A Good Country Wife-Chapter 598 - 592_1

Just as Lin Yue had anticipated, Zhao Erhu went to find the village head. The village head was not only willing but overjoyed, taking the initiative to undertake the task of building the school. He also gathered the entire village to explain and praise Zhao Erhu’s righteous act.

The villagers were ecstatic when they found out. They always held an awestruck regard towards educated people. There’s a saying, "all walks of life are inferior, only scholarship is held high," which shows the status of the educated. Who wouldn’t want their children to thrive? But the peasant families struggled just to get by, and their children could hardly afford to study. They had not expected Zhao Erhu to suddenly propose such a good deed. Along with their delight, they naturally felt grateful to Zhao Erhu, and his family’s prestige in the Zhao Family Village grew even taller.

Moreover, some villagers believed that the rise of the Zhao Family was due to their greater literacy compared to others in the village—even Zhao Erhu’s wife could read and write. If their children could learn too, perhaps they could lead their families to prosperity. With this thought, enthusiasm for building the school reached an unprecedented high. Without the village head having to say a word, they voluntarily came to help. In those days, every household had several children, and the sooner the school was built, the sooner their children could start their education.

Over at Zhao Anyu’s place, Zhao Erhu told him about wanting to invite Anyu to teach at the village school. Anyu had long hoped to use his talents to provide for his family but as a mere scholar without the ability to perform manual labor, he had struggled to find suitable work. As a result, he had been staying at Zhao Erhu’s house. Now that there was an opportunity that suited him, he readily agreed without hesitation. ƒreewebɳovel.com

"Of course, there’s no problem. Although I am modest in ability, I have studied for many years and obtained the title of Scholar. Teaching children and enlightening them should pose no issue. However, I wonder if the school could provide accommodation? I intend to bring my mother and child with me. I have already imposed upon my cousin’s family for several months, and it wouldn’t be right to stay any longer, thick-skinned as that would be. Besides, even if my cousin and his wife don’t mention it, I’m aware that my wife is not the easily contented type. She grew up in a previously well-off household and has developed a haughty and willful nature, which I know has caused trouble for my cousin and his wife."

With Anyu’s confession, Erhu realized that Anyu was well aware of his wife’s actions and was not the type of scholar completely detached from worldly affairs. This was a very good thing.

"Cousin, you needn’t worry about it. These are all trivial matters. After all, your wife was raised in a cultured environment, unlike us who grew up in the countryside and came up through hardships. It’s normal for her to be a bit more delicate. Besides, I can see that you are an ambitious man with great literary talent. In the future, you are sure to pass the examinations and achieve great success, reclaiming the family fortune that has been wrongfully taken from you. By then, your wife won’t need to worry about living well, and she won’t have to endure the hardships like those of a rural woman."

Zhao Erhu’s words were, of course, meant as a courtesy. In his view, even if Anyu were to pass the examinations, his wife’s unyielding and unsophisticated nature, her inability to read social cues, her lack of scheming, and her high self-regard—which often offended others—would only hold Anyu back. A man with a virtuous wife could avoid much misfortune, but on the contrary, having an unworthy wife could drag him down. And if one didn’t burden their husband, that in itself would be fortunate. Thinking about this, Erhu felt even more grateful for his good luck in marrying such an excellent young wife. Their family’s swift rise to prosperity and current comfortable life was largely her doing.

Zhao Anyu was delighted to finally have something to do, no longer relying on the charity of the household he was living in to get by. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate Zhao Erhu’s kindness, but a man who couldn’t even provide for his family would garner no respect, no matter his ambitions.

When Zhao Anyu mentioned this to his wife, she simply snorted in disdain. She was even less willing to move out of Zhao Erhu’s home. Why forsake a comfortable life for the spartan quarters of a village academy? Besides, at Zhao Erhu’s, they dined and lived on their host’s bounty—all of it of excellent quality and without cost. If they moved out, where would they find such fortune?

"I won’t move. You go and teach, move there if you like. My son and I will stay here. How much could you make from tutoring, anyhow? Are you willing to let your child and me endure such hardship? Mother is old and needs a better place to live. We’re fine here, why would we move away?" Fearful that Zhao Anyu would not agree, his wife even dragged his mother into her argument.

"Don’t use me as an excuse. Although I’m old, I’m not blind or deaf, and my hands are still strong. I can still work the fields. Living by one’s own labor is far better than lazily stretching out one’s hands for others’ charity. I am willing to move with my son and fend for ourselves! Moreover, we have already intruded upon the Zhao family long enough. Erhu and his wife are kind and just, letting us stay here, eating and drinking without lifting a finger to help, despite the inappropriate things my daughter-in-law often does. They never complained, showing utmost benevolence. How can we continue living here with any shred of dignity?"

As Zhao Anyu’s mother spoke, she glared at her daughter-in-law. "Don’t think I don’t see through your shameful avarice. You’re addicted to taking advantage of the Zhao Family, enjoying our comfortable existence, the fine food and goods, hence your unwillingness to leave, abandoning your own husband just to avoid hardship."

"You truly shameless! Do you think Zhao Erhu and his wife tolerate you for any reason other than the familial bond with Anyu? Otherwise, what are you to them? You’d probably be expelled before even entering their home. I’m laying it out here and now—if you don’t move with us, and continue this ungrateful and dishonorable conduct, insulting Erhu and his wife, I will have Anyu write you a letter of divorce. Since you’re always complaining about the poor life Anyu provides, you can take the divorce letter back to your parents’ house! Then you won’t be associated with our family anymore. We can’t afford such a ’precious’ daughter-in-law!"

Zhao Anyu’s mother had long been dissatisfied with her daughter-in-law, but considering how the family had fallen on hard times, she had felt sorry for her daughter-in-law’s plight and had thus tolerated her bad habits. But now, her daughter-in-law had gone too far, failing to recognize right from wrong. She could no longer tolerate it and chose this moment to express her indignation by threatening divorce.