Chapter 40 - Stability

◎ Tomorrow, I'll write to our master. ◇

"I understand that you've never experienced such hardship before and may find it hard to adjust. But look at your mother and Hua'er. Your mother comes from an esteemed family, and Hua'er was born in the household of a national duke. Neither of us had a background inferior to yours. Has anyone seen us wallowing in self-pity or locking ourselves up in our rooms?

"As the saying goes, one's actions should befit their status. We are no longer the East Yuan Marquis's household, and neither am I the mother of the marquis nor are you his wife. Now, we are simple villagers, even less privileged than ordinary folk. You must remember to put aside your former airs and see yourself as a common villager's wife. Only then can you lead a fulfilling life here and survive in this countryside.

"Your mother was once ignorant about the lives of rural folk and their daily activities, and I'm sure Hua'er was too. But since we've come here, I've realized that rural living is not as straightforward as it seems. There's prosperity in the capital, and wisdom in the countryside. These neighbors have both admirable and unappealing qualities. Regardless, since you've chosen to settle here, you need to adapt, learn their way of life, and interact with them. You can't hold onto your airs as the lady of the marquis's house, disdainful of everything. Otherwise, you won't be able to make a life here, and it will affect the entire family.

"Think about it, you're Zhan'er's wife, my daughter-in-law, Hua'er's mother-in-law, and Guo'er's grandmother. To the villagers, you are the head of this family. If you don't show kindness, they might think our family is incompetent. This could lead to strained relationships and lack of support when we need it. We're new here, still trying to figure things out. If we alienate the villagers, how can we expect a comfortable life in the future?

"Hua'er may have left, but you still have Hua'er, Xing'er, Yan'er, and Guo'er as your children. As their mother, it's not appropriate for you to rely solely on Hua'er, hiding in your room to mourn. Isn't that right?"

The old lady had intended to speak more harshly, but seeing Mrs. Chen's frail appearance, she softened her words. On one hand, she didn't want to embarrass her daughter-in-law, respecting her age and wanting her to come to her own realization. On the other hand, being older, she didn't know how long she had left. Constant comparisons between her and her granddaughter might upset Mrs. Chen, causing friction between them and potentially disrupting the harmony of the family.

"Yesterday, during the housewarming feast, you hid in your room and avoided everyone. It was Hua'er who had to coax you out. Even if I didn't overhear the whispers, I can imagine what people were saying. Have you considered their opinions?"

Mrs. Chen remained silent since the beginning of the conversation.

As night fell and the courtyard grew chilly, Eldest Aunt Mei, sensing that Lady and Grandmama needed to speak privately, wisely took Little Guo'er inside to sweep the floor, deliberately choosing the nearest room so they could eavesdrop.

Mrs. Chen, at last, whispered softly, "Mother... I never expected this."

"They talk loudly and crudely, eat without using serving chopsticks, with so many people around... I...

"Our servants would never behave like that. It's simply disrespectful."

Grandmama frowned. "This is the countryside, this is the life of common folk! Where did you leave your ears when I was talking to you earlier? You're not a lady of the manor now, we have no servants, so what rules are there to uphold?"

"Your gentle nature has persisted since your youth. Your husband pampered you, and as your mother, I couldn't intervene too much. But back then, we were an aristocratic household, with your spouse wielding power and your son's future boundless. You had the luxury to indulge your inclinations without much consequence. However, circumstances have changed, and if you continue like this..."

As she spoke, the sound of a carriage echoed from outside the courtyard gates. The twins' chattering voices could be heard, calling out to their grandmother and mother. They squealed in complaint, accusing their eldest sister of mistreating them and rushing in to report the injustice.

The elderly matriarch heaved a sigh of relief and shook her head. "Well, that's enough for today. I am too old to oversee everything. You must reflect on this and not remain in ignorance."

She attempted to rise, but due to her age, sitting on the low stool for too long made her feel dizzy and weak. Mrs. Chen promptly rose to support her. The courtyard door opened, revealing Hua Zhan stepping down from the carriage, unloading its contents. As the twins tried to dash in, Yu Lian caught hold of their collars, enlisting their help with the chores.

The twins protested loudly, shouting into the courtyard, "Grandmother, Mother, look! This is how our sister bullies us. She makes us work like laborers all the way here, treating us as mere servants. It's too wicked!"

The matriarch replied, "Is that so?"

The twins, with teary eyes, looked at their grandmother from afar, hoping she would reprimand their elder sister-in-law and stand up for them.

Yu Lian turned around and called out to her grandmother. She pinched her own arm and said, "Lian'er is tired..."

The matriarch quickly waved her hand. "Come here, let grandmother have a look. Don't work too hard. Let the two boys carry it themselves. You're a girl, your hands shouldn't become rough. Quickly come inside and have a drink of water. Grandmother wants to talk to you."

The twins were speechless.

The two boys stood there, stunned and furious. They shouted loudly for their grandmother.

Yu Lian smiled, patted their heads, and encouraged them to do their best. Then, she gracefully entered the courtyard.

The twins grew even more enraged, wanting to chase after her for revenge. Their father called out from behind, "Hurry up and continue carrying."

"..."

As Yu Lian went in, Mrs. Chen had already gone into the house to pour water. The water was what Yu Lian had boiled earlier, a ginger soup for her father-in-law. It still carried a hint of ginger flavor, but it was no longer hot. It was stored in a large earthenware jar and poured into a bowl, where the clear water took on a slight yellowish tinge from the ginger.

Yu Lian expressed her gratitude without any sign of disdain, saying "Thank you, Mother," before dividing the broth into several sips.

The matriarch held her granddaughter-in-law's hand and inquired about the trip. "What did you purchase? Did anyone give you trouble along the way?"

Yu Lian recounted everything. "In the countryside, some people were cautious when they saw our carriage, assuming we were from an influential family. On the road, we encountered the uncle and auntie who sold tea when we entered the village; they only asked a few casual questions. Some shop owners, upon seeing the carriage, assumed we had money and quoted higher prices. Eventually, I asked Brother Sanshu to park the carriage further away, and let Yan'er and Xing'er help carry the goods. They truly exerted themselves today."

"Grandmother, considering we only have one stove, I thought it best to buy an additional heating furnace. It's a bit more expensive but practical. It will be useful for boiling water, cooking porridge, or preparing medicine for Father. Otherwise, using just one pot for cooking would be too slow."

The matriarch patted Yu Lian's hand and smiled warmly. "Lian'er, you've thought this through. It's remarkable how you've become so meticulous, despite not knowing much before. Your father entrusting you with the land deed indicates his trust in you managing the household. I'm old, your mother is gentle, and Yan'er, Xing'er, and Guo'er are still young. In the future, you can handle household matters on your own without needing to inform me of every detail. Grandmother believes in you."

Yu Lian held the matriarch's hand, resting her head on her arm affectionately. She felt content and smiled, saying, "We're a family, so there's no concept of who's in charge. We discuss everything together, even small matters. Sharing them with you, Grandmother, brings me comfort."

The matriarch laughed joyfully. Even seeing her two grandsons struggling with heavy bags didn't evoke her sympathy. The twins threw their loads inside, stomping angrily as they left for another round.

They decided not to speak to their older sister or grandmother for at least ten days; they would treat them as "enemies"!

Mrs. Chen was concerned about her sons, but as she stood by the courtyard entrance, ready to lend a hand, her husband called her to help with arranging the newly purchased blankets on the bed. Forgetting about her sons, she wiped her hands and entered the house.

The twins: "..." Father is also an enemy!

Aunt Mei and Little Guo'er were still in the room, assisting in moving the bedding inside. There were three rooms with three beds in total. In the largest main room, an additional small bed was set up. It was made by placing a wooden board across two long benches, topped with straw as a mattress. Now that they had purchased new bedding, they spread out a sheet, added pillows, and covered it with quilts, transforming it into a makeshift bed.

This idea came from Second Uncle, as some villagers, being poor and with many children, often resorted to such methods when space was insufficient. The makeshift bed was not much different from a real one, just narrower and easier for a child to fall off.

Mrs. Chen, while laying out the bedding, couldn't help but shed tears at the sight of the simple arrangement. Afraid that her mother-in-law might see her crying again, she quickly wiped away her tears.

Once everything was moved inside, Hua Zhan guided the carriage into the courtyard. This was no easy task, given the limited space and narrow entrance. The carriage was almost as wide as the gateway, and any misalignment could result in scraping against the walls or getting stuck. He used two wooden planks at an angle to assist the entry, carefully maneuvering the carriage inside while keeping a watchful eye on both sides.

Inside the house, the women and children were busy organizing their purchases. The twins, after carrying in the items, immediately refused to do any more work. They plopped onto the ground, massaging their arms and complaining loudly about their aches. This time, they were determined not to continue.

Yu Lian was well aware that today had pushed the two young lads to their limits, and forcing them further would risk rebellion. She chose not to press on and instead called out for Little Guo'er and Aunt Mei, leading them in methodically sorting through the items. They placed what was needed in the kitchen into the kitchen, bedroom items in their respective bedrooms, and what belonged in the parlour found its place there. Although it appeared to be an overwhelming quantity of things, under their efficient hands, everything was neatly arranged in no time.

Yu Lian looked around and sighed, "There's still much to acquire. We'll gradually gather these items over time."

"Let's not rush that. After the light lunch and your trip this afternoon, you must be hungry. We still have some eggs and vegetables left. Aunt Mei, please go to the kitchen and cook some noodles."

Madam Mei was once trained in dance, and upon entering the nobleman's mansion later on, how could she have possibly learned to make noodles? In the early days of her arrival at the mansion, in an attempt to win the favor of the Lord, she feigned culinary skills a few times by wandering around the kitchen, claiming that she would prepare a soup for him. In truth, it was the servants who had actually done all the cooking; she merely stepped in at the end to taste and ensure its quality. Her experience extended only as far as witnessing the servants chopping ingredients and tossing them into the pot – beyond that, she was utterly clueless about the art of cooking.

She felt somewhat hesitant, but with a slight pout, she still made her way down.

Yu Lian said, "It's too late now, let's just forget it. I brought some steamed buns and dumplings from the town, we can make do with them tonight and cook a proper meal tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Mei returned, "Hua'er's wife makes a good point."

The old lady couldn't bear to hear the name 'Hua'er'. It was a sore spot for the entire family, as it might evoke sadness in her granddaughter-in-law and Mrs. Chen. They had long stopped mentioning Hua'er at home. She grumbled, "Doesn't Lian have a name?"

Aunt Mei, who feared the old lady the most, replied meekly, "I understand, ma'am."

Yu Lian placed the buns and cakes on the table, inviting everyone to eat. She herself wasn't particularly hungry at night, so she picked up a vegetable-filled bun, sipped water, and slowly nibbled on it, deep in thought about a serious matter. While not overly materialistic, she still had aspirations and desires.

At the very least, she wanted a comfortable life, one that justified her elaborate plan to marry into this family and then escape across great distances for survival.

Living was easy; one could survive on simple meals and water. But the challenge lay in how to live. She didn't want a life of mere sustenance nor did she seek riches and glory. A simple life as a country landowner would suit her just fine.

As the family ate, the twins, who were still sulking on the ground, decided to sever ties with their grandmother, elder sister, and father. However, after working hard all the way, they were famished. The aroma was too tempting, and they ended up eating several buns and cakes each before they felt satisfied.

After the meal, they washed their hands and faces in the courtyard, rinsed their mouths, and returned to their rooms to prepare for sleep, sparing the oil lamps from unnecessary use.

When it came to allocating rooms, they encountered a problem. There were three rooms with three beds – one large bed and one small bed in the main room, adding up to four beds in total. However, there were eight people. Hua Zhan and Mrs. Chen were husband and wife, thus should share a bed, and the old lady, being the eldest, should occupy the main room.

The elder matriarch continued, "Yu Lian is still a young maiden. She deserves her own space, so let her have her own room." Yu Lian was touched by this arrangement; she hadn't expected the elder matriarch to consider her needs. Originally, she planned to build a separate room for herself once the new house was completed. But with the current shortage of rooms, sharing a space with Little Guo'er seemed like the best option.

"Second Aunt Mei can sleep with Little Guo'er in the smaller bed, while Yan'er and Xing'er can either sleep with their grandmother or squeeze in with your parents."

The twins weren't keen on either choice. With tears in their eyes, they felt hopeless about their future. They were being used as labor by their sister-in-law, and the rest of the family seemed oblivious to their plight. Now, even their sleeping arrangements were becoming unbearable.

The elder matriarch suggested, "Or perhaps you could switch with Second Aunt Mei and Little Guo'er. You two can sleep in the small bed, while Second Aunt Mei, Little Guo'er, and I, this old woman, share a larger one."

Yu Lian replied, "Grandmother, that would be too crowded. Let Little Guo'er sleep with me."

The elder lady replied, "Yu Lian, your grandmother is old and can't do much else. I want to ensure that you're not troubled in these small matters as much as possible. Rest assured, don't refuse."

"When I was your age, I also longed for some personal space, where I could sew flowers and write little poems without disturbance. It was the epitome of freedom."

Yu Lian paused slightly before replying with a gentle smile, "I will follow your wishes, grandmother."

With that, the rooms were allocated. Yu Lian received her own chamber, and each family member returned to their respective quarters.

Looking at the darkened room, Yu Lian fell silent for a moment. She softly closed the door and then the windows. Lying on the hard bed with a wooden pillow, the fragrance of fresh straw filled the air, bringing an unexpected sense of comfort and stability to her heart.

This wasn't her first night back in the countryside, but it was the first spent in her own home. This would be where her family would settle from now on. There were many tasks awaiting them beyond this night. When she thought about it, the feeling was not one of distress, but rather a mix of anticipation and restless excitement.

The Hua household had extinguished their lamps, all sleeping soundly. Yet, on the roof, someone was feeding the mosquitoes, inwardly wailing in despair, silently shedding tears under the moonlight.

Resolving in her heart to write to her master tomorrow, she vowed to make sure he understood just how difficult her situation was. She would have to earn significant credit in the future to justify her struggles!