Wu Ju shouted at the top of her voice, "The meal is ready. You don't have to wait for me to bring it to you and feed it to you, do you?"
As soon as Wu Ju finished speaking, Zhang Jizong pulled Shumei out of the room and they sat on the bench next to the table.
After a busy day, Shumei was really hungry and her stomach was rumbling.
“Eat!”
Zhang Jizong was not polite at all. He sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating without hesitation. But why should he be polite? This was his own home. Why should he be polite to his own parents?
But Wu Ju didn't move her chopsticks, and Shu Mei didn't dare to pick up the chopsticks earlier. She looked at Wu Ju nervously, looking at her unhappy face.
"Why don't you eat?"
Zhang Jizong was halfway through his meal when he realized he was the only one eating enthusiastically. Wu Ju, Zhang Binglin, and Shumei hadn't touched their chopsticks. He looked at Shumei, then at Wu Ju, and suddenly he seemed to understand why.
"Mother, please eat! If you don't eat, Shumei won't dare to pick up her chopsticks. Are you trying to imitate those evil mothers-in-law?"
"How could that be? You know that my mother has always been kind-hearted and has no bad intentions. I will definitely treat your wife as my own daughter."
How could Wu Ju possibly destroy her image as a good mother in her son's mind? She quickly said with a smile on her face, picked up the chopsticks on the table and started eating happily.
Shumei then slowly picked up her chopsticks and began to eat. She was so hungry that her bowl was almost empty, but she was only half full, and she was too embarrassed to get another bowl. As a woman who only worked at home and not outside, and not someone who was physically active, eating so much would surely be frowned upon by her mother-in-law and father-in-law, so she gave up the idea of getting another bowl.
"Dad, Mom, I'm full. You guys take your time eating."
"Are you full already? Want another bowl?"
"No, I'm really full."
"Okay, go back to your room first, I'll finish eating soon."
"I...these dishes..." Shumei thought, what kind of daughter-in-law would be like this? She would just pat her butt and leave after eating. If she didn't cook, at least she should help wash the dishes!
Wu Ju's brain was very quick. Before Zhang Jizong could say anything, she rushed to say, "It's okay. You go and rest first. Today is your big day. I'll clean up the dishes."
"Go quickly! Look, mother has said so, what are you still worried about?" Zhang Jizong said to Shumei incoherently while eating.
Shumei then stood up and returned to her room, gently closing the door. Back in her room, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. In this unfamiliar Zhang family, only this new room behind the door could ease her nerves and give her some breathing space.
"Ji Zong, you don't want me to make things difficult for your wife. Mother doesn't even let her cook or clear the dishes. Such a big thing happened today, and I didn't blame you at all. But we should know why those people came to ruin your wedding banquet today, right?" Wu Ju saw Shumei close the door, put down the dishes in her hands, and asked Ji Zong with a serious face.
"You really have to know?"
"Ji Zong! Do you still consider me your mother?"
"Okay, then I'll say..."
Zhang Jizong began to tell his parents the whole story, without missing a word.
…
Word of this unprecedented incident at the Zhang family quickly spread to the Kang family. Kang Yong, usually indifferent, certainly didn't take it seriously, continuing to eat and drink as usual. He certainly didn't worry about whether Shumei would be wronged at the Zhang family's expense, or whether those people would cause trouble for Shumei and her family again.
The cowardly Su Kui could only feel sad in her heart and had no courage to stand up for her daughter or stretch her back.
"Dad, with such a big incident happening, I'm afraid Shumei's life in her husband's family won't be easy. How about we take some things over there one day to apologize to the Zhang family. After all, this disaster has nothing to do with Shumei!" Su Kui thought about it again and again, and couldn't help but speak to Kang Yong.
"A married girl is like spilled water. Why do you worry so much about it? If you have that much free time, you might as well arrange a prosperous marriage for her." Kang Yong sat on the bed and spoke in a hoarse voice to Su Kui who was sitting on the chair, and angrily took off his shoes.
"But...but...it's because you took 2,000 yuan from the stationmaster. Otherwise, why would he bother Shumei and the others?"
"If I don't take it, how can your son get married? Okay, stop talking nonsense and go get me some water to wash my feet." Kang Yong got angry and threw the shoes in his hand to the ground angrily.
Kang Fadada, whose leg had almost healed, overheard their conversation. He never expected his sister to have sacrificed so much for him, and he felt extremely guilty.
Su Kui sighed helplessly, got up and went out to prepare water for Kang Yong to wash his feet. She bumped into Kang Fadada who was standing at the door. Su Kui smiled awkwardly at Fadada, "Fadada! Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Dad, what did you do to my sister?"
"What did you do? Don't worry about the adults' affairs. Just prepare to be your groom." Kang Yong had no intention of telling Kang Fadada about what happened. He picked up the pipe on the bedside, lit the match in his hand with a swish, lit the half-remaining tobacco leaf in the cigarette holder, and began to puff out smoke.
"Dad..." Kang Fadada raised his voice in anger, but Kang Yong didn't buy it at all and ignored him.
"Yeah! If you're rich, stop worrying about it and just mind your own business."
"Hmph!" Kang Fadada was so angry that he turned around and limped towards his room. Because he was angry, he walked a little faster and almost fell to the ground.
"Fadada, slow down and be careful with your legs."
Seeing her baby son almost fall, Su Kui rushed forward to support him, but Fadada didn't seem to appreciate her kindness. Fadada ruthlessly pushed her away, returned to his room, slammed the door shut, and left her alone in a daze.
Song Dynasty poet Wang Zhu wrote about the Four Joys: rain after a long drought; meeting an old friend in a foreign land; the wedding night; and passing the imperial examination. In the past, these may have been unshakable truths, but with improving living conditions and a more open mind, these Four Joys are no longer necessarily what people seek.
But for Shumei and Jizong, this wedding night was truly the greatest joy of their lives. In their bridal chamber, the two sat cross-legged on the bed, gazing at each other with affection.
"Shumei, you look so beautiful today."
"Wasn't it beautiful before?"
"She's beautiful! My Shumei is beautiful at all times and in all ways!"
"You've been watching it for over 20 years, aren't you tired of it yet?"
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