"Possessed by evil spirits? Impossible! My cousin is a man of integrity; no filthy thing would dare approach him. Sister-in-law, don’t scare yourself."
After all, it was ancient tis, and deep down, everyone still believed in the existence of so-called ghosts and gods, including Huang Bita.
Therefore, when Mu Shuangshuang was explaining, she did not stray from this general premise, lest it caused discomfort to Huang Bita.
"Shuangshuang, you’re right. Your big cousin has always been healthy, so it can’t be possession, but how to explain that shadow? He said he sees it every night. Surely there isn’t soone camping outside my room, right?"
These words from Huang Bita seed to be directed at Mu Shuangshuang, but to Mu Shuangshuang, they sounded more like self-consolation.
Mu Shuangshuang frowned, thinking: Why would Mu Dalang claim to see a shadow, and see it every night? Could it be a hallucination?
If it wasn’t a hallucination, could it be real?
Suddenly, she rembered that on the night Huang Bita and Mu Dalang married, Mrs. Lin from Old Mu Family cried out loudly about a thief.
At that ti, the thief seed to co from the direction of Mu Dalang and Huang Bita’s bridal chamber, and the next day, her family’s latrine looked like it had been bombed with firecrackers, with excrent everywhere.
It nearly made her sick to death.
Based on the filthy traces left on the ground at that ti, Mu Shuangshuang felt that soone had fled to her family’s latrine, afraid of being discovered, so they jumped into her latrine to hide from everyone’s sight!
The more Mu Shuangshuang thought about it, the more she felt that this was likely what happened.
She said, "Bita, do you rember your wedding night? The commotion you heard in the bridal chamber at the ti when Second Aunt called out about a thief.
Can you tell roughly what hour it was and what happened? I suspect that the shadow Big Cousin sees is the thief from that night."
Huang Bita had an impression of that incident too.
That night, she and Dalang were preparing to consummate their marriage, but because of the thief, Dalang rushed out, and in the end, she waited an entire night without Dalang returning, and she eventually fell asleep, leaving the consummation matter unresolved.
"Oh my God, could it be sothing so terrifying? What thief would lurk outside my and Dalang’s door all the ti?" Huang Bita cried out in alarm.
"Perhaps, it wasn’t a thief," Mu Shuangshuang said with a serious expression, and deep down, an answer was about to erge.
"Sister-in-law, don’t forget that at our Old Mu Family’s banquets, whether for red or white events, the bride price collected is all kept by our grandma.
Even you and my Big Cousin as the ones involved don’t know the amount or where the dowry is kept.
If it was really a thief, do you think they’d foolishly guard outside your and Big Cousin’s room instead of risking it in grandma’s room? I think the person’s purpose for watching outside your room was not money at all."
"If not for money, then for what?" Huang Bita was puzzled.
She was in a haze, completely unable to grasp the aning of Mu Shuangshuang’s words.
If not for money, what else would a thief be after?
"People!" Mu Shuangshuang replied. "Sister-in-law, don’t think I’m scaring you, but I suspect... that so-called thief might be Fifth Uncle."
Besides Mu Danian, Mu Shuangshuang really couldn’t think of anyone else so vile that they’d stake out and eavesdrop outside soone else’s room.
Sure enough, Huang Bita’s body swayed and almost fell to the ground upon hearing Mu Shuangshuang’s words.
If not for Mu Shuangshuang’s tily support, Huang Bita might have already fallen and cracked her head.
"Oh my God, why won’t he let go, why... sob..." Huang Bita began to cry, heartbroken.
A woman, marrying into another family, with no kin or relatives.
The mother-in-law disliked her, would beat and humiliate her at will, and grandma insulted her with words, even suggesting she was having an affair with the grandfather...
Recalling these things, Huang Bita nearly died of heartbreak.
Tears welled up and fell continuously.
Mu Shuangshuang felt distressed watching her, wondering if she should have refrained from telling Huang Bita these things.
But if she didn’t say anything, she genuinely feared Huang Bita would suffer even more harm.
"Bita... I know you feel hurt inside, and I’m aware that Grandma and Second Aunt don’t treat you well.
Being a daughter-in-law in Old Mu Family is this miserable; look at my Big Aunt, she’s a scholar’s wife, yet my Big Uncle still engages in a secret love affair.
Grandma will still scold however she pleases. I’m telling you this not to make you despair, but to let you know that only by jumping out of this fiery pit can you live a better life. Only by resisting will you not be oppressed for a lifeti."
Mu Shuangshuang gently patted Huang Bita’s back.
"Look at my mother; although she doesn’t hold a position in Old Mu Family, now that she doesn’t rely on Old Mu Family for food and drink, Grandma can’t do anything to her as long as she doesn’t co over here."
"So you should learn from my mother, like our third branch, to beco independent from Old Mu Family and live your own life," Mu Shuangshuang said.
Mu Shuangshuang’s words moved Huang Bita.
If they could separate, she wouldn’t have to suffer her mother-in-law’s unwarranted scolding, nor would she be ordered around by Old Mrs. Mu...
"But how should I do it? Shuangshuang, I’m not as capable as you. I can’t earn money; all I can do is embroidery and handicrafts, cooking, and laundry.
But these are things every woman can do; I’m afraid if we leave Old Mu Family, Dalang and I will starve."
Mu Shuangshuang shook her head, "Have you forgotten that Big Cousin is currently preparing to raise pigs and butcher them?"
Huang Bita sighed, "Shuangshuang, to be honest with you, the money that your Big Cousin has is not enough; the three piglets were borrowed.
Wang Erma’s old sow was supposedly agreed upon to be given to us, but your Big Cousin hasn’t paid yet, so no one knows how it will end up."
Deep down, Huang Bita wasn’t as clueless as she appeared.
She actually understood that although her husband wanted to accomplish sothing, without startup funds, what he wanted to do was far from easy.
"Sister-in-law, this should be discussed with Big Cousin, including the things Fifth Uncle did before.
As I said before, there should be honesty between husband and wife. Brother Da Lang is your husband, and when you face difficulties, it is only right for him to share these burdens."
In Mu Shuangshuang’s view, this was probably the sorrow of the won of this era.
When trouble arose, the only person they could turn to was their own husband.
Unlike her, when sothing happened, she could take a wooden stick, by herself, and beat those who bullied her until they wet themselves, to the point where their parents wouldn’t recognize them.
However, such a violent thod was only suitable for her.
Won of this era generally lacked her kind of ferocity.
"Really... really need to find your Big Cousin?" Huang Bita was still a bit hesitant.
"Of course, this matter can’t be solved by anyone but Big Cousin," Mu Shuangshuang said.
User Comments
0 comments from readers