Chapter 108: Giving Their Daughter Away
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The sky was already dark. Two large lanterns were hung at the entrance of the central room. Although Han Xiang’s miserable appearance could not be seen properly, her cries could be heard loud and clear.
“What happened, Ah-Xiang?”
Han Xiang didn’t say anything. She just cried and cried. The more she cried, the sadder she became.
The men were silent, and the women took turns to comfort and ask.
After a long while, Han Xiang finally said with a choked voice, “Zhou Anshan’s mother s.n.a.t.c.hed all the silver.”
“Ten taels of silver, not a single cent left for me.”
“His sister-in-laws even ganged up to beat me.”
The Han family was instantly furious.
This time, they had followed Heng Yi to hunt tigers in the mountains. Each of them had paid ten taels of silver, and they had left two taels for their sons. After all, they were risking their lives, not picking them up by the roadside.
How could he not leave a single cent for his own wife?
They all looked at Father Han and Han Yuan, waiting for them to speak.
Father Han looked at Han Qiao first. “Ah-Qiao, what do you think?”
Han Qiao didn’t expect to be asked about this matter.
She didn’t care about Han Xiang at all.
“Let’s see what Han Xiang wants to do. Should we talk reason to them? Or should she make the Zhou family not dare to provoke her again? Oh right, what did Zhou Anshan say?”
“He wasn’t at home.” Han Xiang sobbed.
Han Qiao finally understood. Han Xiang had no intention of giving the Zhou family the ten taels of silver. She wanted to keep them all to herself.
That was why her mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law had s.n.a.t.c.hed the money away from her.
“Then what are your plans?” Han Qiao asked.
“I… I want the silver back.”
At the end of the day, she was still reluctant to part with the money.
Of course, no one would be willing to do so.
Ten taels of silver were not ten measly copper coins.
“Then I’ll have to trouble a few uncles and sisters-in-law to come forward.”
Han Qiao’s plan was simple.
Tomorrow, a few uncles, aunts, and biological mothers would bring a dozen sisters-in-law to the Zhou family. When they arrived at the Zhou family, they would not say anything. They would first beat up Zhou Anshan’s mother, then First Sister-In-Law, and Second Sister-In-Law. They did not have to beat them up so badly that they would not be able to return the favor.
Then, they would pack Han Xiang’s clothes and bring her two children back home.
If you came to pick someone up, you would have to return ten taels of silver without missing a penny.
If they didn’t want to live together, then she would have to leave.
“Leave?” Han Xiang was shocked.
She didn’t want to be separated from her husband. Zhou Anshan treated her well.
He would not hit her.
“Leaving is just an excuse to scare the Zhou family. I’m afraid that the Zhou family would rather ask for money than you and the two children.”
“Then we must get the money tomorrow and bring the children here.”
If it wasn’t for Han Xiang’s sake, they would not have brought him into the mountains to hunt tigers. Who was Zhou Anshan to them if not Han Xiang’s husband?
After comforting Han Xiang, Han Yuan decided to bring her home to wash her and cook some food for her.
Before Han Xiang left, she tugged at Han Qiao’s sleeve. “Sister, can you go tomorrow too?”
Han Qiao didn’t want to go, but she looked at her pitiful sister and the Han family.
“If I do, will you stop blaming me in the future, no matter what?”
Han Xiang wasn’t stupid. She knew that if she didn’t scare the Zhou family this time, she wouldn’t be able to hold her head up high in the Zhou family. She could forget about living a stable life.
“I will not blame you”
“Alright then.”
Han Xiang didn’t want to separate from her husband, that was one of the reasons.
Secondly, Han Qiao’s life was getting better and better. If she appeared, the Zhou family would be afraid.
Han Yuan brought Han Xiang home, and the uncles and aunts also returned to their homes.
When told about the plan, Zhou Anshan had rushed over to the Han family’s house with his two children. This showed that he still had some feelings for Han Xiang.
Of course, there could be other reasons.
The current Han family was different from the Han family of the past.
Zhou Anshan was very sincere.
First, he apologized. Then, he handed Han Xiang ten taels of silver. However, everybody noticed the palm print on his face.
Han Xiang took the silver and felt sorry for her son and husband.
Initially, she had agreed to give Zhou Anshan half of the money, but her mother-in-law had asked for all of it. Of course, she was unwilling.
Han Yuan asked her sister-in-law to cook something for them to eat first. Han Xiang’s children were so hungry that they cried. Zhou Anshan and Han Xiang hadn’t eaten either.
In the central room, Zhou Anshan sat and stood uneasily. Although his father-in-law, mother-in-law, and three brothers-in-law didn’t do anything to him, he couldn’t help but feel restless.
They were usually very polite when he visited the Han family, but today, he just received a cold shoulder. The Han family didn’t hit him or even say anything bad to him, but he was still afraid.
If his three brothers-in-law jumped up and hit him, he wouldn’t be able to retaliate. He could only take the beating.
When Han Xiang came over to call him to eat, Zhou Anshan heaved a sigh of relief and quickly got up to join her at the table.
In the countryside, it was normal for mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to quarrel and fight, but it was not something that could be taken lightly when sisters-in-laws fought.
Moreover, they had stolen the silver from his wife.
The Han family was in the right this time.
Father Han asked Han Ming to leave and tell Han Qiao about Zhou Anshan’s arrival. Were they still going to the Zhou family’s house tomorrow? Would they still make a move if they went to the Zhou family?
When Han Ming came over, Han Qiao was taking a shower.
Heng Yi and he sat in the central room.
“Brother-in-law.”
“Yes!
Then, there was silence.
Han Ming wasn’t a talkative person, and Heng Yi was even less of a talker.
When Han Qiao centered, Han Ming immediately stood up, “Third Sister.”
“Why are you here? Did you bring the children back?” Han Qiao asked.
The children were still waiting in the kitchen to eat sweet potato b.a.l.l.s, and their laughter floated into the central room.
They are still carefree. Even if they are a little worried, they still want to eat delicious food and want to wear beautiful clothes.
Han Ming shook his head. “No, Zhou Anshan came.”
“He brought over the two children and returned the silver to Ah-Xiang.”
“Father asked me to come over and ask you if you’re still going to the Zhou family tomorrow.”
Han Qiao’s hand that was drying her hair paused.
“What do you think? Just like when I was beaten up by Sun Yiming for the first time, did Father and Mother also think about whether they should seek justice for me?” Han Qiao asked.
Han Ming was silent.
“Actually, there’s a significant difference in meaning about visiting their house. Father doesn’t have to ask me. As a biological father and an elder, if his daughter is wronged in her in-laws’ family, he should go and support her.”
“Remember, it’s to support, not to reason.”
“If your own daughter has been wronged, what reason do you have?”
Han Qiao exhaled lightly before continuing.
“Why are you asking for my opinion? Han Xiang and I are sisters. There’s not much I can do and I can’t promise her anything.”
“If she doesn’t get up on her own, there will be a next time after this.”
Han Ming was embarra.s.sed.
After sitting for a while, seeing that the children were unwilling to go back, he prepared to go home.
“Ah-Ming.” Han Qiao called out to him.
“Ah-Hui is about to give birth, right?”
Han Ming nodded. “It’ll be in the next few days.”
“If it’s still a daughter this time, what are you going to do?”
“…” Han Ming stood still.
After a while, he said, “Third Sister… I’m under a lot of pressure. Eldest Brother and Second Brother both have a few sons. I only have a few daughters-”
Han Qiao couldn’t bear to hear this. “What’s wrong with having daughters? Isn’t your daughter still of your own blood? I thought you would go to choose a good name for the children, but it’s been a few months, and you haven’t done anything.”
“Let me ask you this. If Ah-Hui gives birth to another daughter, what are you going to do?”
“I might give her away.”
When Han Qiao heard this, she angrily raised her hand and hit him on the back a few times.
“Do you want a son so much? Why don’t you give the older ones away? I think your brain has really turned into paste!”