Chapter 42: No One Gets to Gaslight Him

"As a member of this family, it is only natural to go work in the fields. Why shouldn't he go?" Madam Chen was furious at Luo Yunhe's words.

"You also know that as a member of this family, why don't you make your second son go? Why don't you make your daughter go? Why don't you go yourself? Why must it be him alone?"

Luo Yunhe's tone carried a hint of anger. She straightened her back, looked straight into Madam Chen's eyes, and said, "Let me tell you, Madam Chen, as long as I, Luo Yunhe, am alive, don't even dream of gaslighting him ever again!"

"What, gas-? You are simply rebelling against the heavens!" Madam Chen was incensed beyond measure. Pointing at the tip of Luo Yunhe's nose, she cursed, "You actually dare to disrespect your elders! This is sheer filial impiety!"

Luo Yunhe let out a cold laugh and retorted without showing the slightest weakness, "Hmph, elder? What kind of elder are you? You're nothing more than a selfish, malicious old hag!"

Stung to a fiery red by Luo Yunhe's words, Madam Chen stared with wide eyes and roared in exasperation, "Old man, come here right now..."

As she shouted, she ran toward the house, her voice shrill and grating, echoing through the entire courtyard.

Madam Chen wailed and bellowed in the courtyard, completely unconcerned with the feelings of those around her.

Su Shan had been resting inside the house. Hearing the commotion outside, his irritation grew stronger.

Frowning deeply, he muttered to himself, "What is all this shouting about? Can't a person have some peace early in the morning?"

He was utterly sick of these noisy days. Just when he had finally enjoyed two days of tranquility, it was starting all over again, and his patience was wearing thin.

Driven by a surge of anger, he walked out of the house to see exactly what was going on.

Su Shan's voice was deep and solemn, betraying his displeasure and anger.

His gaze swept over the people in the courtyard and finally came to rest on Madam Chen, a flash of annoyance crossing his eyes.

Seeing Su Shan emerge, Madam Chen immediately hurried up to him and cried out in grievance, "Old man, with so much work left undone in the fields, how are we supposed to live? Which family doesn't send people to the fields? I merely asked the eldest to go, and this cheap little hussy not only refuses but talks back to me, completely failing to treat me as an elder!"

Su Shan cast a fierce glare at Madam Chen before fixing his eyes on Su Jingxuan.

"Eldest, just take two days off and finish the work in the fields first!"

Su Jingxuan knew it would turn out this way and instinctively wanted to nod, but Luo Yunhe gave him a tug.

"No way!" she said decisively. "Father, Mother, could it be that you've forgotten how much money I borrowed outside? If Husband doesn't help me, I won't be able to repay it. When that Scoundrel Wang comes looking for us at home, I won't care what happens. Besides, don't forget who is actually earning the money to support all of you in this house. Furthermore, you know very well that my husband only has one usable arm. If you rely on him to do farmwork, how long is it going to take? If you're going to be like this, then I won't bother trying to make money either. Since I've already borrowed the cash, I'll just wait for Scoundrel Wang to come to the house, and when he does, don't blame me for being heartless!"

"You- how did our family end up cursed with a bitch like you? Are you here specifically to ruin the Su family?"

"Eldest daughter-in-law, what you're saying isn't right. As part of the family, everyone has a share of the farmwork, and we didn't say we wouldn't go. Besides, although the eldest earns money to support the family, haven't we fed and watered you? As the saying goes, a family must pull together with one heart!" Su Shan said righteously.

"Oh, Father is right! A family must indeed pull together with one heart. How about this then: let's start by paying off the external debts I borrowed. Let me calculate, it must be at least more than ten taels of silver by now. Since Father has already said we are all one family, and members of the same family don't speak of separate houses, just give me those ten-odd taels of silver so I can pay off the debt first!"

The moment the past was brought up, Su Shan's expression turned extremely ugly, yet he had no idea how to reply, seeing as he had been the one to invoke family unity first.

"In your dreams, you damned ungrateful wretch! Pay off the money you borrowed yourself. If Scoundrel Wang comes looking for anyone, it'll be you. Do you think we'd ever pay it back for you?"

"You were the ones talking about being one family just a moment ago. Since you show no benevolence, don't blame us for lacking righteousness. In any case, my husband is not going to the fields. Whoever wants to go can go!"

Luo Yunhe pulled Su Jingxuan straight into the kitchen. Seeing that the meal was almost ready, she scooped the food out of the pot.

"Husband, you can't always keep backing down and letting them bully you. I don't know what kind of life you used to lead, but now that the two of us are married and are a family, there are some things we simply cannot compromise on!"

Su Jingxuan loved hearing her say they were a family. Especially when this little woman stood up to protect him, refusing to let herself be taken advantage of in the slightest.

"Alright, I'll listen to you in everything!"

Hearing him agree so cleanly and resolutely to listen to her, Luo Yunhe still felt a little shy.

"You, why do you just agree to listen to me?"

"Of course. The books of the sages say that wronging one's wife keeps a hundred forms of wealth from entering the household. It's better to dote on her instead; perhaps I'll have a good life in the future because of it!"

"Fine, fine, fine!"

While the two of them were eating in the kitchen, Madam Chen outside was still racking her brains over how to make Su Jingxuan go work the fields.

However, after the couple finished eating, washed the bowls, and came out, they saw her still pondering there.

"Husband, you should head to the academy. I'm going to be very busy today..."

"Wife, if anything comes up, you can come find me at the academy!" After saying this, Su Jingxuan lingered with her affectionately for a little longer before finally turning to leave the house.

As Madam Chen watched Su Jingxuan's retreating figure, a brilliant idea suddenly struck her, and a wicked smile crept onto the corners of her mouth.

"Is the meal ready yet? I'm starving!" Zhang Lingling shouted unhappily toward the outside.

Su Jingxing hurried out. "Mom, what are you still sitting there for? Why aren't you making lunch?"

"Oh, right, cooking!"

Madam Chen hurriedly rushed into the kitchen. Expecting that Luo Yunhe would have prepared the meal, she was met with the sight of an empty pot, causing her face to flush a deep, angry red. She had no choice but to curse under her breath as she began to cook.

After breakfast, Su Jingxing brought up the idea of opening a carpentry workshop.

Since he had already learned the craft, it was only natural to make use of this skill to earn good money.

Upon hearing this, Madam Chen readily agreed without hesitation.

"Son, if you want to open a carpentry workshop, Mom is the first to say yes. But where do you plan to open it?"

"Our Yueshang Village has a great location, and right outside our door is the main road. Our courtyard isn't small either; if we partition a section off, it can easily serve as a small workshop!" Su Jingxing said.