Chapter 5: The Sisters-in-law Compete in Acting

  Mao Shi and Yao Cun Hui hastily got up, each calling out to the other with a smile as they welcomed them out the door. Yao Cun Hui's mouth twitched slightly: "Luo Mei Yuan is really lively today!"

  "Big sister is here, haha, it's really rare to run into you!" Mrs. Mao said with a fake smile and a hint of sarcasm.

  Mrs. Ma cast a lukewarm glance at her, humming softly through her nose, and said indifferently as she walked in: "Hui'er is my daughter, I should come take a look as her mother!" She sat down, turned her head to gaze at Yao Cunhui with a smile, asking if she was uncomfortable or what she wanted to eat for dinner, etc. Her words were full of concern and intentionally mentioned that she had sent Old Mother Qiao over to visit earlier.

  Yao Cunhui secretly smiled to herself: Indeed, she's a person who values face extremely! If the Mao family hadn't come, perhaps she wouldn't have come either? She wants face, and if she wants face, she'll have to exchange it with inner substance!

  Yao Cunhui naturally wouldn't let her sing a solo, and with a gentle and weak smile, she gave a soft answer. With a motherly and filial appearance, they were harmonious and happy together. Ma Shi was indeed very pleased, and with a provocative and satisfied glance, she shot a look at Mao Shi.

  Mr. Mao felt very uninterested and forced a smile as he chatted idly.

  Mao was the daughter of an imperial censor, a true lady from a noble family, and had been proud and arrogant since childhood. Unfortunately, not all imperial censors have a strong backbone, and this Mao imperial censor was a greedy person. Although the Yao family was a royal merchant, with a large business, in the eyes of a truly scholarly family, they still couldn't shake off the character "merchant".

  This marriage, Mrs. Mao was unhappy in her heart. The husband's family was a merchant, and the husband was not even the eldest son, really having no face and no status! In Mrs. Mao's eyes, such a person had no elegant bones, was disgustingly plebeian, and didn't understand what "red sleeves adding fragrance to night reading" meant, nor could he engage in poetic repartee with her and spread beautiful stories? Her little daughter's romantic thoughts were completely shattered by reality.

  Over the years, that proud and arrogant personality gradually became sharp-tongued and sarcastic.

  In the past, when Dajie Yun was still around, because she was the daughter of Yun Xiang, and had married into a merchant family just like her, Mao Shi would feel somewhat better. Whenever she felt resentful in her heart, thinking about Yun would make her feel much better.

  It's said that Yun was even less worthy than her, if not for the fact that Master had saved Yun Xiang's life back then, how would the eldest daughter of a high-ranking official like Yun end up marrying Eldest Uncle?

  But now that Yun has passed away, Ma is in charge of the household, and Mao's heart is filled with a thousand and one grievances, resentments, and discontentments! A rough and unrefined woman from a humble background, who was even a concubine elevated to the status of wife, how could she be the mistress of the house? Mao seethes with hatred in her heart, and behind her husband's back, she makes veiled criticisms and complaints, having cried and made a scene countless times, and gotten into who-knows-how-many quarrels. But what can she do about it? At most, she can just vent her frustrations for the time being!

  However, although in substance it cannot shake Ma's position as the manager of the house, Mao still constantly finds fault with Ma and does not let her have a good time. The two people's open and secret struggles over the years have never stopped in the backyard of the Yao family, and everyone has long been accustomed to it.

  Just as they were talking, Alan came back with the things. Mrs. Mao's spirits lifted and she took them from Alan's hands and personally handed them to Yao Cunhui, smiling warmly and speaking in a gentle tone: "Hui'er, don't forget to have Honglian take these to the kitchen every day to stew a bowl of red dates, silver fungus, and lotus seed porridge. It's extremely good for you girls who are used to eating it, as it nourishes your energy and complexion. Don't be polite with Second Aunt, just use them up and then have someone go to Second Aunt's place to get more!"

  Before she could finish, Mrs. Ma's face turned as black as a pot bottom, her body trembling with rage. Without waiting for Yao Cunhui to speak, Mrs. Ma pushed away Yao Cunhui's hand and returned the item to Mao Shi, forcing a smile: "Oh my, how can you be so polite! You should keep it for yourself, you're not easy on the purse strings either! Hui'er needs to nourish herself well, this is where I, as her mother, have failed! Mingxia, from tomorrow on, stew a bowl of bird's nest and send it over to Second Miss every day!"

  "Yes, milady!"

  "With mother's concern, Hui'er has already felt uneasy, how can she still accept Second Aunt's generous gift? Second Aunt's kindness is appreciated by Hui'er, but she dare not accept the expensive gift!" Yao Cunhui looked at Ma Shi with gratitude and smiled as he spoke to Mao Shi.

  Mrs. Mao was originally irritated by Mrs. Ma's sarcastic words, but after hearing Yao Cunhui's words, she felt slightly better and took the opportunity to step down, smiling as she put things away. She glanced at Yao Cunhui and suddenly smiled: "Hui'er is getting more and more clever, really has a seven-aperture clever heart! Tomorrow when you're free, remember to visit Second Aunt's place! Eldest Sister, I won't disturb your mother-daughter reunion anymore!"

  "Slow down, brother and sister!" Madam Ma's handkerchief suddenly tightened, her face twisted as she saw off the guests. Mr. Mao felt her disgust, his sharp eyes scanning Yao Cunhui, flashing twice.

  Yao Cun Hui stood quietly with her eyes cast down, secretly smiling wryly in her heart. This Second Aunt wasn't a simple person either, and before leaving, she still had to stir up trouble for her! She really was using herself as a shield!

  As soon as Mao left, the atmosphere in the house suddenly became quiet, the crows and sparrows stopped chirping, the maids held their breath and didn't dare to move, Hong Lian was so tense that her heart was suspended in mid-air.

  When no outsiders were present, how Ma treated Yao Cunhui was clear in everyone's heart.

  At this time, Ma was frowning, her inquiring gaze constantly scanning Yao Cunhui's body, as if to see what changes had taken place on her. Her gaze was too reckless and sharp, without a hint of warmth, making Yao Cunhui feel extremely uncomfortable, just like being stripped naked.

  Yao Cunhui couldn't help but sigh, when Yun passed away, Ben Zun was still young, under the torture of Ma's narrow-minded and cruel stepmother, it's really not easy to grow up and get married without psychological distortion!

  What a pity! Now Ma is facing her instead of the original Yao Cunhui!

  "Mother," Yao Cunhui lifted her head and revealed a brilliant smile to Madam Ma, her clear eyes shining straight at her, gratefully smiling: "Hui'er is fine now, really! Thank you, Mother, for your concern!"

  Yao Cunhui clearly saw the muscles at the corner of Ma's mouth twitching twice, his pupils suddenly opening wide as if he had been frightened, and his body trembling slightly. Qiao Mama, Mingxia, Honglian, and Hongzhi were all shocked and stunned.

  "It's all right!" Mrs. Ma felt a little flustered for no reason, subconsciously avoiding eye contact, and said lightly: "Rest well! There's no need to come over to pay respects tonight or early tomorrow morning!"

  That is to say, don't forget to pay your respects tomorrow night!

  "Yes, thank you, Mother." Yao Cunhui smiled softly.

  Ma suddenly felt uneasy all over, and hummed a low, inaudible sound. His eyes fell on Hongzhi, who was still kneeling on the ground, and he immediately became enraged, shouting: "This ignorant slave dares to climb onto his master's head and act arrogant! Qiaomama, give him ten slaps!"

  "Madam, spare my life!" Hongzhi knelt on the ground for half a moment without anyone paying attention to her. She had been secretly suffering in silence and when she heard that Madam Ma was going to beat her without reason, she burst into tears.

  The lady's intention to shift her anger, how could she not understand? The madam is blaming her for not reporting the changes of the second young lady in time! But heaven knows, she also knew nothing about it beforehand just like the madam!

  "Twenty lashes!" Mrs. Ma hated nothing more than disobedient slaves. She gave her a cold, hard stare before turning and walking away.

  Hongzhi's crying suddenly stopped, and she stared blankly as she watched Madame leave, allowing Old Mother Qiao to slap her mouth severely.

  The crisp sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in her heart, mixed with the muffled and painful low cries of Hongzhi. As Yao Cunhui listened, she felt a chill run down her spine and her heart racing. She was not a ruthless person after all, and she couldn't bear to face such a scene calmly. But this was Ma's order, and it was originally their internal conflict, what did it have to do with her?

  "I'm a bit tired, Honglian, help me in!" Yao Cunhui weakly instructed.

  Hong Yu was startled and someone stepped forward to support her, softly and anxiously inquiring about her well-being, then escorted her into the inner chamber.

  Qiao's mother finished beating her, and coldly threw down a sentence "good luck" to Hongzhi who was paralyzed on the ground, and left. Honglian came out of the room, pitied her with a glance, felt very uncomfortable in her heart, and quietly helped her back to the house to apply medicine and rest.

  Tears of gratitude streamed down her face as she whispered a soft "thank you!" Today's unexpected turn of events had almost completely destroyed all her confidence and self-respect!

  The next morning, Yao Cun Hui got up early again without asking for permission. She walked around the yard to loosen her muscles and breathe in the fresh morning air. This body was a bit weak and needed exercise. Before crossing over, she was born into a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and grew up watching medical books and playing with medicinal materials and acupuncture from a young age. Although she only lived to be twenty-eight years old, her medical skills were not simple, and she had an even better understanding of the condition of this body.

  The small courtyard is as simple as the house, with a bleak and weathered courtyard wall, the base of the wall is covered with deep and shallow moss, occasionally two or three thin and weak grasses emerge, adding to the desolation.

  In the courtyard, no other flowers or trees were planted, only a row of tall and lush jasmine was planted opposite the corridor.

  It was mid-June, the dark green long leaves were full of life force, the tender and bright red flowers were all over the branches, red flowers and green leaves, what a beautiful sight! But who would have thought that hidden within was a sinister plot.

  Yao Cunhui smiled slightly coldly, her stepmother was indeed kind and thoughtful towards her and her sister!

  "Second Miss is back!" A wife's voice, neither enthusiastic nor resentful, rang out, and the half-old vermilion gate of the courtyard was pushed open from outside.

  Yao Cunhui slightly turned her head, and it was Li Linjia's wife, who was in charge of the kitchen, carrying a small, cylindrical bamboo basket with a brown cover.

  "It turned out to be Li Lin's sister-in-law, but what's the matter?" Yao Cunhui's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her eyes turned shallow as she smiled and asked. In fact, as soon as she saw her, she had already understood why she came.

  Li Lin's family was stunned, and then accompanied by a smile, he walked forward, raised the tin box in his hand, and smiled: "Look, I've brought swallow's nest congee for the young lady, this is personally ordered by Old Mother Qiao from the mistress's courtyard!"

  Li Lin's family stressed the two words "in person", with an undisguised tone of patronizing and preaching.

  Yao Cunhui secretly sneered, another dog of the Ma family! Did they think that with just this little thing, she would be grateful and tearfully thankful? The Yao family had plenty of money, what was there to be grateful for when a legitimate Miss Yao from the Yao family ate some bird's nest congee?

  Moreover, it seems that Mr. Ma said yesterday was swallow's nest, but today is good, after a night has become swallow's nest congee.

  (Collection, click, and recommendation are welcome~~)

  "Zhu Men Chun Shen" latest chapter is released by Yun Qi Shu Yuan, the fastest and most popular online release site! (This site provides: traditional pagination, waterfall two modes, can be selected in settings)