Siheyuan: Walking the Path of Qin Huairu

As for Xu Jianshe and Hu Yingzi, after returning to Hebei Province, they first went to the Hu family in Shilipu. They presented the New Year gifts they brought back, five catties of meat, five catties of fish, and two boxes of Daoxiangcun cakes. They also gave Hu's mother fifty yuan as a betrothal gift.

To deal with someone as short-sighted as Hu's mother, just use money.

Sure enough, when Hu's mother saw so much money and food, she was so happy that her teeth were not visible. You know, in their rural areas, marrying a daughter-in-law can be done with a bag of coarse grains. In a disaster year, marrying off a daughter is just the right thing to do to reduce one mouth to feed in the family.

The son-in-law was so generous, which showed that he valued his daughter. It also brought honor to the Hu family. As the saying goes, the more the mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the more he likes him.

Xu Jianshe's appearance can't be said to be handsome, but he is cool and handsome. Hu's mother is very satisfied with this son-in-law. After her daughter gets married, even if she settles down in Beijing, she will be able to help her brothers in the future.

What Mother Hu thinks about most is always her sons. She just doesn't know whether her sons will be able to respect her when she is old in this life.

After staying at Hu's house for one night, the next day was the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month. According to the rural rule, married girls cannot spend the New Year at their parents' home. So, Xu Jianshe and his partner rushed to Xujiawan early in the morning.

After entering the old Xu's house, Xu Jianshe introduced Hu Yingzi to Xu's father and mother. Hu Yingzi lowered her head and called "Dad, Mom" ​​in a pleasant manner.

The old couple probably thought it through during this period. If they don't recognize this daughter-in-law, their son will be further and further away from them, so it's better to just hold their noses and recognize her. Once she enters the Xu family, she is their daughter-in-law, so she must respect her parents-in-law.

Although Old Lady Xu was not in a good mood, she did not embarrass them and let them clean up the room by themselves.

Ever since Xu Jianshe went to Beijing, he usually works in the city, and all the housework at home fell on Xu Jianshe's wife Qu Ling. Now that Xu Jianshe has found another city wife, she definitely can't serve her parents-in-law in her hometown. It would be strange if Qu Ling was happy.

When the two sisters-in-law were cooking in the kitchen, Qu Ling said sarcastically: "Oh my, your sister-in-law has such delicate hands, it's obvious that she lives a happy life. My sister-in-law is not so lucky, there is endless work to do at home. Look at my hands, they are covered with calluses." Who among the rural people doesn't have calluses on their hands?

Hu Yingzi adhered to the principle of not offending others unless they offend me, and said with a smile: "I also feel that I am blessed. My parents used their connections to find me a job in the city, so I don't have to work hard in the future. Sister-in-law, you said that my parents are really good to me. Other families give jobs to their sons first, but in our family, it's the opposite. They give jobs to their daughters first. I must be filial to them in the future."

Hu Yingzi's little mouth is full of anger, and she looks very angry. She is going to piss you off to death, you jealous person.

As expected, Qu Ling was speechless after hearing Hu Yingzi's words. She rolled her eyes and said, "Since my sister-in-law is coming home today, I can take a break. I'll go back to the house to see the kids, and I'll leave the cooking to my sister-in-law." After that, she put down the kitchen knife and walked away.

After Qu Ling came into the family, she gave birth to a son, the eldest grandson of the Xu family. The whole family loved him dearly. They named him Xu Shengli, and he is already three years old this year.

Qu Ling slipped away, leaving Hu Yingzi alone. Hu Yingzi grew up in the countryside, so she knew how to use the big stove in the countryside, so cooking a meal was not a problem for her.

However, Hu Yingzi knew that her sister-in-law was trying to intimidate her. If she let him succeed today, she would be treated as a soft persimmon and would become more and more demanding in the future. She would always be suppressed by her sister-in-law in Old Xu's family.

If the Xu family treated Xu Jianshe well, she would endure this humiliation. After all, she would only be at home for two days, so she could just endure it.

However, knowing that Xu Jianshe was not welcomed at home, she was unwilling to tolerate it. Since you don't want to live in peace, then there will be unpeace waiting for you.

Xu Lao Niang was sitting on the kang coaxing her grandson to play when she heard Hu Yingzi's voice: "Mom, how many dishes should we cook for lunch? What should we cook? I'm new here and I don't know where to start."

Old Lady Xu poked her head out to take a look. Only Hu Yingzi was in the kitchen. She was unaware of the quarrel between the two, so she shouted at the top of her voice, "Eldest Wife, go to the kitchen. Your sister-in-law just came and is not familiar with the place."

Qu Ling had just returned to the house and was complaining to Xu Jianshe about her hard work when she heard her mother-in-law's call. She rolled her eyes and reluctantly went back to the kitchen.

She didn't work either, but stood by the door frame, telling Hu Yingzi to do this and that. She also said sarcastically with a look of disdain: "Sister-in-law, you cook too slowly, which shows that you don't exercise enough. Do more in the future, practice makes perfect."

There was a loud "crash" and Hu Yingzi's hand slipped, and a large bowl fell to the ground and broke into pieces.

Hu Yingzi patted her chest with her little hands, looking frightened, and muttered, "Peace every year! Peace every year!"

Hearing the noise, Old Lady Xu walked into the kitchen on her small feet. Seeing the situation in front of her, she scolded angrily: "You want to be paid for doing some work? You are also a useless thing!"

Hu Yingzi chuckled, looking guilty, and said, "I'm sorry, mother. It's all my sister-in-law's fault. She was startled and frightened me, so I dropped the bowl on the ground."

Qu Ling: "Sister-in-law, why do you blame me for your mistakes? When mom says something to you, you just listen obediently, and you dare to talk back?"

Hu Yingzi complained in her heart: "This sister-in-law is also a talent. She knows how to use filial piety as an excuse, and she is standing on the side of Xu Lao Niang in her words and deeds, trying to isolate herself!"

In that case, I'll just give in. Hu Yingzi said, "Mom, this is my first time here. Where are the kitchen items? What should I cook today? How much? What flavor? I'm not familiar with anything. My sister-in-law doesn't help me. She's giving me orders in a weird way, which makes things more complicated for me. I guess I won't be able to have lunch until the evening."

Honestly, what did I do wrong?

Old Lady Xu will definitely favor her eldest daughter-in-law. It depends on the situation, and the old lady will have to take care of them in their old age in the future.

So she said, "Eldest wife, you go look after the children. I'll stay here and help the second wife with cooking." Old Lady Xu wanted to train Hu Yingzi herself.

Qu Ling agreed and left with a smile.

Seeing this, Hu Yingzi muttered, "No wonder everyone says that your family favors the eldest child. It turns out to be true. The rumors are not groundless."

Old Lady Xu said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? They are both my flesh and blood. How could I be partial to them?"

Hu Yingzi echoed, "Mom, you're right! Partiality is unacceptable. As a parent, the most taboo thing is to treat everyone unequally. How does that saying come about? It's not the lack of wealth that's worrying, but the inequality of wealth. Otherwise, those who get the advantage will be complacent, and those who suffer the loss will be indignant, and in the end, fathers and sons will be at odds, and brothers will turn against each other."

Old Lady Xu pointed at Hu Yingzi and said tremblingly, "You...you...it's New Year's Day, and you are here to make trouble for me! Old man, look at the good wife Xu Jianshe married for me, she gave me a cold look as soon as she came in! Are you trying to piss me off to death on New Year's Day!"

Xu Jianshe and Old Master Xu came over after hearing the noise. Xu Jianshe asked with concern, "Yingzi, what's going on?"

Hu Yingzi cried and said, "Jianshe, I didn't do that! I didn't do that! It was my sister-in-law who left the kitchen work to me alone. I was new here and didn't know the situation, so it was a bit difficult. My sister-in-law also mocked me in a sarcastic way, wuwuwu... They bullied me, I want to go back to my parents' home!"

Xu Jianshe pulled Hu Yingzi over and said, "Dad, it's understandable that my wife can't cook since this is her first time here. How about this, I'll help her cook, since I've done all these jobs before. But, dinner will be left to my sister-in-law and brother. We'll cook for one family, and that's the fairest way."

Xu Wannian had already agreed with his wife that he would be nicer to Xu Jianshe in the future. The child was older now and not as easy to fool as when he was little. He couldn't let his son and his mother become estranged. Unexpectedly, something went wrong on the first day.

In rural areas, men generally do not enter the kitchen, and cooking is the job of women. If you let your son enter the kitchen, it will be unpleasant for outsiders to know.

Xu Wannian glared at his wife and said, "What time is it? The meal is not ready yet? You are still complaining here. It is unreasonable to let a man cook. Where is the eldest daughter-in-law? You three should cook together! Hurry up and do it."