Hu Dalang’s eyes flickered with disdain.
But thinking that Mrs. Xiao was about to give birth to his first child, Hu Dalang was filled with anticipation.
Seeing his father worried, he tried to reassure him, "After all, no matter how fierce they are, it’s just so petty squabbles among won. They wouldn’t dare go too far. Can they really swallow Wan Niang? At most, she’ll suffer a little. Doesn’t every family have its own disputes and conflicts? There aren’t any real overnight feuds in this family. Don’t worry, Dad."
Hu Dazhu’s gaze was heavy.
But that’s not how it should be.
He didn’t want Wan Niang to suffer or face hardships at all.
Wan Niang shouldn’t have to live under soone else’s roof.
She should be as bright and unchanged as ever.
Over the years, for Wan Niang, he had beaten and scolded Mrs. Wang, but...
He looked at Hu Dalang with an indescribable suppressed emotion.
Hu Dalang felt uneasy under his gaze, "Wh... what is it? Did I say sothing wrong?"
Hu Dazhu hesitated to speak, but swallowed his words.
He sighed and didn’t ntion Yu Tingwan again, but started to lecture Hu Dalang instead.
"Your wife... don’t let any inappropriate thoughts linger."
"Your mother isn’t bright; all she knows is to cheat and laze around all day. Don’t let her provoke you into thoughts of divorcing your wife."
"Your wife has her shortcomings, and she’s not particularly good-looking, but since she married into the family, she’s been nothing but good to you. She’s given you a child, and even if there’s no rit, there’s hard work. Our family cannot harbor soone who is heartless and unrighteous!"
"Don’t mind her fussing over trivial matters; when it cos to important issues, she’s no pushover. Over the years, the family has tightened its belt to support the scholars, and she’s never complained. That shows she’s good."
Hu Dalang fell silent.
Those words were indeed reasonable.
As a sister-in-law, Mrs. Xiao also hoped Erlao would achieve success.
Suddenly, Hu Dalang’s gaze fixed on sothing; he saw an acquaintance.
His eyes lit up, and he quickly ran over.
"Aunt Shi."
Widow Shi, having just sent off her son, couldn’t help but roll her eyes upon seeing the Hu family father and son.
Hu Dalang didn’t mind and smiled even brighter, "What a coincidence to et you here, Auntie."
"Interesting how that sounds; I almost think this road was paved by your Hu family, and no one else can walk on it."
Widow Shi’s attitude was very poor.
She glanced them up and down, "The roads are cleared, why aren’t you heading back?"
Heading back holds a surprise.
Hu Dazhu didn’t understand the implication.
He was indeed longing to return ho.
"Well, Erlao was delayed by sothing."
His posture straightened, "You may have heard about the Ze County post station incident. Erlao’s teacher was helping outside there, and he intended to promote Erlao, so he took him along.
If he can get familiar with those esteed people, it’s a huge opportunity, let alone catch the eye of any of them.
"The innkeeper knew about it and said Erlao was doing a good deed, reducing the accommodation fee by more than half."
"He’s been going early and returning late these days."
How could Hu Dazhu not be proud?
After all, Erlao is essentially working for the Fifth Prince.
Widow Shi only enjoyed bragging about her son; she didn’t want to hear others boast about theirs!
Wasn’t it just running errands and writing? What’s so impressive about that?
She sulked, "Did you stop just to say this?"
"What, do you want to hear praise him?"
Hu Dazhu choked.
He had no such intention.
He just couldn’t stop when ntioning Yaozu.
Since her husband died, this Widow Shi has been especially sharp-tongued and unpleasant.
But Hu Dazhu admired her greatly.
A woman who didn’t remarry, took care of her in-laws’ funeral, and raised her son; how easy could that have been?
"No, no, you misunderstand."
"It’s just been a long ti since we returned; I’m really thinking about ho and wanted to ask for news."
Widow Shi squinted her eyes.
She gave an oh so aningful.
"Who are you asking about?"
Hu Dalang quickly spoke, "Auntie, has my wife given birth?"
"She has."
Widow Shi tutted.
"She’s given birth to a worthless girl."
Having said this, she ignored the Hu family father and son’s grim faces and added insincerely.
"Look at my mouth, I really offend people."
She waved her hand at Hu Dalang and said, "I didn’t call her worthless, I learned that from your mother."
"Oh dear, every ti I pass by your door, I hear her bad-mouthing."
"Even if it’s the Hu family’s child, I heard the child hasn’t had enough to eat since birth; your wife has no milk, poor thing doesn’t even have the strength to cry."
"Your wife may have a bad character and poor conduct, full of faults, but she just gave birth and is weak. If the mother is malnourished, how can you expect her to nurse the child?"
Hu Dalang looked tense.
It was untrue to say he wasn’t disappointed, but it’s his first child; he cared deeply about it too.
"My mother didn’t do anything?"
"If there’s not enough milk, she could have so fish soup to increase it, or buy goat milk; you can’t let the child go hungry."
"She did care."
Widow Shi said sardonically, "When your wife wanted to buy goat milk, your mother was so tight with the money, she didn’t want to spend a penny."
"Your wife talked back once and got beaten. She was dragged from the bed to the floor by your mother, holding the baby. If she hadn’t held on tightly, there might have been trouble."
"With no choice, she wanted to cook so thick porridge for the baby, and your mother accused her of wasting grain."
"Aunt Wu next door couldn’t stand it and specifically knocked on your door, but got chased away, and your mother scolded her for ddling."
"The Village Chief warned her, but it went in one ear and out the other."
Widow Shi sneered and felt much better, "Anyone not knowing would think there’s been another famine. Your family, spending a fortune on the scholars without blinking. How much can such a small child eat?"
"Being born into your family, what a sin."
Hu Dalang’s eyes instantly reddened.
He clenched his fists, not wanting to believe it.
His mother was snobbish, true, but... but that was his child too.
The child was so small.
Even he felt the suffering on listening.
Hu Dalang: "What about Wan Niang?"
He seed to have grasped a lifeline.
"Wan Niang is sensible and would surely take care of things..."
Before he finished, Widow Shi’s expression turned peculiar.
"Do you have the nerve to ntion her?"
"The young lady couldn’t survive and gritted her teeth and remarried. She’s at her in-law’s now; is she supposed to worry about the Hu family’s troubles?"
When Widow Shi saw Hu Dalang about to cry, her tone wasn’t as sharp.
"When are you heading back?"
"I’m afraid if you’re late, your preterm daughter will starve to death."
With each word Widow Shi spoke, Hu Dazhu’s face grew darker.
Ultimately, it was as dark as ink.
He breathed heavily, eyes wide with anger.
His body swayed and nearly lost balance several tis.
Hu Dalang hurriedly supported him.
"Father."
Hu Dazhu’s hands trembled violently, filled with the urge to kill Mrs. Wang.
Two words seed to squeeze out from the gaps in his teeth.
"Go ho!"
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