Chapter 466: Hu Family
Chapter 466: Chapter 466: Hu Family
Mrs. Lin, whose maiden name was Hu Waner, was currently traveling with her three sons. As for her daughters, she hadn’t brought them along this time. Accompanying her were her mother and her two sisters-in-law. Right now, she was sitting with her maiden family.
"Daughter, do you really have to do this?" Mrs. Hu asked with some concern. After this incident, she feared her daughter and son-in-law’s relationship would reach a breaking point.
"Mother, I have no other choice. He talks about putting us on equal footing, letting that widow take care of him in the village." After a night of thinking, Hu Waner had finally figured it out. Whether she backed down or not, the two of them could never return to how they used to be. So why not vent her anger and crush that woman’s delusions?
Mrs. Jiang was right. For the sake of her children, she couldn’t allow that woman to remain so arrogant. Otherwise, she would only push her luck. If she wanted to enter the Lin Family so badly, then Hu Waner would welcome her in with grand fanfare and utmost generosity.
Wasn’t it just a cup of tea to acknowledge a concubine? She could stomach that. To further demonstrate her magnanimity, she had even prepared a grand, special gift for her husband in the small carriage behind them.
"Sigh, what kind of mess is this? He used to be such a good man. How did he get bewitched by a vixen?"
The two young madams of the Hu Family flanked their mother-in-law, comforting her. They actually felt their younger sister-in-law wasn’t in the wrong this time. They were just curious—who had given her such a brilliant idea? They knew Hu Waner’s personality well. Outsiders called her gentle, but her family knew she was quite stubborn. Now that she had made up her mind, she definitely wouldn’t change it. Causing a bit of a scene wasn’t a bad thing.
"Mother, I actually think Waner is doing the right thing this time," the eldest young madam said. "She has three legitimate sons, and in all her years in the Lin Family, she has always respected her parents-in-law and managed the household flawlessly. Now, our brother-in-law is humiliating her for a widow. If she backs down this time, who knows if that woman will take a mile?
"Besides, he made it sound nice by saying she and the kids could enjoy life in the county town, but he didn’t mention a word about the profits from the estate. The Lin Family’s biggest source of income comes from those two estates. She shouldn’t have to rely on someone else’s mood just to put food on the table in the future."
"She is exactly right," the second young madam chimed in. "Our Hu Family isn’t one to be trifled with. If our brother-in-law simply wanted to take a concubine, it would be improper for us to stop him. But this isn’t just about taking a concubine. That woman might have grander schemes. I’m afraid she’s eyeing Waner’s position as the primary wife."
Seeing their mother-in-law still urging Hu Waner to endure it, the two sisters-in-law could hardly stand it. Their mother-in-law’s personality really gave them a headache; she always backed down at the first sign of trouble. Reprimanded by her two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Hu didn’t dare say anything more. She just sat there quietly, wiping away her tears.
The Lin Family’s eldest son sat quietly behind Hu Waner. Worried about his mother, he had insisted on staying by her side, leaving his two younger brothers with the older servants in the carriage behind them.
Just then, he heard his eldest aunt say to him, "Your mother has had a hard time all these years. She’s been managing the household and taking care of you children. You can’t let yourself be foolish later."
The second young madam of the Hu Family immediately understood what her sister-in-law meant and added, "And don’t think we’re making a fuss out of nothing. If your father liked that widow and properly discussed it with your mother to take her in as a concubine, do you think your mother would object?
"It’s that woman who is too ambitious. She refuses to perform the rites of a concubine or serve your mother. Instead, she clamors for your mother and you three to stay in the county town while she stays at the estate to ’serve’ your father for you. It might sound fine on the surface, but if you think about it carefully, is that really the case?
"Your mother was previously so furious she nearly fell gravely ill. If that woman’s schemes succeed, I’m afraid you’ll just end up welcoming a new stepmother."
The Lin Family’s eldest son remained silent. He was still young and unmarried, but he wasn’t stupid.
"Even if your mother safely raises you in the county town and retains her title as Mrs. Lin, how will you and your mother live?" his aunt continued. "Sure, you might say the Lin Family will provide for you, but you don’t know the power of pillow talk. How much you get will be entirely up to your father—and ultimately, up to that woman."
"Why are you saying all this to the child?" Mrs. Hu looked at her eldest grandson with heartache. "Don’t drag children into adult matters."
"Mother," Hu Waner reached out and grasped her mother’s hand. "My sister-in-law is right. This is a family matter, and he will be the pillar of our household in the future. We shouldn’t hide things he needs to know."
Hu Waner decided not to hide it anymore. Since they were going to tear off all pretenses today anyway, she might as well spill everything.
"To be honest, the things they said that day were even uglier," she continued. "Their words even hinted that I should voluntarily step down as his legal wife. If it was merely about him having a caring companion to serve him, I might feel uncomfortable, but I certainly wouldn’t object.
"But he crossed the line by letting that woman humiliate me to my face. She’s just a widow. The fact that I’m allowing her to enter our doors at all is already giving her too much face."
Once a woman figured things out, what did a man really matter? Mrs. Jiang was right. If she wasn’t going to have a good life, then no one else would either. Things were already terrible, so how much worse could they get?
"But you’re blowing this matter out of proportion," Mrs. Hu said, still feeling they needed to consider their reputation. "When we came out just now, there were many carriages following us. What are they trying to do? Are they here to watch our family make a fool of itself? If all else fails, our two families should just talk it out privately.
"And you shouldn’t spend all your time acting like those gossiping ladies," she scolded. "These people have nothing better to do than stick their noses into everyone’s business. Look at them, openly following us to watch the spectacle."
The two daughters-in-law looked at their mother-in-law speechlessly. It was true that those people were here for a spectacle, but ultimately, the situation worked in Hu Waner’s favor. Everyone in this world cared about their reputation. As long as their brother-in-law and the entire Lin Family behind him didn’t want to become a laughingstock, they would have to handle today’s matter beautifully no matter what.
"Mother, they’re just concerned about me," Hu Waner deflected. She didn’t dare admit that she had actually invited most of the people following them, supposedly to attend a joyous occasion at the estate. But she couldn’t let her old mother know, or else she would start nagging again.
Ever since she fainted at the Gu Family’s home, it had caused a huge embarrassment. Because of that incident, her husband and the widow would definitely seize the opportunity and not let go. She would ultimately end up either dying of ’illness’ or being cast out. Therefore, she had to strike first.
Deep down, she was grateful to Mrs. Jiang. Had she not enlightened her, Hu Waner would still be agonizing over a countermeasure.
Meanwhile, sitting opposite Bai Suihe, Mrs. Jiang suddenly felt a tickle in her nose and hurriedly covered it with her handkerchief.
If she had known that Mrs. Lin was inwardly thanking her, she would have definitely felt a little ashamed. She hadn’t actually come up with these methods herself; in fact, much of the analysis had come from Bai Suihe. Thinking it over afterward, Mrs. Jiang realized that Bai Suihe’s concerns could very well come true, which made her all the more proactive in helping. Fortunately, Mrs. Lin was relatively rational and had finally managed to stand strong. Perhaps this could prevent yet another tragedy.
"How long is this journey to the Lin Family’s estate?" Bai Suihe asked, watching the city gates grow farther and farther away.