After Fang Meixiang arrived at Fang Damiao's house, Fang Damiao became a little more diligent than before, but his lazy nature was still hard to change.
It's getting hot, so he can't get up too early in the morning, and he refuses to go to the fields during the day because of the heat. He's always lazy when it comes to doing any work.
However, he rarely goes to that small shop anymore. He's still a bit wary of being seen sitting there by his father-in-law and mother-in-law.
Fang Meixiang still stayed at home all day, going from her own home to Fang Damiao's home.
Fang Meixiang's mother always remembered her and would send her any good food she had.
Fang Meixiang doesn't know how to tidy up the house, and Fang Damiao is lazy.
The first few times Fang Meixiang's mother visited, she would tidy up the room and say to Fang Damiao, "Damiao, look how tidy the room is, it will be more comfortable for you and Meixiang to stay here."
“Yes, yes, yes,” Fang Damiao nodded in response each time.
However, after Fang Meixiang's mother tidied up several times, she found that Fang Damiao had not changed his lazy habits at all. The next few times Fang Meixiang's mother nagged him, he showed an impatient expression instead.
Fang Meixiang's mother then realized that she could no longer do these things for them. She had gotten used to it, and it was as if it had become her own responsibility, and Fang Damiao was becoming dependent on her.
“Her dad, you need to be a bit stricter with Da Miao so he’ll be afraid of you and think twice before doing things. He’ll be more willing to listen to you. As for me, I’ll be nicer to him and hope he can be nicer to our Mei Xiang.”
"Well, Da Miao is lazy by nature. It's a bit difficult for him to live a good life. If we keep urging him, things will be a little better than before."
“If Meixiang hadn’t been pregnant, I wouldn’t have married her.” Fang Meixiang’s mother thought for a moment and then said, “But Meixiang is like this, she won’t be able to marry into a good family. She might even be beaten if she marries into another family, which would be pitiful. Damiao, Damiao shouldn’t beat her, right?”
Fang Meixiang's mother suddenly became worried.
"I still have the strength now, so he probably doesn't have the guts. But what will happen when I'm older?"
"Sigh, if only I had a brother here..." Fang Meixiang's mother looked ahead, thinking of her deceased son.
However, if her younger brother were still alive, Fang Meixiang wouldn't be in this state now, Fang Meixiang's mother sighed.
Fang Shugen's family, the newlywed daughter-in-law was asked to work in the fields, for fear that the villagers would see and gossip.
At home, while washing clothes, cleaning, and chopping firewood, Fang Shugen's mother never let Hua Mei stop working.
"She's really good at working." I thought, watching Hua Mei's efficient movements.
Aside from cooking, Fang Shugen's mother arranged for Hua Mei to do all the chores at home.
After all, in her mind, Hua Mei was a madwoman, and she was afraid that she would leave things lying around while cooking.
After asking Hua Mei to wash the dishes for breakfast and lunch, she would wash the dishes herself after everyone finished dinner.
Tree Root's mother called Fang Tree Root aside.
“You can’t give in to her tonight. I’ll be at the door. If she doesn’t comply, call me and we’ll tie her up. Then she’ll have no choice but to do as you say.”
"Mother, isn't this inappropriate?"
"What's wrong with that? She's your wife, so she has to sleep with you. If she doesn't comply, you'll have to force yourself on her. Don't you want that?"
Fang Shugen had been single for several years, and at his prime age, how could he not want to be single? Fang Shugen hesitated and nodded.
Hua Mei washed the dishes, then wiped the stove, and then straightened the dining table and chairs.
Then he took a broom and started sweeping the floor, lingering in the kitchen and refusing to leave.
"Hua Mei, you've had a busy day, you must be tired. Go wash up and rest," Shu Gen's mother said "concernedly" as she walked over.
Hua Mei ignored her and continued sweeping.
Fang Shugen's mother snatched the broom away, "If you keep sweeping, you'll sweep a hole in the floor."
Hua Mei, now without her broom, remained frozen in place.
Fang Shugen's mother put the broom aside and pulled her to the back door.
The water drawn down from the mountain behind the gate is stored in a large vat, which is always filled with water.
A wooden basin was placed next to it, from which water was drawn from a large vat, which could be used for both washing clothes and bathing.
A low wall was built over the back door, and once the door was closed, it became a relatively secluded space.
Hua Mei broke free from Shu Gen's mother's hand and walked towards their own room.
"Tree Root, why don't you go to your room too?"
Fang Shugen followed.
Tree Root Mom paced back and forth a few steps with the back of her hand on the palm of her other hand, then turned to get the hemp rope she had found last night.
Hua Mei came over carrying clothes.
"Oh, she went to get her clothes. I forgot. Looks like she's not so stupid after all." Tree Root's mother immediately put on a smile. "Flower, be a good girl, take a bath and go to sleep. As long as you're good, we'll all treat you well."
Hua Mei ignored her and slammed the back door shut. A moment later, the sound of water splashing could be heard.
Fang Shugen's mother sat by the back door waiting.
I waited for a long time, and there was still the sound of water inside.
Fang Shugen's mother pushed open the door, and Hua Mei was washing clothes.
"Hua Mei, leave the clothes here for now, we'll wash them together tomorrow. It's already late, you should go to bed."
Hua Mei ignored her and continued washing her clothes.
Fang Shugen's mother went up to pull her, but she stood still.
"Go to your room, I'll sleep on the floor tonight," Fang Shugen said from the side.
Hua Mei then walked towards her room.
Fang Shugen's mother stared at her retreating figure with a stiff face. "My words don't carry any weight anymore?" She turned to glare at Fang Shugen. "Shugen, you have to sleep with her tonight! Are you still letting her do as she pleases? Can't you even control a fool?"
Fang Shugen didn't say anything and went into the room.
Fang Shugen's mother gripped the hemp rope tightly, sensing that Hua Mei wouldn't submit so quickly.
Fang Shugen closed the door, but didn't bolt it.
He spread the mat he had slept on the night before on the ground.
After he laid out the mat, Hua Mei took a pillow from the bed and handed it to Fang Shugen.
Fang Shugen took the pillow and suddenly hugged Hua Mei tightly.
Hua Mei struggled fiercely and kicked over the chair next to her.
Hearing the commotion, Tree Root's mother immediately pushed the door open and came in. Before Hua Mei could break free from Fang Tree Root's embrace, she quickly tied her arms and body together with a rope.
Hua Mei's arms were no longer able to move freely, so she could only keep them close to her body, waving her hands wildly and grabbing at the tree roots.
"Tie her hands up!" Fang Shugen's mother shouted.
Fang Shugen hesitated for a moment, but still did as instructed.
After her hands were tied, Hua Mei ran around the room, trying to get out of the room.
Seeing this, Tree Root's mother quickly bolted the door shut.
"Tree Root, press her to the ground."
Fang Shugen carried Hua Mei and laid her down on the mat on the ground.
With her hands tied, Hua Mei couldn't get up and could only look up at the room in terror.
"If you cooperate, we won't hurt you," Fang Shugen's mother said to her from the side. As soon as she got close to her, Hua Mei cried out and scurried away to the side.
“Shugen, let’s do it here,” Fang Shugen’s mother said to her son.
"Mom, you're still here..." Fang Shugen felt a little uncomfortable.
"I'm going out. Are you sure you can manage on your own?"
"You can't just stand here and watch, can you?"
Tree Root Mom smiled, "Okay, I'll go out."
After his mother went outside, Fang Shugen came over and bolted the door.
Fang Shugen's mother left the room but stood at the door for a while longer, still worried.
At first, there were shouts and struggles from Hua Mei inside, but after a while, there was no more noise.
Hua Mei lay on the mat, with Fang Shugen on top of her, doing what he believed a husband should do, and what he also wanted to do.
Hua Mei turned her face to the side and looked at the painting on the wall in despair.
The painting depicts a chubby little boy holding a carp; the painting itself is now covered in dust.
“Shugen,” came Fang Shugen’s mother’s voice from outside the door.
"Mom, go to sleep," Fang Shugen replied from inside.
"Oh, you guys..." Fang Shugen's mother didn't ask any more questions at the door and turned back to her own room.
But after taking a few steps, he stopped, worried that Hua Mei might run out at night.
She simply found a lock and locked the door from the outside before going to sleep with peace of mind.
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