Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 608 - 608 609 Using Ones Mother as a Shield Part 1

Chapter 608: Chapter 609: Using One’s Mother as a Shield Part 1 Chapter 608: Chapter 609: Using One’s Mother as a Shield Part 1 After the couple drank the bridging wine, Mr. Zhao finally lifted Muniang’s veil. Although he knew that Mrs. Lin would feel uncomfortable hearing what Dangui had said, his heart still filled with guilt when he saw her reddened eyes. He had once promised, with utter conviction, not to let her suffer the slightest grievance, yet as soon as they’d entered, such an incident occurred, and he could hardly bear to look at himself.

“Ruojuan, it was also my fault this time. I didn’t consider her ill temper. Ever since my daughter got married, her disposition has only gotten worse. But I thought, after all, she is married off now, and since Qingcheng is far from Qinghua City, there wouldn’t be any issues. I didn’t anticipate…” Mr. Zhao sighed.

Mrs. Lin said softly, “It’s nothing. I didn’t take it to heart.”

Mr. Zhao understood Mrs. Lin’s nature, swallowing whatever displeasure she felt. Surely she was just thinking to suffer in silence this time as well. Otherwise, who could be publicly scolded and still feel nothing?

Mr. Zhao, feeling even more guilty, took Mrs. Lin’s hand and said, “Rest assured, I’ll surely educate that child properly. She’s really gone too far.”

Mrs. Lin originally wanted to let it go, thinking a harmonious family prospers in all things, but then she remembered Muniang’s advice: showing weakness from the start would not only fail to earn Dangui’s gratitude, but would likely encourage her to intensify her bullying, thinking Mrs. Lin was an easy target. Mrs. Lin had her own judgments in her heart. If she continued being so spineless, always causing her daughter worry on her behalf, she would be failing as a mother.

“Alright, you can go now. The guests outside are waiting for you to entertain them, so don’t keep them waiting,” said Mrs. Lin.

Mr. Zhao laughed, “Then I’ll go first. I’ll have Muniang come to keep you company later, so you won’t be here overthinking things alone.”

“Mm.”

No sooner had Mr. Zhao left than his expression changed. He strode purposefully toward the East Hall Room, where Dangui’s family was still waiting.

Dangui was already feeling very apprehensive and any slight noise scared her half to death. She knew she had been too presumptuous today. It was one thing to say those words in front of Mrs. Lin, but in front of Zhao Song, it was unforgivable. Now she had caused such a big mess, and she doubted Zhao Song would let her off the hook easily.

There was a sound of footsteps at the door, unmistakably Mr. Zhao’s hasty pace—it seemed he was quite angry.

Wang Fuqiang pointed at Dangui sternly, “Apologize to Dad properly. If you make Dad angry and cut off my money, the Wang family won’t need you either!”

Wang Fuqiang dared to offend everyone else but not his benefactor. Dangui was furious inside. This worthless man only knew how to blackmail her with such tactics!

The door was pushed open with a “bang,” and Mr. Zhao entered with a dark expression on his face: “Don’t you have something to say to me?”

Wang Fuqiang hurriedly replied, “Dad, please don’t be angry. Dangui just blurted out those words in a fit of anger. The woman you married is surely a virtuous and good one. Isn’t that right, Dangui?”

Wang Fuqiang spoke, and with a kick, struck Zhao Dangui’s leg, who collapsed to her knees before Mr. Zhao with a thud. Zhao Dangui glared fiercely at Wang Fuqiang when out of sight and then sobbingly said, “Father, oh father, I really was blinded by foolishness before, doing such things, and now I deeply regret it. I just couldn’t accept having a stepmother at the time since when my own mother was still alive, you clearly said you’d only ever have her as your wife.”

By the end of her speech, she even sounded somewhat aggrieved.

Wang Fuqiang immediately retorted, “You shameless woman, what your father meant was that he would never take concubines in this lifetime. Your own mother has been dead for three years now, father mourned for three years without remarrying, so what exactly are you dissatisfied with?”

Zhao Dangui continued to cry and whimper, “It was my lack of generosity that made me unable to accept another woman as my mother, which led me to do such things. Father, please forgive me this once. I will never dare again.”

Wang Fuqiang sighed, “Father, it’s just that Dangui suddenly couldn’t accept it, and that’s why this trouble occurred. You know her mouth has always been uncontrollable. Originally, I thought to bear it silently, but then, provoked by someone’s sting, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut.”

As the couple took turns playing their parts, Mr. Zhao was very moved. He too had grieved when the children’s mother died, and now it was natural that his daughter would be discontented seeing him remarry.

Zhao Jiangshui said in a calm voice, “Elder sister, you’re already married off. By rights, the Old Madam of Wang’s family should now be considered your mother. Our family taking in a stepmother shouldn’t really affect you that much.”

Zhao Dangui’s face stiffened as if pierced by the comment, and then defensively raised her voice, “Hey, what do you mean by that, second brother? Just because I’m married off, does that mean I’m not part of the Zhao family anymore? Am I not father’s daughter? If father marries a stepmother, I should also call her mother!”

“If you’re so reluctant to let go of our mother, then who was it that aggravated her to death?” Zhao Jiangshui’s tone had grown several degrees colder.

Zhao Jiangshui had never thought highly of his greedy and selfish elder sister, but after all, they were siblings, and blood is thicker than water. Yet, three years ago, when the family business was floundering and funds low, Zhao Dangui still came asking for money. At that time, their mother suddenly fell seriously ill, and their father said the silver needed to be saved for mother’s treatment. Given that Zhao Dangui and her husband were young and able-bodied, why were they so desperate for that trivial amount of silver?

When Zhao Dangui didn’t get the money she wanted, she threw a tantrum at home, claiming the family didn’t treat her like a daughter and were intent on driving her to her death, completely disregarding her critically ill mother’s life. Overwhelmed by these accusations, their mother, gravely ill as she was, struggled for breath and passed away.

This had always been a shadow hanging over Zhao Jiangshui’s heart. How could their mother have died if not for her? And now she was pretending that it was because of her attachment to their late mother that she couldn’t accept a stepmother? Zhao Jiangshui found it nauseating.

At Zhao Jiangshui’s words, Mr. Zhao’s expression darkened dramatically; he hadn’t forgotten those past events, this unfilial daughter!

Zhao Dangui wailed continuously, “Oh my, what’s this supposed to mean? Why blame it all on me? Mother was seriously ill at that time anyway, wasn’t she? Besides, I was young and foolish back then, which led me to such actions. Second brother, you’re being too resentful. Now that I’ve angered father, you’re seizing the opportunity to drive a wedge between father and me, siding with that stepmother!”

Zhao Jiangshui turned his head away, no longer wishing to argue with her. He had his scholar’s pride, after all.

Seeing that Zhao Jiangshui would not quarrel with her any further, Zhao Dangui immediately turned to Mr. Zhao, grabbing his clothes and broke into wails.