Chapter 41: You Are Not Allowed to Go

Luo Yunhe heard every word the other person said with crystal clarity.

She looked down at her floral-patterned outfit. It was indeed quite new, and the colors were remarkably vibrant.

If wearing clean, neat, and festive clothes meant one was trying to seduce others, then wouldn't her wearing fine silks and satins mean she was bound to commit adultery?

"What, are you envious? My husband bought me these clothes. I love them! Besides, these clothes belong to me, and I'll wear them however I please. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with you. If you can't bear to look at them, you can just close your eyes!"

Luo Yunhe retorted without the slightest bit of politeness.

"Tsk tsk tsk! I was just thinking that since it's a dress, if you go out looking that nice, what if... After all, I've heard there are quite a few bachelors in our village. And since Big Brother is out all day and not home, who knows what you're up to out there..." Zhang Lingling couldn't help but sneer.

Su Jingxing felt that his wife's words were a bit too much, so he reached out and tugged at her sleeve.

"What are you doing, Su Jingxing? Don't forget, I'm your wife!" Zhang Lingling glared at him angrily.

"I know, Wife, don't be upset. Sister-in-law, please don't take it to heart. Lingling just speaks her mind without any bad intentions..."

Luo Yunhe refused to give them any face. Through the past couple of days together, she had learned that this Zhang Lingling was not someone to be easily messed with; mainly because she had a little money in her hands, or else Madam Su probably wouldn't have tolerated her.

"A person's character, good or bad, is entirely revealed through their words. You can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want. After all, the total cost of this outfit of mine doesn't even match the price of the clothes you're wearing, Sister-in-law—those are fine silks and satins after all. If wearing coarse cloth outside is considered flaunting, then wouldn't you wearing fine silks and satins be considered bringing shame to the family? Don't say I didn't warn you: if you can't even keep a grip on your own man, that's your own incompetence, and you can't blame others. You need to look for the problem within yourself!" Luo Yunhe was utterly blunt, and turned to leave right after delivering the retort.

"Who are you calling unfaithful?" Zhang Lingling's voice spiked in pitch as she grabbed Luo Yunhe by the arm, stopping her from leaving.

"Why is your mouth so filthy, you little wretch? Let's see if I don't tear that mouth of yours to pieces!" Zhang Lingling reached out to strike her.

The moment she was grabbed, Luo Yunhe turned her head. Seeing the hand raised to hit her, she didn't hesitate for a second and grabbed the other woman's wrist.

Having eaten better over the past couple of days, she had regained some strength. Combined with the farm work she had been doing, although she had developed some calluses on her hands, dealing with a pampered young miss was still an effortless task for her.

"What do you think you're doing?" Su Jing宣 walked out of the room at that exact moment, just in time to catch Zhang Lingling attempting to strike Luo Yunhe.

He strode over quickly, placed himself between them to shield Luo Yunhe behind his back, pushed Zhang Lingling away to put some distance between them, and stared at them with a fierce, unwavering gaze.

"Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, what is the meaning of this? Trying to bully my wife early in the morning?" He had heard every single word of the conversation clearly from inside the room. This woman was simply...

"Eldest, what do you think you're doing? Do you have any shred of decency as an eldest brother, daring to push your sister-in-law?" Hearing the commotion outside, Madam Su hurried out and stepped in front of Zhang Lingling, adopting a posture ready to defend her.

"Brother, it's a misunderstanding. Lingling didn't mean any harm, she just misunderstood. I was only exchanging a couple of words with Sister-in-law. Lingling, you've got it wrong, that's our Sister-in-law, stop being so jealous!"

"She insulted me, didn't you hear her? Su Jingxing, you wouldn't be siding with them, would you?"

"Luo Yunhe, I think your courage has grown quite a bit! How dare you curse your sister-in-law?" Madam Su glared with eyes wide open.

"Hah, who cast the first stones should be abundantly clear to everyone. It's already generous of me not to step up and beat her. What, has it been too peaceful around the house lately? Have you forgotten how fierce I can be?"

"Oh, Lingling, stop making a fuss. How unsightly is it to carry on like this so early in the morning!" Su Jingxing immediately turned back to Su Jing宣. "Big Brother, please don't be angry. Lingling is used to being pampered and probably can't accept a lot of things just yet. In time, you'll see she has no malicious intent. Sister-in-law, please don't be mad either, let me apologize to you here!"

"Mother, it's all a misunderstanding. Please don't blame Sister-in-law..."

Too lazy to deal with them, Luo Yunhe turned and walked straight into the kitchen.

Su Jing宣 shot them a cold glare and followed Luo Yunhe inside.

Zhang Lingling continued to throw a tantrum, refusing to let the matter go, while Su Jingxing busied himself with endless placating words.

Madam Su chimed in to coax her as well: "Lingling, don't be upset. She's just some wild girl from goodness knows where, why lower yourself to her level? From now on, we'll make her do all the chores around the house. Stop being angry, if you make yourself sick over this, Mother's heart will ache!"

Soothed by Madam Su's gentle words, Zhang Lingling felt somewhat better inside.

"See? Mother truly cares for you. My dear wife, don't be angry anymore, come inside first..."

Having pacified her second daughter-in-law, Madam Su's expression immediately darkened as she marched straight into the kitchen.

Ignoring her entirely, Luo Yunhe simply cooked some sago porridge in the pot and stir-fried a dish of green vegetables. She prepared only two portions, completely omitting the others.

Madam Su glared angrily at Luo Yunhe. Knowing how formidable the young woman was, she realized that no matter what she said next, Luo Yunhe wouldn't easily give in and do the work. Therefore, she shifted her target to Su Jing宣.

"Eldest, the fields still need tending. Why don't you ask for a two-day leave from the academy and finish the farm work before going back?"

Just as Su Jing宣 was about to reply, Luo Yunhe cut in sharply: "No way! My husband teaches at the academy and also hunts in the mountains; he provides practically all of our household expenses. Why on earth should he be the one doing the farm work?"

"If he won't do it, fine, then you go do it! Someone has to till the land, or what are this entire family supposed to eat and drink?" Madam Su counterattacked.

"Hah, what? Are there only the two of us left in this household? Are the rest of you not human? Can't you work? Or are you expecting us to do all the labor while you sit back and enjoy the fruits of our sweat?"

"Luo Yunhe, you—"

"What about me? Even excluding the two of us, there are still at least five people available. Whoever wants to do the farm work can do it themselves! My husband will not touch it! Let me tell you, don't try to provoke me, or I will resort to beating you all again. I'm sure you don't want your youngest daughter-in-law to watch this entire household fall into complete disarray and become the laughingstock of others!"

Madam Su was so enraged by Luo Yunhe's words that she was left panting heavily, pointing a trembling finger without being able to squeeze out a single word.

"Husband, I forbid you to go. There are so many of them who refuse to work, yet they single you out—this is outright bullying!" Luo Yunhe pouted as she looked at Su Jing宣.