A Good Country Wife-Chapter 133 A Too Ambitious Plan_1

Having been sisters-in-law for so many years, Mrs. Liu knew very well what kind of person Li Xiaomei was. On ordinary days, she was unwilling even to address her eldest sister-in-law, so it would be surprising if she really had good intentions. Therefore, Mrs. Liu couldn’t easily discern the truth behind Mrs. Liu’s words. She felt somewhat worried inside—could it be that the Wei Family really had such intentions? She considered going to warn Lin Yue, yet she feared it might be a trap set by Li Xiaomei to ensnare her. After all, the Wei Family and Li Xiaomei had the best relationship among the daughters-in-law, and she showed the most favoritism towards Li Xiaomei. What reason would Li Xiaomei have to secretly communicate with her behind the Wei Family’s back? frёewebηovel.cѳm

Seeing Mrs. Liu’s skeptical look, Li Xiaomei knew that Mrs. Liu was on her guard. Thus, she didn’t hide anything and felt compelled to reveal the origin of the matter to gain Mrs. Liu’s trust, as she didn’t care what Mrs. Liu thought of her anyway.

"I know you don’t believe me, but my coming to tell you is indeed not out of kindness," Li Xiaomei said. "It’s just that Wei, that old shrew, is too oppressive, always favoring the third and fifth sons, treating our Zhao Cheng like a fool to be deceived. She covets Zhao Erhu’s family property and wants Zhao Cheng to contribute, yet refuses to give him his fair share, only thinking of her other two sons. Why should our Zhao Cheng be bullied by her like that? I’m telling you this today merely to let you go and inform the Lin Family, so that the old shrew’s scheme comes to naught. Since our Zhao Cheng can’t get what he deserves, she can dream on about her third and fifth sons getting their way."

Only then did Mrs. Liu understand. She had seen the Wei Family’s partiality towards the third and fifth sons. As for her own Zhao Dahuo, well, never mind him since he wasn’t their own blood, expecting Wei to care was out of the question. Yet, Zhao Cheng was Wei’s biological son. Moreover, with Li Xiaomei’s usual sour and competitive nature, how could she bear the Wei Family’s preferential treatment? It seemed that Li Xiaomei had long harbored dissatisfaction, which was just now erupting.

"What if Granny finds out when I go to warn her now?" Mrs. Liu feigned hesitation, fully aware that Li Xiaomei was not delivering the message herself to Lin Yue’s daughter-in-law partly because she was on bad terms with Zhao Erhu’s family, but also she didn’t want Wei to blame her after the fact, hence her approach through Mrs. Liu.

Mrs. Liu was clear in her mind, but her relationship with Zhao Erhu’s family was different from Li Xiaomei’s. Even if it meant having Wei make life difficult for her should she find out, Mrs. Liu couldn’t just stand by and watch Lin Yue’s daughter-in-law get harmed by Wei. Setting aside her own conscience, Dahu would not approve of it either, and they already felt ashamed for not having visited when Erhu ran into trouble.

"Don’t worry, eldest sister-in-law, go and inform second sister-in-law, and I’ll stay here to cover for you. Just make it quick, and mother won’t find out," Li Xiaomei hurriedly promised, fearing that Mrs. Liu would fear the Wei Family and not agree. Li Xiaomei was keen for Mrs. Liu to go quickly; she was eager to see Wei’s frustrated face when her plan against the Lin Family didn’t succeed.

"Alright, I’m going." Seeing Li Xiaomei’s promise, Mrs. Liu rushed toward Zhao Erhu’s home, still needing to avoid people on the way. Although she was prepared to be blamed by the Wei Family, it would be best if Wei didn’t find out, as after all, she lived under Wei’s control. As long as Father-in-law Zhao Jingen was alive, they from the main house would have to endure.

Meanwhile, Lin Yue was also busy in the fields. Before Zhao Erhu went into the mountains, he had loosened the soil on the two mu of good farmland at home, and on the previously bought wasteland, he had cleared an additional five mu. The seeds bought by Lin Yue were not even enough for two mu of the good farmland. However, the seeds were too expensive—just these few had cost her three taels of silver. She didn’t feel secure planting them outside for fear they might be stolen, so she planned to loosen the soil on the two mu of land she had previously cleared in the courtyard, planting the more valuable seeds there. As for cabbages and other vegetables that were common in the village or difficult to harvest, she decided to plant them on the two mu of good farmland, while beans and corn would go on the newly cleared wasteland. Planting beans could also fertilize the soil, which was the best arrangement.

"Sister-in-law, are you hoeing the field?"

"Sister-in-law, why have you come? Please, come into the house and sit down," Lin Yue said. She disliked the people in the old Zhao Family house, but she still felt close to Zhao Erhu’s elder brother and sister-in-law. Although they hadn’t been able to visit during Zhao Erhu’s crisis, Lin Yue understood it was because of the Wei Family’s influence. She harbored some grudges, yet she didn’t blame them; after all, they had to live under the Wei Family’s thumb. It was only natural for them to put their own interests first. So from now on, she would just respect them as her elder brother and sister-in-law, but she wouldn’t expect anything more from the relationship. After all, relationships are mutual. Even with family, you only get as much as you give.

"No need, I won’t come in to sit. I came here behind my mother-in-law’s back and must hurry back soon. Sister-in-law, I’ve come to tell you something very urgent," the elder sister-in-law said.

"Sister-in-law, what is it? You can tell me," replied Lin Yue, not pressing her further. Knowing Liu’s character, she wouldn’t rush over in such a panic if it wasn’t something serious, especially since she still had weeds and dust on her clothes from the field. Lin Yue had a good understanding of how people from the old Zhao Family house conducted themselves, and wondered if the Wei Family had concocted some nasty schemes against her.

"Sister-in-law, be careful these days. Just now, Li Xiaomei told me that the Wei Family mother and son are plotting something sneaky. They want to drive you and the children out and take over Erhu’s property. My heart was pounding with anxiety when I heard this, so I rushed over to tell you. You must be on guard against the Wei mother and son and not let their schemes succeed," she warned.

On hearing this, a fierce light flashed in Lin Yue’s eyes. It seemed the lessons dealt to the Wei mother and son were not harsh enough. She had suspected they would target her family’s property, but she didn’t expect such a vile plan, aiming to drive out both her and her children, an excessively greedy scheme. It appeared their failure to secure Zhao Quan’s job and the loss of twenty taels of silver was a tremendous blow to the Wei mother and son, a significant sum for a peasant family with little other income. The Wei Family must have exhausted their funds this time.

"Sister-in-law, I’m truly grateful to you. If you hadn’t come to warn me, I wouldn’t have known about the dirty tricks the Wei mother and son were up to. Don’t worry; now that I’m aware, I will take all necessary precautions. I won’t let their conspiracy succeed," Lin Yue said, feeling genuine gratitude towards Liu. Although she was confident she could handle the people from the old Zhao Family house, it was always good to be prepared in advance.

"Sister-in-law, it’s not right for you to say such things. It’s we, your brother-in-law and I, who have let you down. Not being able to visit Erhu when he ran into trouble, and with Dahu’s earnings all going to the Wei Family, we’ve been unable to help you in any way. I only hope you both can live well."

"There’s no need for self-reproach, sister-in-law. It’s the thought that counts. I know it’s not easy for you, living under the Wei Family’s control. It’s fine if you and my brother-in-law can’t come over often, but let the children visit now and then. I haven’t seen the three of them in a while. Qiuqiu is already eleven, and in another year or two she’ll be of marriageable age, then she won’t have time to come play." Lin Yue had a particular fondness for Liu’s well-behaved eldest daughter, Qiuqiu, as all four of her own were boys.