Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 56 Taking a Son-in-Law (Part Two)

"absurd!"

"Nonsense!"

"Does she think that just because she's become the clan leader, she can do whatever she wants?"

With a grim expression, Madam Lu sat on a wooden stool in front of the thatched hut, muttering to herself as she sewed shoe soles.

The old woman sitting with Madam Lu was Madam Fang from the eighth branch of the family, and she was Bian Shulan's mother-in-law. Madam Fang's face was even more unpleasant than Madam Lu's.

Everyone had just left, but Zhao Hai stayed behind, and his daughter-in-law, Bian Shi, shamelessly stayed as well...

"If I had known this day would come, I shouldn't have let Bian stay in the Pei family back then." Fang muttered through gritted teeth, "Now that Qinghe is backing her up, she's really going to take that boorish coachman as her son-in-law! The Pei family has completely lost face!"

Several other elderly women who opposed the marriage proposal chimed in, one after another: "Qinghe is indeed too willful and reckless!"

"Men marry women; it's always been this way since ancient times. Only families without male heirs would take in a son-in-law. Our Pei family isn't without male heirs. In about ten years, Feng-ge'er and the others will have grown up. When that time comes, they can marry, have children, and continue the family line. Wouldn't that be perfect?"

"To put it another way, it would be fine if the Pei family daughters didn't marry out of the family and instead took in a husband who would live with them. But for the Pei family wives to take in husbands is just too ridiculous."

“Qinghe ignored our advice and insisted on setting the clan rules. Look at them, the young wives are all silent, they are probably more or less willing than we are.”

"The world is going to the dogs, and people's hearts have lost their way. Their husbands' bodies are barely cold, and they're already thinking about finding other men..."

"Qinghe is here!"

The chattering old women fell silent instantly, each bowing their heads to sew shoe soles.

Under the warm sun, children laugh and play, their voices ringing out as they read aloud, while elderly women do needlework. Peaceful and serene days unfold.

Pei Qinghe strolled over slowly, and pulled out some malt candy from somewhere. Xiao Yu'er and the other children each put a piece in their mouths, their little mouths puffed out, looking extremely cute.

Pei Qinghe was exceptionally patient and gentle with Xiaoyuer, patting her head and giving her an extra piece of candy: "Take them over there to play."

Xiaoyu nodded obediently and led the children to play aside.

Pei Qinghe stood in front of Madam Lu.

Madam Lu continued sewing the shoe soles expressionlessly, pretending not to see her disobedient and unfilial granddaughter.

Pei Qinghe's voice rang in my ears: "Make room in the house at the village entrance, clean it up and use it as a new house. Ten days later, my cousin-in-law Bian Shulan and Zhao Hai will get married."

Lu's hand trembled, and the needle tip pierced her fingertip, drawing blood.

Fang cried out, clearly having pricked her finger as well. The other old women were shocked and stopped their needlework, exclaiming, "This is too rushed!"

"Let's wait until the new village is built before we hold the wedding."

"I won't wait any longer," Pei Qinghe said calmly. "We'll get married in ten days."

Silence returned.

The group of old women harbored their own resentment and discontent, but none dared to confront Pei Qinghe directly. Even their own grandmother, Madam Lu, hadn't fared well against Pei Qinghe. Who did they think they were?

If it weren't for Pei Qinghe, they would have died of illness or starvation on the way, or been killed by bandits.

Pei Qinghe looked at Madam Fang: "Sister-in-law Shulan is only twenty-four years old, and she has already been widowed for her cousin for four years. She should not and cannot remain a widow forever."

"Think about Xiaoyu'er's own mother, why she insisted on leaving. Now that things are like this, Sister-in-law Shulan is determined to stay. Xiaowan'er won't lose her own mother."

"Sister-in-law Shulan took the lead, and the other sisters-in-law had hope in their hearts, so they all stayed with peace of mind."

The logic is simple and straightforward. The men in the Pei family are all still young, and the family relies entirely on the women to support them. It's neither humane nor realistic to expect them to suffer like this until old age. The best solution is to ensure they stay with peace of mind.

Mentioning Xiao Wan'er softened Fang's heart. She was silent for a moment, then replied in a low voice, "You are the clan leader, and you set the clan rules. We can't stop you from doing what you want, so we'll just listen to you."

Pei Qinghe laughed: "I was a bit harsh just now, please don't be angry, Aunt."

If even the grandmother gets to eat first, then the great-aunt should naturally know better.

Fang forced a smile: "I'm not angry, and I won't try to dissuade Bian in private. Don't worry!"

Pei Qinghe squatted down and affectionately took Fang's arm: "It is my blessing to have such an understanding and reasonable elder as my great-aunt."

Knowing that Pei Qinghe was giving her a stern warning and then offering a sweet treat, Fang Shi was still amused: "You silly girl, you were so fierce just now, and now you're saying these nice things to coax us."

Pei Qinghe blinked and smiled, "I know that the elders dote on me and spoil me. In the future, when we take in refugees and hidden households, I will find a strong old man for my great-aunt to live with and relieve her boredom."

Fang was both amused and exasperated. She picked up the sole of her shoe and lightly tapped Pei Qinghe: "Don't talk nonsense! It's their business if young wives can't hold on and want to find men. I'm already this old, why would I want to find an old man!"

The group of old women burst into laughter, staggering about.

Lu tried to keep a straight face, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.

Pei Qinghe tugged at Madam Lu's sleeve with a grin: "Grandmother."

Madam Lu snorted: "These soles are almost finished, so hurry up and take them away, and don't bother me."

He was furious, yet he was still sewing shoe soles for her. Only a grandmother could do that.

Pei Qinghe replied with a shameless smile, "I practice martial arts every day, which wears out my shoe soles the most. Grandmother, please make me a few more pairs."

Mrs. Lu ignored her with a stern face.

That's what it means.

Pei Qinghe smiled and turned to Fang Shi, saying, "Once my cousin-in-law gets married, my great-aunt will sleep with little Wan'er. Perhaps, my cousin-in-law will soon be able to give little Wan'er a younger brother or sister."

Fang sighed inwardly and nodded reluctantly.

……

Ten days later.

A simple yet grand wedding ceremony was held in Peijia Village.

The octogenarian Li sat at the head of the table, with Fang and Lu on either side. The entire Pei family, young and old, watched the ceremony from the sidelines.

Bian Shulan and Zhao Hai, dressed in red, bowed to Li and the other two. They then bowed to Pei Qinghe, the clan leader, and finally, the couple bowed to each other.

After the ceremony, the village banquet began.

Calling it a village feast is a bit of an exaggeration; it really just involved slaughtering two fat pigs, removing the internal organs and skin, and getting three or four hundred pounds of meat. There were only four dishes on the table: braised pork, stewed ribs, fried meatballs, and a stew of pig's blood and offal, enough for everyone to enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal.

Three copies of the marriage certificate were drawn up: one for Bian Shulan, one for Zhao Hai, and one for Pei Qinghe. The certificate was quite detailed, specifying that Zhao Hai was a son-in-law who would live with his wife's family, and that their children would bear the surname Pei. It also stipulated that if the couple divorced, Zhao Hai would not be allowed to take the children or family property; he would have to leave Pei Family Village alone.

This marriage certificate confirmed and protected all of Bian Shulan's rights.

The marriage certificate passed from Pei Qinghe to Mao Hongling, and then to the other Pei family wives. Almost every one of the young Pei family widows read it.

After reading it, everyone had different expressions, as if a stone had been thrown into a still lake, causing ripples to spread in their hearts.

(End of this chapter)