Chapter 4 - 4 Chapter 4: But Its True (2/2)

The Third Daughter-in-law had an even harder time. She was all smiles on the surface but sharp beneath, always very obedient to her Mother-in-law and amiable towards her sisters-in-law, a model Daughter-in-law. Even if she felt unhappy or disagreeable, she would only scheme in secret. She was indeed favored by Mrs. Yang most of the time. Dealing with such a person was much more challenging than dealing with Mrs. Liu and required caution and vigilance.

The Han Family was just a typical peasant family; there wasn’t much ceremony about eating together. They didn’t need separate seats, and they would just happily gather around a large table as one family.

Still, the atmosphere during this breakfast felt rather odd. Since Mrs. Yang had defended Su Wenyue so much in the kitchen, naturally, she wouldn’t let the delicate daughter-in-law stand on ceremony. The men didn’t think much of it, believing that it was only right to treat well such a refined girl who had married into their family. This only irked the Eldest Daughter-in-law and the Third Daughter-in-law even more. They ate with sullen expressions, and the Second Daughter-in-law, seeing them like this, merely focused on her food.

After breakfast came the Tea Ceremony. Su Wenyue offered tea and kowtowed to her parents-in-law, receiving two sizable Red envelopes in return. The weight implied they valued her quite a bit, although that was perhaps more for her mother’s family’s sake. However, that didn’t detract from anything.

Having accepted the Red envelopes, Su Wenyue also took out the pairs of new shoes and insoles she had prepared for her parents-in-law—a customary but unwritten rule for a new daughter-in-law to embroider by hand for the Tea Ceremony. In her previous life, Su Wenyue’s needlework was up to par, but she disdained doing such things to curry favor with her in-laws. Thus, her mother had the Servant girls prepare everything to ensure her daughter didn’t breach the etiquette. Nonetheless, even with the preparations made by her mother, Su Wenyue left them pressed at the bottom of her box, never taking them out. Why should she seek favor from country bumpkins!

Having to do it all over again due to a lack of time, Su Wenyue could only bring out the ready-made pairs that had been prepared in the box. Since they were meticulously chosen by her mother, the cloth and embroidery were the finest. Yet, in her eagerness to show affection, her mother had overlooked one fact: in her past life, Su Wenyue never possessed such exquisite craftsmanship, which made it easy to see through the ruse.

“Father, Mother, this is a token of your daughter-in-law’s sincerity. I hope you won’t find it unacceptable.”

“Oh, good, good, how could we dislike such fine things? The embroidery is excellent, Fourth Daughter-in-law, your hands are truly skilled. Fourth Child is lucky to have you.”

Old Man Han and Mrs. Yang were, of course, happy to accept the gifts. They had never worn shoes and insoles quite so elegant in their lives. They looked like something worn by nobility, and they cherished them too much to even wear them. Mrs. Yang thought to store them in the box, content to occasionally take them out and admire them, while Old Man Han was keen on showing them off in the village.

Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Wang, who had been frowning, now looked even more displeased. Mrs. Wang’s eyes rolled around as if she had thought of something. A malicious smile curled at her lips as she pulled Mrs. Liu’s sleeve, whispered past Mrs. Li, and began murmuring in her ear.

“Second Sister-in-law, look at how our parents are completely taken in by the Fourth Daughter-in-law. I heard that when she was at her mother’s house, she was pampered to the extreme and couldn’t do anything. She’s just a pretty face without any real skills—nothing more than a decorative pillow. There’s no way her needlework could be this good. It must be the work of an embroiderer or Servant girl from her home. Yet she’s crafty, using things made by servants to win over our Father and Mother, treating us like fools.”

Mrs. Liu had already been looking for an excuse to pick on Su Wenyue but couldn’t make a scene in front of everyone, especially after having been warned by her Mother-in-law just a while ago. Thus, she sat there quietly. But her eyes brightened at Mrs. Wang’s words, “Is that really true? The Fourth Daughter-in-law couldn’t have gone so far, could she?”