Ugly girl only wants to farm

Chapter 305 The Calm Lake (45)

No matter what Meng Jiu said to Xu Chaoyan that night, she ignored him. When it was time to rest, she even kicked him out of the room.

Meng Jiu knocked softly on the door. In the still of the night, even the slightest sound was clearly audible, so he didn't dare to shout too loudly. His voice was filled with grievance and helplessness.

"My dear wife, don't you know what kind of person I am? Please, just open the door and let me in. It's the middle of the night, and it's not good for anyone to see us. I'm covered in mosquito bites."

Xu Chaoyan was busy fanning away mosquitoes. The weather had been getting hotter these past few days, and there were more and more mosquitoes. She should burn some mosquito-repelling herbs soon, and also hang up the mosquito net.

She was fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan inside, making a loud clattering sound, while Meng Jiuhe outside was wailing and complaining, begging for the door to open.

Xu Chaoyan's mocking voice came from inside the room: "You know it's not good for people to see you like this. Everyone says that widows attract gossip, and you still deliberately walk into the line of fire. Of all people to choose, you had to choose a widow. Now look what you've done. Let me tell you, Meng Jiuhe, either you move out, or I'll leave right now. I'll count to three, and if you don't leave, don't blame me for turning my back on you. You didn't even write the divorce papers I asked you to write. Don't think that no one else can write them. Tomorrow I'll go to the street and find someone to write letters for me. Then everyone will know about this, and I'll see how you'll face anyone then."

Xu Chaoyan was so angry that she threw the palm-leaf fan on the ground. Then, feeling uncomfortable, she went over and stomped on it a few times, as if the palm-leaf fan was Zhang Qiao'er's face.

She said this woman had no good intentions in approaching them; she was just waiting for her here. She had previously looked down on them for being poor and insisted on breaking off the engagement, but now that she sees them living a good life, she wants to get close to them. How dare she dream on!

What angered her was that Meng Jiuhe always consulted her about everything. Even if it meant going to the widow's house, he should have discussed it properly with her. How could she refuse? They were from the same place, and there was the kindness from their ancestors. Plus, how could she refuse if his parents came over for a chat and a meal?

What angered her was that Meng Jiu had gone to the widow's house on his own initiative, only to end up causing trouble for himself. He had touched someone else with his dog paws, and now he couldn't even think about touching her.

After hearing Xu Chaoyan's threatening words, Meng Jiuhe's voice softened, as he had never seen his wife lose her temper before.

This time she was truly angry, but she also genuinely blamed herself. His final act of stubbornness led him to speak up again to try and persuade her.

"My wife, please open the door and let me explain. I'll accept any punishment later."

Xu Chaoyan was both annoyed and amused to see him clinging to the door like a cat. She picked up the palm-leaf fan from the ground and slammed it against the door with a "smack".

"Get as far away from me as possible. You're filthy now, and I find you disgusting."

Startled by the palm-leaf fan, Meng Jiu quickly released his grip on the door and decided to let his wife calm down first: "Alright, my wife, I'll go and clean it up right away. I'll make sure there's not a trace left. You should rest early and don't get angry. Be careful not to get too angry and harm your health."

Meng Jiuhe knew there was no point in continuing the conversation; his wife was in a bad mood, and he would let her vent her anger first.

He'll just make do in the study tonight. But when he thinks about that hard little couch in the study, he can't help but sigh and lament, "If only I had known this would happen."

Just then, Zhang Xuyang came out carrying a wooden basin to empty the water from washing his feet. Seeing his dejected look, he came over and greeted him: "What's wrong with you? Did your wife kick you out? What happened between you two today? My sister said your wife came back in a huff. Did you have an argument? We men should be more tolerant. Your wife works so hard, managing both the household and the outside world."

Meng Jiuhe lowered his head and said weakly, "I understand. I'll go to the study to rest for a while tonight, and I'll explain to her properly tomorrow."

After leading the people into the house, Meng Xiuzhi peeked around from that side, eager to see what would happen.

Grandma Meng propped herself up with some difficulty, her back aching from lying down all day: "What are you looking at? Peeking out like a dog in the middle of the night, you're not thinking of sneaking out to fool around again while I'm asleep, are you? Let me tell you, don't do anything shameful that the neighbors will find out about, you'll make me lose all face. Besides, I need to get up at night and stuff, I can't be left alone."

Meng Xiuzhi said impatiently, "Mother, what are you saying? Why would I sneak out? I think I just heard the two little ones arguing. I was just worried about them."

Grandmother Meng became interested upon hearing this: "Listen carefully to see if they really quarreled, preferably if they quarreled fiercely. She made Jiuhe divorce that Xu woman and now she feeds me food that has no oil or fat at all. Is she trying to starve this old woman to death?"

For several days in a row, Xu Chaoyan ignored Meng Jiuhe. She originally planned to find someone to write the divorce papers the next day, get him to sign them, and then take them to the government office to get them stamped.

Originally, her relationship with this scholar Meng was deep but unfulfilled. Since he had met his true love, she would let him be. Now, although they weren't extremely wealthy, they were at least well-off. She refused to believe she couldn't survive here with her own hands.

She had already planned to leave the shop and the courtyard to them. All she needed to do was take the silver and find a new place to live. But imagination is beautiful, reality is cruel, and plans can never keep up with changes.

On this day, the tofu pudding shop was selling breakfast as usual. Their fresh bamboo shoot and pork buns were very popular, and when paired with a bowl of rich soy milk, they made people's mouths water.

Meng Jiu was very attentive, helping him with this and that, but Xu Chaoyan didn't give him a kind look. She used to prepare breakfast for him. Now she didn't care about him at all.

Meng Jiuxia observed the interaction between the two, and when Xu Chaoyan was not around, she quietly asked, "Big brother, did you and sister-in-law have a fight?"

Meng Jiuhe patted her head and said, "You're just a little kid, don't ask questions. Go and get me some food."

Meng Jiuxia was a little angry and looked dissatisfied: "Big brother, can you please stop rubbing my head? I'm not a child anymore. You two look a bit off, I guess you two had a fight. I'm telling you, you're such a grown man, why are you arguing with your wife? Who does she work so hard for all day? Besides writing, what else can you do? As a man, can't you be a little more considerate of her?"

Meng Jiuhe didn't say a word after being scolded by his younger sister, he just nodded and said, "Big brother understands."

Meng Jiuxia, who had gone to get him breakfast, took a few steps but then turned back, looking at him angrily: "Brother, you haven't fallen for some courtesan, have you? This county town is indeed a place of extravagance and debauchery, making people corrupt you too."

A sharp rap on the head landed on her: "You should spend less time reading those storybooks and listening to the nonsense the storytellers spout. What do you, an unmarried woman, know about such things?"

Meng Jiuxia picked up the empty bowl and shoved it into his hand: "What this book says is true. There really isn't a single good man. Do you think my sister-in-law isn't pretty enough? Do you have your eye on some rich girl and want to become her live-in son-in-law?"

Seeing that her words were becoming increasingly outrageous, Meng Jiuhe's expression changed and became more serious: "You're not young anymore. Who told you to look at this nonsense? In a few days, I'll have your sister-in-law find you a husband. You should learn more from your aunt how to manage a household and do needlework, so you won't have these wild thoughts all day. You also need to change your personality. By the way, where did your sister-in-law go? I haven't seen them."

Meng Jiuxia pouted, on the verge of tears: "I've only been eating for a few years, and you already think I'm a burden. I haven't even come of age yet, and you're already planning to marry me off, so eager to find someone. Do you really want to sell me for those dowry gifts? You're a bad person, no wonder my sister-in-law argued with you, you deserve it."

Looking at his angry and irritable younger sister, and then at the empty bowl in his hand, Meng Jiuhe felt extremely annoyed. He even gave Zhang Qiao'er's family a rare opportunity to greet them.

Xu Chaoyan and Jiang Xinyi were busy at the shop early in the morning when an old woman rushed in, saying that her daughter had fallen seriously ill. The Yu family not only didn't call a doctor, but also said that it was normal for children to get sick and that she would be fine in a day or two.

Jiang Xinyi was so anxious that she was at a loss and her body went limp. Fortunately, Xu Chaoyan steadied her and hurriedly led people over.

Jiang Xinyi was very worried and tears streamed down her face: "I told him earlier that I should take my daughter with me and that he should remarry. He wanted to use his daughter to control me and made me send money back every month. His mother is a stingy person and favors boys over girls. She must have starved the child because she didn't feed her properly."

After hurrying for half an hour, the two arrived not far from the Yu family's house and heard the child's heart-wrenching cries and the old woman's angry curses.

"You little slut, all you do is cry and wail. You've squandered all your good fortune with your howling. Are you wailing for someone's funeral? Your shameless mother doesn't want you anymore, and you're still wailing here. As long as I have food to eat, you won't starve."

After she finished speaking, she picked up her bowl and began to eat the food in it in large mouthfuls.

A woman standing nearby couldn't bear to watch any longer and asked, "Sister-in-law, why don't you find someone to check on the child? His voice sounds hoarse from crying. Is he really feeling unwell? If Xin Yi comes back and sees you abusing the child like this, she won't give you any money for food."

The old woman slammed her bowl on the wooden table with a "bang": "Listen to her howling so loudly, where is she sick? She's just putting on an act! A little girl like her is lucky to have food to eat. My Yu family hasn't mistreated her. If anyone owes her anything, it's her shameless mother. If I had known she came from that brothel, I shouldn't have married her in the first place. She's made me lose face in the village and made my son a bachelor. She's a jinx!"

The woman glanced worriedly into the house, then hesitated before speaking again, "Sister-in-law, she's still your granddaughter. Even if you don't find a doctor for her, couldn't you at least call her out and give her some food?"