142 Dowry Of A Thousand Gold (1/2)
Seeing the mother-in-law wake up, Xiang Qing hurried next to her bedside to service her. I also dared not neglect my duties, and had also hurried next to her bed.
The mother-in-law looked at me, and then sighed. Tears had begun streaming down her face non-stop, she held Xiang Qing's hands and said with disappointment, ”How could you do that kind of stupid thing? You've ruined the future of two girls.....although our Xiang Family is poor, but our ancestors were once scholars. Do you know your shame? You.....tell me, how do you want me to face your father in the future?”
I wanted to ask if we should directly ask the King of Hell in the Nether Realm for Xiang Qing's dad's spirit.....but then I thought, if such a long time has passed, he probably may have already reincarnated and it's already too late.
”This child is unfilial, doing this kind of foolish thing, please punish your unfilial son accordingly.” Xiang Qing remorsefully knelt to the ground, ”Miao Miao really is innocent. She alone raised the child for so long, her life must've been difficult, so please don't blame her Mother.”
”But how do you want me to explain to the Ye Family?” Mother-in-law wiped her tears with her sleeves, ”We've already sent over the dowry, and all the neighbors have already been informed. This damage to the Ye Family's daughter, how is she going to lift her head to the public?”
The sister-in-law came through the curtains with a pot of hot water in her hands. She placed it the pot of water onto a stool, wrung a towel, and helped wipe away the tears and sweat on mother-in-laws forehead. She turned her head and glared at Xiang Qing and I, and then angrily said, ”Without permission of one's parents and without the words of a marriage official, what kind of marriage is that? There are rules and standards in every place and country, what's so difficult about becoming a mistress?”
”What is a mistress?” I was baffled. Seeing her unapproving expression, I felt a little uneasy.
Sister-in-law was surprised by my question, she hesitated a bit before replying, ”It's like a little wife.”
”Being a mistress, does that mean Xiang Qing and I can't be together?” I continued to ask.
”You can, but it's just that your status is lower.” Sister-in-law blankly stared at me as she spoke.
”Like this, Xiang Qing won't have to lose face and won't have to be curse at?”
”Yes.....yes, it is.....”
I immediately conjured a smile and said, ”Then Miao Miao is fine being a mistress.”
”Are you an idiot?!” Xiang Qing jumped up from the ground with anger. He grabbed onto my ear, and loudly scolded, ”Don't you know that a mistress has no status and everyone can bully you around? If I'm going to marry you, then you are to marry me as my wife, not some lowly and lesser mistress!”
His eyes were like spitting fire. I hurriedly went forward to reflect on my mistakes, ”I don't want to be a mistress anymore so don't be angry.....”
Fuming with anger, Xiang Qing faced sister-in-law and said, ”If Miao Miao is going to be a mistress, then Xiang Qing will never in this entire lifetime marry a wife.”
”You.....” Sister-in-law was unhappy with Xiang Qing's answer, ”How are you going to give an explanation to the Ye Family, and how do you want us to continue living in this village?”
Mother-in-law couldn't help but add in, ”I don't hate this Miao Miao girl, after all, she's given our Xiang Family a precious grandson. Although this can be considered a great merit, we also have to take into account the face of our ancestors, we can't act rashly.”
”I understand,” Xiang Qing took in a deep breath to gather his thoughts, ”The fault lies within myself. Tomorrow I will make a trip to the Ye Family's residence and explain everything to the Ye Family's old master, and then decide on what to do.”
”What if they refuse to break off this marriage?” Mother-in-law anxiously asked.
”After all, Miao Miao and I have feelings of mutual affection. If the old master refuses, I will kneel outside his family's home until he's willing to accept my apology.” Xiang Qing's voice was very firm.