Chapter 211 Mutual Pawns
Yin's mother was a little annoyed. She thought Caiwei had come to terms with it that night, but who knew she would still try so hard to get out and make things difficult for herself.
"You silly girl, you don't even know how to enjoy your good fortune." Mother Yin forced a smile and patted Caiwei, then turned to Mother Meng and said, "Sister Meng, please forgive my foolishness."
Meng's mother laughed heartily, "What's there to laugh about? It's a wonderful thing. To be honest, I understand his third aunt. I'm already quite old, and I should be able to enjoy my retirement, but if you keep me cooped up at home all day, I can't stand it. I like interacting with outsiders. That's why my husband and I bought two acres of land a little over a month ago to build a guesthouse and make some money. Having something worthwhile to do gives me hope, and the busier I am, the more energetic I feel."
Yin's mother immediately understood. Living with the likes of Meng's mother and Meng Qing, it was no wonder that Caiwei was no longer willing to stay in the inner quarters.
"The Lady of the County has given you advice, and your son-in-law supports you. If you're determined to do it, you should do it well." Minister Yin no longer objected. Helping the poor and needy is a good thing and a virtuous act, beneficial to both the people and oneself. He also hoped that Caiwei could make a name for herself in this field. He didn't dare to hope that she could have great success like Meng Qing; it would be enough for her to earn a good reputation.
Yin Caiwei nodded.
"The wine's all cold, isn't it? Let's stop here for tonight and clear the table." Du Li felt that his father-in-law was about to get drunk if he kept drinking.
Vice Minister Yin stood up and said, "I've eaten and drunk my fill, let's clear the table."
“It’s late and cold, Father, Mother, you should go back to your rooms and rest. You don’t need to stay up all night,” Du Min said.
"You'll have to stay here, won't you?" Mother Yin asked.
Du Min hesitated, glanced at Du Li, and said, "I'll stay up all night with my second brother."
"You've worked so hard, traveling all day and staying up all night to welcome the New Year," Mother Yin said with emotion.
Du Li twitched the corners of his mouth. After everyone at the table had left, he crossed his arms and said, "Your mother-in-law feels sorry for you. Go back to your room and sleep. I'll stay here tonight."
"Really?" Du Min made a move to leave.
Du Li turned and left.
"Hey? Where are you going?" Du Min hurriedly grabbed him.
"Go back to your rooms and sleep. What's the point of staying up all night? We never had this ridiculous tradition before. Those who were supposed to get promoted have been promoted, and those who were supposed to get rich have gotten rich." Du Li really didn't want to stay up all night. It wasn't just because it was cold at night; sitting knee to knee with the third brother was torture. If they talked for too long, they might start fighting.
“That’s true.” Du Min nodded. “Let’s go to sleep.”
Seeing that he was walking towards the front yard with her, Du Li reminded him, "You're going the wrong way."
"I'll sleep with Wangzhou tonight."
"What do you mean?" Du Li's face turned cold. "You're getting cocky, aren't you? Go back to the backyard and sleep. Don't cause any trouble. Your parents-in-law are still here."
"That's why we didn't go back to the backyard. If my father-in-law finds out we didn't stay up for New Year's Eve, wouldn't he grumble that we're unruly?" Du Min explained. "What do you mean? You suspect that I'm deliberately sleeping in separate rooms because I'm angry with Caiwei?"
Du Li didn't speak, but his meaning was obvious.
"You seem to worry about a lot," Du Min said sarcastically. "The matter is already settled, why should I be angry? Wouldn't that be just making trouble for no reason?"
"Sit a little longer, wait until your parents-in-law are asleep, then you can go back to the backyard." Du Liduo was worried for a moment. "Sit down, and have some more hot water."
Du Min stared at him silently. Seeing that Du Li had already picked up the teapot, he gave in and had no choice but to sit back down.
The two brothers sat facing each other in silence, holding their water glasses. A servant came in to clear away the leftovers, but upon seeing this, she withdrew.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Du Min couldn't stand the silence, so he took the initiative to speak.
"What did you say? Didn't you complain that I worry too much?" Du Li glanced at him. "It's a good thing your second sister-in-law isn't like you. If she were like you, and with your deliberate exclusion, I really wouldn't have any say in this family. I'd be living like a housekeeper, always saying 'yes, yes, yes' all day long."
Du Min was amused. After laughing, he said seriously, "I don't need her to do anything for me. She should be like a young lady waiting to be married, like a lady of a prominent family, living a life of luxury, taking care of her husband and children, and managing the household for me."
“Clearly, she’s not happy about it,” Du Li said.
"It was just a fleeting thought of hers. She was just envious of my second sister-in-law's impressive demeanor." Du Min shook his head. "She lived in the Yin family for eighteen or nineteen years. How could she not have had this thought? Because she lived in the inner quarters with my mother-in-law and learned her mother's way of life. She was like someone who learns to meow like a cat and bark like a dog. She had no backbone."
“Whether she’s learning to meow like a cat or bark like a dog, at least she’s willing to learn and wants to change, so you shouldn’t stop her,” Du Li said. “There aren’t many people as precocious as you and your second sister-in-law. You two knew your goals early on and never wavered. But many people aren’t like that, like me and Meng Chun. Before the age of twenty, we just drifted through life aimlessly. My sister-in-law is like my brother-in-law. She saw the people around her getting promoted and, out of envy, she was no longer content with mediocrity and wanted to find a way out.”
Du Min quickly waved his hand, "Not every woman can be Meng Qing, just as not every empress can be a female saint."
"You're just like your father!" Du Li pulled out her trump card.
Du Min immediately jumped up and down, glaring angrily: "Let's stick to the facts. Why are you bringing him up? If you keep talking nonsense, we'll have to fight."
“One demands that his son must listen to him, and the other demands that his wife must listen to him. Aren’t they the same?” Du Li stood up and took a few steps back. He said loudly, “Du Laosan, be careful that you don’t unconsciously control your son in the future and make him a second you.”
"You're talking nonsense!" Du Min was provoked. "I would never be like him."
“We’ll see.” Du Li walked out, and when he reached the door, he turned back and taunted, “Tsk tsk! Old Ding’s own son.”
Du Min took a big leap and pounced on him, ready to fight.
Du Li quickly slipped away, laughing as he ran back to Qingzhu Courtyard, swiftly closing the door and locking it.
"Du Lao Er, open the door for me!" Du Min pounded on the door.
"If you keep making trouble, I'll call you my second sister-in-law," Du Li threatened from behind the door.
Meng Qing had already heard the noise. She walked to the window and asked, "Du Li? Is that you back?"
"It's me," Du Li replied.
"Old Du, I'll let you off this time." Du Min snorted from outside the door and then walked away.
Du Li walked away from behind the door, touched the water on his hands, looked up at the sky, and saw that it was snowing.
“Father—” Wang Chuan shouted loudly.
"You're here." Du Li strode back into the house, pushed open the door, and asked, "What did you call me for?"
"See if you left again?" Meng Qing replied. "Why are you back? Do you need anything?"
"Come back to sleep, no more night watch." Du Li walked to the charcoal stove and touched the copper kettle. It was hot, the water inside was hot. He picked up the kettle and poured water to wash up.
"Aren't you and Lao San going to stay here either?" Meng Qing asked.
"Yes, it's freezing cold. What are we guarding? It's snowing outside again." Du Li splashed water to wash her face.
Meng Qing glanced at him, then at the baby sitting in her lap, and said, "Go and see which of your parents and Wangzhou is still awake, and take Wangchuan there."
Du Li paused, wiped his face hastily, and strode to open the door.
"I don't want to," Wang Chuan protested.
“It’s snowing outside. I want to sleep in tomorrow morning, but you wake up early and will definitely wake me up, so I won’t be able to sleep well. Go sleep with your older brother. He wakes up early every day, just like you. You two brothers can lie in bed and study.” Meng Qing coaxed.
Wang Chuan groaned reluctantly.
Meng Qing pretended not to hear.
Du Li went straight to Fenglin Courtyard. After confirming that the third son was not in Wangzhou's house, he returned, wrapped Wangchuan in his silver fur coat, and carried the child out.
Wang Chuan found it amusing and started chuckling again as he went outside.
Du Li ran, laughing all the way, to deliver her troublesome youngest son to her eldest son's bed. Without stopping, she turned a corner and left.
Meng Qing hid behind the door and heard footsteps approaching. When the person came in, she leaped onto his back.
Du Li put one arm around her from behind and used the other to close the door and bolt it.
"In the mood tonight?" he asked with a smile.
Meng Qing leaned over and kissed him, "What you said at the banquet tonight really touched my heart, and I wanted to kiss you right then and there."
"Give her a few more kisses." Du Li hugged her and turned her into his arms.
Meng Qing did as he wished, cupping his face and kissing him.
The chill in the room quickly rose.
*
"Go to the inside of the bed." Du Min sat down on the edge of the bed.
Yin Caiwei moved to the inside of the bed, watched him undress and lie down, then closed her eyes to prepare for sleep.
"Aren't you going to say something?" she asked.
"What did you say?" Du Min opened one eye.
Yin Caiwei remained silent.
Thinking back to Du Li's disgusting words, Du Min once again compromised: "Since you've made up your mind, then give it a try. It'll be a good opportunity to see what kind of life you really want to live."
Yin Caiwei looked up in surprise; she had expected him to at least give her a sarcastic remark.
"If you mess this up, then you'll just stay home and manage the affairs of the manor for me. Don't think about anything else. Just be a proper official's wife. I can give you the glamour you want," Du Min said.
"In matters of politics, you are endlessly tolerant of your second sister-in-law, while I just want to do more things, and you only give me one chance? Why are you so harsh on me? Can you get everything you want?" Yin Caiwei questioned.
Du Min laughed, "Can't you even figure this out? You've read so many books, yet you're not as insightful as my second brother. Let me tell you, if I need her help, and you need me help, she can clean up my mess, and I have to clean up yours; if she needs me help, she's willing to cover for me, but I have no needs from you, I'm not willing to cover for you. That's the difference."
Yin Caiwei was stung by the naked self-interest and calculation in his words. She retorted sarcastically, "I understand. I have to be useful to you before you'll be lenient with me."
“Once you step out of the house, your every word and action carries the title of Madam Du Min. You use my name to do things, which in itself is a cooperation. In business, if there's no profit, who would want to continue cooperating?” Du Min made it clear, “Are you willing to take the risk for something that doesn't bring profit?”
"You're right." Yin Caiwei came to her senses. Once she was no longer his wife, she could understand his position. But this realization also filled her with despair. He had so easily stripped her of her identity as his wife. How much genuine affection did he have for her?
Du Min turned to the side, took her hand, and said, "Don't blame me for being harsh. This is your choice. If you only want to be a wife, I will give you all the dignity and tolerance that a husband can give you."
“I want both identities. I can be your wife, and I can also be your business partner. I want dignity, and I want respect.” Yin Caiwei moved her hand, resisting the urge to pull away. She said softly, “Just like Aunt Pan said, it’s hard to stay cooped up at home every day. You need something to keep you occupied so you have something to look forward to. I need to find something to do. I will think carefully about the charity. If I don’t understand something, I will ask you and your second sister-in-law for advice. I will personally oversee every step so there won’t be any problems and it won’t affect your reputation.”
Du Min sighed inwardly, turned over and lay flat, closed his eyes and said, "I wish you all your wishes come true, go to sleep."
"Hmm." Yin Caiwei also closed her eyes, and she suddenly said, "Second sister-in-law must have had a very hard time."
"Does it refer to my affairs? Yes and no. She's playing a game of chess, a game about her life. Once she makes a move, she doesn't take it back. She's very driven to win. You could say I'm one of her pieces, while she's fighting for herself." Du Min always understood that Meng Qing was also on his chessboard; they were each other's pieces. He was grateful that they could work together to set up the game. She was rational, wouldn't take back her moves, wouldn't give up, and wasn't fixated on whether the effort and reward were equal.
She was an exceptional chess player who used her status as his sister-in-law to discipline and teach him, and used their cooperative relationship to control him. She had the ability to manipulate him, and he willingly submitted to her.
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Author's Note: There will be another update at 12 o'clock.
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