scholar Wu? He doesn’t have any parents to support him. If you marry him, your life will be very hard. You’d be better off marrying Zhao Daniu. Look how good Aunt Big Mouth is! She’s got a way with words that no one in the village can beat, right? You won’t suffer any grievances at her house, will you? Mother, don’t you agree with me?” Li Rou Niang immediately retorted.
Actually, she didn't care what Zhao Dahua thought. As long as Zhao's mother signed the marriage certificate, the matter would be settled.
"Rou Niang, we need to think this over carefully. After all, marriage is a big deal." Old Granny Zhao, being an experienced woman, had been locked up and starved for two days. Although she was weak and listless, her mind was surprisingly clear.
She knew that Li Rouniang was determined to oppose her, and she couldn't confront her directly, otherwise, when her son returned in three months, he would probably only see her grave.
"Mother, what's the point of taking this time? Aunt Big Mouth is overjoyed and says she'll come to propose tomorrow, so let's make a decision today, so Aunt Big Mouth doesn't work for nothing, right?" Li Rou Niang saw through Granny Zhao's delaying tactic and wasn't going to give her the chance.
She just wanted to get things done quickly and marry Zhao Dahua off as soon as possible.
"Li Rou Niang, give up on that idea! I would rather die than marry that idiot Zhao Daniu," Zhao Da Hua firmly stated.
"Oh, I didn't expect you to be so resolute, sister. In that case, you might as well wait here to die." Li Rouniang's face turned cold as she got up to leave. She'd really been given too much leeway by our attempts to reason with her.
"No, no, no, Rou Niang, let's talk this over properly. I think this isn't impossible. Why don't you let me out now so I can have a proper talk with them?" Granny Zhao thought that once she got out, she would immediately find the clan leader and have a good talk with him about how Li Rou Niang dared to be so audacious as to lock her up. This was extremely unfilial and deserved to be drowned in a pig cage.
“This is my natural mother, but it’s getting late today. I think you’re not feeling well, um~” Li Rou Niang covered her mouth and then continued, “I think you should get ready properly. We can talk about it tomorrow. But we should sign the marriage certificate first.”
Granny Zhao rolled her eyes and nodded, saying, "Alright, then I'll put my handprint on it."
"Mother, how could you do this?" Zhao Dahua felt a chill run down her spine when she saw that her mother had sold her to get out of the country.
As expected, the mother still favored her son, and had been patriarchal since childhood.
“Dahua, Da Niu isn’t so bad either.” As she said this, Granny Zhao winked at her daughter, but unfortunately, Zhao Dahua didn’t understand what her mother meant at all; she was too preoccupied with her own grievances!
Soon, Granny Zhao signed the papers, and then Li Rouniang untied her.
At this moment, Granny Zhao was completely exhausted. After all, she hadn't eaten for two days, was old, and felt sticky and uncomfortable in her lower body. All she wanted to do was take a bath, have a good meal, and recharge before dealing with this wretched woman in front of her.
"Rou Niang, do you think we should release Da Hua as well?" Granny Zhao knew she was no match for Li Rou Niang, so she could only try to reason with her gently.
“Mother, it’s not that I’m being unreasonable, but look at my sister’s attitude right now, I think we should let her calm down first,” Li Rouniang said with a smile.
"Li Rouniang, you vicious slut, I will never submit, even if it means death!" Zhao Dahua was quite spirited at this moment.
Helpless, Granny Zhao had no choice but to follow Li Rou Niang out, watching helplessly as her daughter was locked in the woodshed. She thought that it would only be one night, and she would go to the clan chief the next day to deal with Li Rou Niang!
She must get back double what she suffered!
Li Rouniang was quite dutiful, boiling a pot of hot water for Granny Zhao and cooking her a bowl of porridge while she took a bath. She truly was a good daughter-in-law.
Granny Zhao took a nice hot bath and drank some porridge. Feeling much warmer in her stomach, she instantly felt sleepy, lay down on the bed, covered herself with the blanket, and fell fast asleep.
Before going to sleep, she was still thinking, "Wait until tomorrow and see how I deal with you, you little slut."
In the dead of night, Zhao Dahua wept silently. She never imagined that her mother would try to force her to marry a fool. She refused; she was destined to be an official's wife.
"Auntie, Auntie." Just then, Zhao Dahua heard Zhao Erni's voice and quickly looked up.
But then Zhao Erni tiptoed in and squatted down in front of her, saying, "Auntie, I heard from Mother that she's going to marry you off to Uncle Da Niu. Is that true?" Erni asked innocently.
"What's it to you?" Zhao Dahua turned her face away and ignored Erni. Kids like that are really annoying.
"Auntie, I don't want you to marry Uncle Da Niu. Everyone in the village says Uncle Da Niu is a fool. Besides, I heard Grandma say that you were going to marry Scholar Wu and become an official's wife. That would be so prestigious!"
"Little sister, if you become an official's wife, will you buy me lots of pretty dresses, delicious food, and fun toys in the future?" Erni continued to ask, not caring about Zhao Dahua's attitude.
Zhao Dahua's eyes darted around, and she quickly nodded, saying, "My aunt is also in a helpless situation. Can you help her?"
“Okay, Auntie, but remember, I helped you today, so you have to treat me well in the future.” Erni nodded, then untied Zhao Dahua and said to Zhao Dahua, “Auntie, Grandma and Mother are asleep now, you should go quickly.”
"I'm leaving now. Thank you, Erni. Your aunt will remember you." Zhao Dahua patted Erni with a loving expression, then turned her head and her face changed instantly: You wait, you little bastard! If I ever become an official's wife, I will make sure you and your mother suffer a terrible death!
Because she was in a hurry, Zhao Dahua didn't see the look of disgust on Erni's face.
After Zhao Dahua had walked away, Li Rouniang came out and said to Erni with a smile, "Erni, you did a good job."
Yes, this was all part of Li Rouniang's plan. Originally, she wanted Zhao Dani to come, but no matter how they discussed it, Zhao Dani was afraid and dared not come, so Zhao Erni volunteered to come instead.
"My aunt must have gone to find Scholar Wu. So what are we going to do now?"
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