The Life of a Son-in-Law in a Courtyard House

Qi Desheng didn't even notice that Gong Xuemei's lips were curled up so high they could hold a sesame oil bottle; Gong Xuemei was just trying to scare him.

Seeing how serious his wife was, he hurriedly and incoherently explained, "No, no, wife, listen to me, you've really wronged me."

Did that kid surnamed Yang tell you?

That little bastard really knows how to exaggerate and slander.

Honey, let me explain.

There are many things you don't know or understand. He hunted many wolves on the grassland and has dozens of wolf pelts.

He gave gifts to all his colleagues who went with him, but that bastard Tian Xueyi only got two good wolf skins.

Even if I don't want it, given our relationship, you know he'll give it to me willingly.

I tricked him a little, saying I wanted two wolf king pelts, but actually I just wanted two regular ones.

He gave it to him directly.

Also, these two wolf pelts aren't for me. One is to make a wolf pelt for you, so you won't be cold in winter. Aren't you my boss?

There's another one for my father-in-law. He suffered frostbite in the winter during the war. I'm not doing this for myself, my dear wife, you know what I mean.

Besides, this brat has benefited quite a bit from me. He's done a good job, and I've given him plenty of benefits in return. This is a little gift that my brother-in-law gave me voluntarily. How could I possibly be an embezzler?

You know how things are between us.

And he didn't give it away for free; he even tricked me into giving him my gun. Actually, we swapped them.

Gong Xuemei felt much better when she heard that the wolf skin was needed to make wolf skin rugs for her and her father.

But he still said bluntly, "Really? You got the wolf skin for me and my dad, so I should thank you."

Instead of giving away your gun, you let someone play with it for half a month and then exchange it for a wolf skin.

Your gun is really valuable.

Qi Desheng had a strong will to survive: "Wife, you know that gun was seized from a high-ranking official I killed, and it has great commemorative significance."

It would be good enough if he could play for half a month.

My heart is bleeding just thinking about this.

Gong Xuemei slapped the bed and stood up: "Dripping blood my ass! I've made up my mind, that gun is a gift to my brother, and it can't be taken back."

You won't use it much; it'll just be decoration at home. But it'll be very useful for my brother on the road, since he's in danger. So, just leave it as is.

Upon hearing this, Qi Desheng disregarded his kneeling and quickly stood up, pleading with his wife: "Ah, wife, this isn't right, is it? You're trying to kill me! No, this really won't do."

At most, we can extend the playtime to a month, or maybe two or three months at most.

Gong Xuemei poked Qi Desheng's head with her finger: "Two choices, either you give me the gun, or I and the child go back to my parents' home. You choose one."

"I want the wolfskin rug too; I can't return it."

Qi Desheng was dejected and resigned to his fate. His wife had used those words to shut him up.

How did my perfectly good wife turn into a brother-supporting demon?

He was also helping his adopted younger brother.

That bastard Yang Dalin, I must get my revenge!

That brat, interfering in politics like a woman.

That's infuriating.

But in order to please my wife, I have no choice but to comply. It's so frustrating.

Browning, the first officer I captured during the Korean War.

It breaks my heart.

Gong Xuemei didn't care about his heartache. This dog of a man was not as good as her godbrother. Her godbrother knew to give her a fox fur scarf and so much meat.

That scoundrel of a man has hardly ever given me a decent gift in all these years.

They just act like big shots at home all day; they need to be taught a lesson.

Besides, it's a bit dangerous to keep that gun at home. Who knows, the kids might dare to secretly take it out to play with it again someday when they're older.

Gong Xuemei discovered that her eldest son had once secretly taken it out to play with.

She didn't dare tell Qi Desheng, otherwise her eldest son's legs might be broken.

However, I secretly gave him a few whacks with a broom to teach him a lesson.

Yang Dalin will keep it safe once it's given away. If his own man wants to see it, he can just let Dalinzi show it to him.

Gong Xuemei's plan succeeded, and she happily went to put the children to sleep.

Qi Desheng was left lying dejectedly on the bed.

His eyes were blank as he stared at the ceiling.

……

……

The next morning, Yang Dalin got up a little later than usual, but it wasn't time for the men in the yard to go to work yet.

Qi Yanhua and her sister went to learn martial arts from Miya, the wife of Shazhu.

It seems these two sisters have great perseverance.

After washing up, Yang Dalin helped Aunt Qi make breakfast.

When it was fully light, he greeted the people who had gotten up in the courtyard.

Sha Zhu came running over in no time: "Brother, I heard from Xiao Ning that you came back last night?"

Why didn't you call your brother to have a drink with you?

Yang Dalin continued chopping vegetables as he spoke, "Yeah, Brother Zhu, you must be tired after coming back last night, after all, you've been running around for more than half a month."

Come back, have some food, and then get some rest.

Let's have a drink together tonight.

Oh right, Brother Da Mao got married. I haven't been yet, but I'll go meet his new sister-in-law later.

How about we go together tonight?

Sha Zhu scratched his head, somewhat reluctantly saying, "Fine, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have drunk with him. Now that you're back, let's drink together."

I'm cooking tonight, come to my place.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xu Damao lifted the curtain and came in: "You can cook tonight, but you have to come to my house."

Brother Dalin, you're back. Come to my house tonight; you haven't met your sister-in-law yet.

I'll prepare the food tonight, and He Yuzhu will cook. Is that alright?

Yang Dalin nodded: "I have no objection."

Sha Zhu also hummed in agreement: "Fine."

These two are like a pair of bickering lovers; if they were a man and a woman, they would have gotten married long ago.

Unfortunately, they were both men, and both preferred women.

Yang Dalin chatted with the two men for a while. The two men had to work today, while Yang Dalin rested during the day and could only drink at night.

Before leaving, he gave each of them a pair of rabbit skin gloves.

I was thinking of bringing some mutton, but everyone's up now, so it's not appropriate. We'll have to do it tonight.

Yang Dalin took another pair of gloves and went to the door of the gatekeeper, Uncle Qi's house.

Without knocking, Yang Dalin called out through the door, "Uncle Qi, are you up? I'm coming in."

Grandpa Qi inside responded, "Hey, come in."

Upon entering, I saw Grandpa Qi cooking porridge.

As soon as Yang Dalin entered, he was holding a pair of gloves and took out two jin of mutton from behind his back (space).

"Uncle Qi, I went to the grasslands and brought you a rabbit skin glove and two pounds of mutton."

Grandpa Qi blocked his hand, saying, "What are you doing? You're away on a long trip and you're still thinking of me. It's enough that you came to see me. Take your things with you later."

Yang Dalin stopped Grandpa Qi with one hand and threw the things on his table with the other, saying, "Alright, Grandpa Qi, let's keep our voices down, so that no one outside can hear us."

You eat the mutton secretly.

Otherwise, someone will be jealous. They've already taken it, and if I take it back, I'll have to explain myself when others see it.

I need to speak with you.

Grandpa Qi thought about it and realized it wouldn't be good for outsiders to hear, so he stopped arguing and asked, "What is it? Tell me, and I'll definitely help you."

Yang Dalin said, "Grandpa, this time I encountered a pack of wolves. My colleagues and I fought off quite a few and got a lot of pelts."

I'd like to find someone you can recommend who knows how to tan leather.

"Oh, we've encountered a pack of wolves. Are you alright?" Grandpa Qi asked, checking Yang Dalin's body.

Yang Dalin stood up straight, turned around, and said, "Uncle Qi, we're all fine. There are more than twenty of us. Some have long guns, and some have short guns. Even the biggest wolf pack would have to go around us. How could anything happen to us?"

You just need to know about this; don't tell my aunts, so they won't worry.

We have plenty of wolf meat, but I was afraid it wouldn't taste good, so I didn't give it to you.

Wolf bones are also available; they can be used in medicine and to make medicinal wine.

I'll get you some of the brewed liquor later.