Ugly girl only wants to farm

Meng Jiuhe frowned slightly, put down his chopsticks, and looked up at his mother, who seemed troubled. "Mother, I have to go back to school today. I've missed a lot of lessons these days and fallen behind. I'm afraid I can't..."

Li Sanniang was usually quite mild-mannered, but at this moment she frowned slightly, somewhat displeased with her son's actions: "Since you've married her, you should still observe proper etiquette. Jiuhe, isn't what you're doing a bit inappropriate? On the third day after her wedding, you're not going back with the bride. It's embarrassing for your wife."

Xu Chaoyan was called back by Meng's grandmother for a lecture, and she was actually unhappy about it. The old woman had so much to say.

She didn't get enough sleep last night and wanted to go back to sleep for a while, but then she started babbling on and on here.

Her nominal mother-in-law seemed nice and warm, but she didn't appear to have much say in the family.

Her feet were a little sore from standing, so she simply pulled over a stool and sat down. "Do whatever you want," she said, "but it's best not to go back with me; I'm afraid I'll be exposed."

Grandmother Meng frowned and raised her voice: "What are you saying, Jiu and his mother? If your own son's studies aren't important, what is? The three-day homecoming is that important. Don't you know what kind of occasion we're having right now? You still want to send them a congratulatory gift. Wouldn't it be better to save those things for our own use?"

Li San Niang was naturally mild-mannered, so she spoke softly, "Mother-in-law, this is probably not a good idea. It will give people something to talk about later."

Grandmother Meng gave a light scolding and laughed to herself: "What's good or bad about it? Is it more important for your own man to study or to go back to his parents' home? There will be plenty of time to go back later. I've decided on this matter today. Jiuhe should hurry back to his studies and catch up on what he has missed."

"As for this matter, let Jiu and his wife go back and explain it to their in-laws themselves."

Xu Chaoyan was secretly delighted. This was great. She had just eaten nothing but bland soup and water, and her stomach was completely empty. She needed to go back to her father's house for a proper meal.

Li San Niang was about to say something when she was interrupted by Grandmother Meng: "You're a mother-in-law now, just take good care of the whole family. Don't worry about these trivial matters."

Li San Niang agreed, and Meng Jiuhe nodded: "We will follow Grandmother Anmeng's arrangements."

He really didn't want to go to the Xu family or see Xu's father's face.

Meng Jiuxia was secretly delighted. This trumpet flower was going back to her parents' home on the third day. Her brother wouldn't let her go back, which would embarrass her. Let's see if she would dare to act arrogantly in front of her again.

The lunch was much more substantial, although it was still the leftovers from yesterday, but it was much better than that watery porridge.

Xu Chaoyan couldn't help but lick her lips, finally able to enjoy a proper meal.

Just as she was about to sit down at the table, Meng Jiuxia pushed her aside, saying, "This is my seat."

Li San Niang revealed a gentle smile: "Yan'er, come sit here with your mother."

Grandmother Meng glared at her: "The table is so small. There are already a lot of people in our family. This table is already a bit cramped. Now that an outsider has come, let her sit down and eat in the kitchen."

Granny Xu was carrying vegetables out of the kitchen when she saw her daughter being bullied. She was about to go and argue with her when Xu Chaoyan stopped her.

"It's okay, we can just eat over there, and it'll be quieter."

Granny Xu muttered to herself, "That old man Meng is so eager and fickle. Didn't we eat breakfast together? Why isn't it working out now?"

Xu Chaoyan offered a few words of comfort: "Women are naturally fickle, and this older woman is probably going through menopause again."

She couldn't be bothered to squeeze in with these people. Judging from their expressions, the Meng family's grandmother had a mean-spirited look, with high cheekbones and thin lips. She must have been a shrewish and harsh mistress when she was young.

But judging from her relationship with Li San Niang, it seems to be going well. It's probably because Li San Niang is gentle and obedient, which is the type she prefers, so there haven't been too many conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Granny Xu's face turned bright red. When had her daughter ever suffered like this?

Xu Chaoyan took the rice and filled a bowl to the brim, then piled the meat and vegetables into the bowl, making it look like a small mountain.

Meng Jiuxia put down her chopsticks and quickly stopped her: "Morning Flower, how can you eat so much? There are so many of us who need to eat, and Grandma needs to eat meat. Are you a pig?"

Xu Chaoyan chuckled twice: "Yes, I'm a pig that can eat, okay?"

After saying that, he went to the kitchen without looking back, leaving everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

When Meng Jiuhe saw her behavior, he felt disgusted. She was still the same arrogant and unreasonable person. It seemed that her change of attitude towards her this morning was probably just an act. He thought that her personality would change after she got married, but it turned out that was also an act for her to see. Now she couldn't keep up the act anymore.

He put some food in his grandmother's bowl and some in his mother's bowl: "Grandmother, Mother, please eat more."

Grandma Meng flashed what she considered a kind smile: "My Jiuhe is so filial. You should eat more, study hard, and bring honor to our family as soon as possible."

After noon, Grandmother Meng urged her grandson to go to school as soon as possible so that he wouldn't fall too far behind in his studies. She also asked her daughter-in-law to pack his luggage and make some meat pies for him to take with him.

The granddaughter-in-law doesn't look like much, but her in-laws generously sent over a pig yesterday, each weighing over 300 jin (150 catties).

The banquet was held yesterday, and there are still quite a few left over. They'll be able to eat a lot of oil and fat in the coming days.

Grandmother Meng ate a lot of braised pork at noon, and now she was burping one after another, looking very satisfied. Although this ugly woman was eager to marry her grandson, there were still benefits to marrying her. At least the family would have enough to eat. When her grandson became successful in the future, he would definitely divorce her and marry a noblewoman.

When the time comes, she will take him to live in a big house with maids to serve her. Thinking of this, Grandmother Meng couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

Xu Chaoyan was lying in the house at the moment. After lunch, she felt sleepy and wanted to take a nap. Granny Xu was tidying up the things beside her.

Seeing that the girl looked drowsy, he sighed and said, "Sigh, girl, you rest first, this old woman will go out first."

Before he could even leave, Meng Jiuhe rudely pushed the door open and came in. He said casually, "Aunt Xu, you're here too."

"The son-in-law has arrived."

As the saying goes, one cannot hit a smiling face. From now on, this man will be her daughter's pillar of support, and she will have to rely on him. No matter how angry she is, she cannot vent it. Old Mrs. Xu smiled.

"What brings you here, young master?"

Meng Jiuhe opened the cabinet and started packing his luggage, then casually replied, "I'm going to take an oxcart to the school in town later."

He stared at Xu Chaoyan on the bed: "Since you've married into my family, you should fulfill your duties as a daughter-in-law. I'll probably only come back once a month from now on, so you'd better behave yourself and not cause any trouble."

He originally intended to say that he would write her a letter of divorce later, but now was not the right time, as his own father was still working under Xu's father.

His whole family was being manipulated, so for now they could only swallow their anger and wait until they had the power to do something about it.

Xu Chaoyan looked at the man's cold eyes, as if he wanted to kill her.

After saying those words, the man left without waiting for her reply, carrying his bag and turning away.

Xu Chaoyan lay there blankly, pointing at herself: "Mom, what does he mean by this?"

Madam Xu also looked distressed. This girl had married into the family but hadn't won the groom's favor. What would they do in the future? It was true that her family had used some underhanded methods to force this scholar Meng to marry her girl, but the wedding ceremony had already taken place and the marriage had been consummated. What more did he want?

She quickly comforted her, "Sister, don't worry. Rest first. Your husband has to go to school. It's normal for men to prioritize their studies. Just stay home and relax. On the day of your return visit, I'll explain things to him properly."

Xu Chaoyan was too lazy to argue with him. That dog of a man looked decent enough, but he had a terrible temper and was even worse in bed. She could just leave and didn't want to bother with him, lest he disturb her sleep.

He then spread out his legs, ready to comfortably drift off to sleep, when a slightly aged voice came from outside: "Young man of the Meng family, young man of the Meng family, hurry up and set off, or we'll be groping our way in the dark."

Then a commotion arose in the courtyard, along with the voice of Meng's grandmother.

Xu Chaoyan couldn't help but pat her forehead and sigh, "Sigh, I can't even get a good night's sleep. These people are really something."

The houses in the farmhouses are close together, so the sound insulation is not good.

"Nine-He's wife, Nine-He's wife, are you hiding inside hatching eggs? Your husband is leaving and you don't even come out to see him off. Is this how a wife should act?"

Li San Niang chimed in, "Mother-in-law, the young couple probably didn't get enough rest yesterday. Let Yan'er rest a bit. It's not far; she'll be back every two weeks."

Meng Jiuhe took some bundles and some copper coins from his grandmother and put them on the oxcart.

Then he pulled his younger sister aside and instructed her, "Xia'er, you keep a close eye on that woman at home. Make sure nothing goes wrong. Don't let her argue with Mother, and don't let her talk back to Grandmother. You know how arrogant and domineering she is. What if she angers Grandmother?"

Meng Jiuxia nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Don't worry, big brother, I will keep a close eye on that woman."

Li Sanniang frowned slightly and said reproachfully, "Jiuhe is your wife, but what about that woman and Xia Er? She's your sister-in-law."

Meng Jiuxia was somewhat unconvinced: "That morning glory is not worthy of being my sister-in-law. She is illiterate and ugly, like a woman without a face. If she hadn't used tricks, how would she have entered my yard?"

"Meng Jiuxia".

Li San Niang called out loudly, and only then did she calm down a bit.

Meng Jiuhe patted his sister's shoulder: "You should also be a little more careful. Don't argue with her on weekdays. Give in to her when things happen. Harmony in the family is the most important thing."

He doesn't have the means to provide a good life for his family right now, so he'll just have to put up with it for now. He and Xu Chaoyan have already gone through the wedding ceremony and consummated their marriage. As long as she behaves herself and doesn't cause any more trouble in the future...

He wouldn't mind letting her live a peaceful life for the rest of her days. Right now, he was conflicted. Should he give her a divorce later, or should they just continue living like this? He was a scholar, and he would never do something like abandoning his wife and children.

But he was really upset about the marriage, which made him lose face and couldn't hold his head up among his classmates.

He rubbed his hair in frustration. Forget it, I'll not think about that now. The only way out is to study hard so that my family can have a better life.

On the day of her return visit, Li San Niang brought out all the things she had prepared beforehand.

As Meng Jiuxia carried the bags, she complained, "Mom, why did you bring out so many good things? We usually can't bear to eat them, but the Xu family has everything they need, why would they care about these things?"

Li San Niang gently slapped her daughter's hand away: "You're always so greedy. You're a thirteen-year-old girl, yet you still don't know manners. Our family is already in the wrong, so we must do what is proper. We must not let people say that our family has no manners."

"By the way, when your sister-in-law goes back to her parents' home, you and your brother should personally escort her back, so you can look after her along the way."

Meng Jiuxia looked unhappy: "Why should I take her back, Mother? She has hands and feet, does she need me to take her back?"

At this moment, Grandmother Meng came over, supported by her youngest daughter-in-law: "Xia'er is right. What does the Xu family lack? If you take all of this to them, what will our family have left?"

"Sister-in-law, you're too generous. The Xu family would never look at our country stuff."

Liu looked on with envy. Her son was about the same age as Meng Jiuhe, and neither of them were married yet. This eldest son not only got married, but also had a dowry. She was insanely jealous.

Then Grandmother Meng spoke up again: "Keep all these things; they can come in handy when Xiaoman is getting married."

Liu couldn't hide the smile on her face. She had gotten up early this morning to help the old lady get dressed and to say nice things to her, and it hadn't been in vain.

She is Old Mrs. Meng's niece and married to the second son of the Meng family. Yesterday, she was helping out in the kitchen and managed to sneak away with quite a few things.

She was a little unhappy that her husband couldn't come back because he was working in town, and that she missed out on a good meal.

Seeing the things she had saved in her own room, she felt a surge of joy. Fortunately, two years after she married into the family, she saw that the whole family, young and old, lived together, with some sick and others weak. She discussed with her husband about separating the household, and thankfully they did so early, otherwise they would have suffered the same hardships.

Currently, her husband works a job, and she grows some crops in the village. The family of four is managing to get by.

The old lady initially refused to separate the family property. It was only after the girl cried, made a scene, and threatened suicide that the old lady finally took pity on her and allowed the second branch of the family to separate.

They even built a house next to the eldest son's house.

"Mother, the hairpin on that morning glory is really pretty."

At this moment, her youngest daughter, Meng Taohua, pointed at the hairpin and spoke with an envious expression.

The old lady of the Meng family glanced at Xu Chaoyan without showing any emotion, thinking that she was a sensible person. However, after waiting for a long time without any movement, she became somewhat unhappy.