Chapter 185 Is this acceptable?
Everything was going smoothly. After lunch, during casual conversation, the topic of the wedding date came up, and then something went wrong.
Erniu's mother wanted to keep her daughter at home for the Chinese New Year. It was already early November, only two or three months away from the New Year. She planned to get married after the New Year, which would take about half a year.
"The weather just happened to be warmer then. Whether the young couple wants to wear a modern wedding dress or follow the traditional phoenix coronet and embroidered robe of our ancestors, they don't need to worry about the weather. What do you say, mother-in-law?"
Li Banxia smiled, about to say, "Anything is fine, as long as the children agree, I have no objection," when Fang Erniu suddenly spoke up.
She said, "Mom, I want to get married as soon as possible. My sister-in-law is about to give birth, and I can keep her company. When everyone else goes to work, it won't be good for her to be alone at home..."
There was nothing wrong with what she said. Although Erniu's mother felt that her daughter's words were a bit too outgoing and biased towards her future mother-in-law's family, it wasn't wrong to say such things in front of her future mother-in-law to make her happy.
But somehow these words offended Fang Xiaodi's wife, who gave a light sneer from the side.
Some people said sarcastically, "Your second sister-in-law hasn't even married into the family yet, and she's already thinking about helping your husband's older sister-in-law. I've never seen you help her when she was pregnant and inconvenienced at her parents' home. What kind of talk is that?"
Fang Xiaodi frowned and glanced at her, telling her to stop talking.
The young wife gave a soft snort and looked at Sister-in-law Fang beside her. "Sister-in-law, am I right? When you were cooking with your big belly, your second sister-in-law was lying under the tree enjoying the shade and didn't say a single word to help you..."
Fang's sister-in-law was put in a difficult position by her husband's words. She frowned, glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and saw the displeasure in his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat.
Seeing that her in-laws and grandparents looked displeased at being called out by her, they quickly stopped her, saying, "Third Aunt, don't talk nonsense. Second Sister has helped me a lot."
"Really? I've never seen it. Where did they help? Did they help in a dream?" The young woman chuckled twice after she finished speaking.
Sister-in-law Fang, "..."
She frowned, her face turning cold as she stared at her young wife. Her smile was devoid of any real mirth, her eyes full of warning, "Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't exist. Don't make a fool of yourself in front of your in-laws."
This statement is already a clear indication.
The young wife opened her mouth to say something more, but Erniu's mother glared at her youngest son and said, "Third son, your wife is pregnant and has gone mad. Quickly take her out and clear her head."
The young wife, feeling emboldened, glanced sideways at her younger brother.
Fang Xiaodi was so angry at her series of actions that his face turned red with embarrassment and he couldn't hide his shame and annoyance.
He had complained to his wife in bed, saying things like, "Second sister is already siding with her husband's family before she's even married," "What's so good about Su Laosan?" "Second sister was really fooled by his sweet talk," and "She doesn't care about her family anymore."
But this was just a private complaint. Regarding the matter of Erniu, he still approved of Su Laosan. He thought that someone else might not be as good to Erniu as he was to Erniu. He had also said this to his wife.
What's gotten into her today? Speaking ill of Second Sister like that in front of Su Laosan's mother?!
Do you know that this will ruin my second sister's marriage?
How can you be so clueless?!
Fang Xiaodi glared at his wife, walked over, grabbed her arm, and dragged her away. "Alright, that's enough. Let's go."
The young woman staggered a couple of steps after being pulled.
She sighed, "You're hurting me. What did I say wrong? Your second sister has never lifted a finger at home. Even if she cooks a terrible meal, the whole family has to praise her. What family raises their daughter like that?"
"Enough! Shut your mouth!" Fang Xiaodi stomped his feet angrily and dragged the person along, quickening his pace toward their house.
The young woman walked away shouting, "What are you doing? I'm saying this for her own good, to let her in-laws know that she doesn't like to do anything at home and can't do anything. When she goes to her in-laws' house, they won't ask her to do any housework..."
The main room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Erniu's father looked embarrassed.
Erniu's mother was so angry her nose almost crooked.
Even the Fang family's grandparents couldn't stand it anymore. This... this is outrageous!
What is it called to say something in front of your mother-in-law?
They're marrying off a daughter-in-law, not bringing their ancestors home!
Does she expect to marry him and have someone else serve her like a mother-in-law?!
Is this even acceptable?!
Grandma Fang slammed her hand on the table in anger, "Little Sanzi, cover her mouth."
"You dare!"
A young woman's screams echoed from the courtyard: "I'm carrying your Fang family's child! If you dare touch me, believe me, I'll throw a tantrum and let the whole village know that you're bullying your pregnant daughter-in-law for the sake of your daughter who's about to get married!!"
Grandpa Fang's face looked extremely grim.
Fang Erniu's eyes reddened with anger as she stomped her feet and explained to Li Banxia.
“Auntie, it’s not that I’m delicate. I do laundry and cook at home. I make clothes and shoes for my grandparents, my parents, my older brother, and my younger brother. I just don’t like doing farm work. My hands get blisters as soon as I pick up a hoe…”
By the end, her voice was choked with emotion, tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked at Li Banxia with a mixture of anxiety and fear.
“…Auntie, I’m really not the kind of person she described.”
Seeing the little girl looking so aggrieved, Li Banxia pulled her over, patted her twice, and comforted her, "Don't worry, we've known each other for so long, I know what kind of person you are. What others say about you won't affect your image in my eyes, okay? Besides, even if you want to work in the fields, my family doesn't have any land for you to work in."
"Waaah..."
When Fang Erniu heard her say that, she wanted to laugh, but tears welled up in her eyes and fell down. She sobbed and said thank you.
Li Banxia patted her, then turned to look at Erniu's parents and grandparents.
He said, "What Erniu meant by 'lend a hand' is just a simple favor. My eldest daughter-in-law is due around New Year's Day, with twins. Pregnancy and childbirth are both very difficult, and I don't plan to take care of her during her postpartum period..."
Upon hearing this, the Fang family members all looked rather displeased.
Erniu's mother interrupted Li Banxia before she could finish speaking, saying, "My dear in-law, there's something I have to say, though it might be unpleasant, but I'd like to say it for the sake of the child. As the old saying goes, 'Ten years to judge a mother-in-law, ten years to judge a daughter-in-law.' A woman is most vulnerable during her postpartum period. If you take care of her when she's weak, she'll be grateful and remember your kindness. That's how she'll take good care of you when you're old. Don't you think that old saying makes sense?"
Li Banxia was taken aback for a moment, then realized they had misunderstood and explained with a smile.
“You’ve misunderstood. It’s not my professionalism to not take care of my eldest daughter-in-law during her postpartum period. My father used to be a traveling doctor and knows a lot of people. I’ve already asked them to find a postpartum nanny. She’s a woman who used to take care of women in wealthy families during their postpartum period. They have skills passed down from their ancestors and are more professional in taking care of babies and helping mothers recover quickly.”
This time, it was the Fang family's turn to be stunned.
Erniu's mother turned to look at Erniu's grandmother, who licked her lips, her eyes slightly brightening as she looked at Li Banxia and asked, "Then my Erniu..."
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