RYEY – Chapter 55 With Such a Wife, What More Could a Husband Ask For

“Li Huan, stop it. It’s still daytime—don’t let people laugh at us.”

“Who dares laugh, I’ll smash their head! We’re a proper married couple now.”

Though his words sounded fierce, Li Huan had already stood up. Other people’s words he could ignore, but his wife’s words he had to listen to.

“Come on, let’s go see your mother—no, our mother.”

Cheng Qiao picked up the set of thermal underwear and the pair of rubber shoes she had bought last time, then walked toward the main room. Mother Li and Li Le were happily cracking melon seeds. Today was her first day as the mother-in-law, so of course she was in high spirits.

“Mother, Lele, these are for you.”

Li Le jumped up and took the clothes from Cheng Qiao’s hands. When she saw it was thermal underwear, her eyes immediately grew moist. But remembering today was her second brother and sister-in-law’s big wedding day, crying would be unlucky. She quickly lifted her head and forced back the tears.

“This one’s for you, and this one’s for Mother.”

Pretending not to notice, Cheng Qiao handed a dark-red set to Mother Li and a bright-red set to Li Le.

“Daughter-in-law, money doesn’t fall from the sky. How can you be so extravagant? If we just gather more firewood, lighting the stove bed will keep us warm enough.”

Though Mother Li said that, her hands couldn’t help but keep stroking the soft fabric. So warm and smooth—wearing it must feel wonderful.

“Mother, try these rubber shoes, see if they fit.”

“Aiyo, you silly girl, are you crazy? Why buy such expensive shoes—what a waste.”

“Mother, when spring comes and you’re planting rice seedlings, with these shoes you won’t have to stand barefoot in the water. Just try them on.”

“All right, I’ll try…”

Mother Li had been holding back her tears, but finally they spilled, dripping onto the dirt floor and disappearing without a trace.

“They fit perfectly! How did you even know my shoe size?”

Her casual words made Li Huan glance at Cheng Qiao. Yes—he himself didn’t know his mother’s shoe size. How did Cheng Qiao know?

“That’s easy. I can tell just by looking. Li Huan wears size 40, Lele wears size 33, I wear size 36.”

“Second Sister-in-law, you’re amazing. I could never tell.”

Li Le beamed and flattered her.

“Mother, Lele, later you two should take a hot bath, change into your new clothes, then sleep comfortably. Tomorrow, we’ll all go into the mountains to collect firewood, all right?”

“Okay, I’ll listen to Second Sister-in-law. I’ll go boil the water later.”

Li Le readily agreed. She was dying to put on that soft thermal underwear. She’d never worn anything like it her whole life.

“Tomorrow I have to find someone to dig a well. You two be careful—don’t go into the mountains, understand?”

Li Huan’s voice turned stern. If it weren’t for the well, he wouldn’t want to leave Cheng Qiao’s side at all.

“Fine, you two go back to your room. Leave this to us.”

Mother Li waved her hand, shooing them toward the bridal chamber. Cheng Qiao blushed and lowered her head, but Li Huan shook his. Looking at his mother, he said: “Mother, there’s something I want to tell you. Starting tomorrow, let my wife take charge of the household. Lele can help her.”

Mother Li’s heart skipped. Could it be her son was already forgetting his mother now that he had a wife? She wanted to ask but, with Cheng Qiao standing right there, she couldn’t.

“Second Brother, does this mean Second Sister-in-law will be in charge of the family starting tomorrow? Then will the money and food be handed over to her too?”

Hearing this, Li Le immediately lifted her head, eyes wide.

“No need. The money you and Mother earn, plus what Big Brother sends back—you both keep it yourselves. The household will be managed by me and my wife. You should be in school, and Mother should enjoy her later years.”

At last, Mother Li understood her son’s meaning. The heavy stone in her heart dropped. As long as her son didn’t cast her aside, all was fine. After all, her eldest wasn’t married yet, and Lele wasn’t wed either. She needed money in her hands.

“School? But the term’s almost over.”

“Then start in spring. Your Second Sister-in-law already bought books and notebooks for you. This winter, you’ll study with her every day.”

“I…”

“Lele, listen to your brother and sister-in-law. For a girl, knowing how to read makes a big difference. Understand?”

Mother Li never expected that on her very first day, Cheng Qiao would insist on sending Lele to school. That was such a good thing—of course she supported it. Only silly Lele still seemed reluctant.

“Mother, do we even have the money for me to study?”

“Yes!”

Both Cheng Qiao and Mother Li spoke in unison. Li Huan’s heart warmed. In front of his mother and sister, he wrapped his arm around Cheng Qiao’s slim waist. With such a wife, what more could a man ask for?

“Mother, once I fix up the other house, we’ll move there. You and Lele can take the new room.”

“That won’t do. Leave it for your elder brother.”

“Who knows when Big Brother will return? You and Lele should move in first. Winter is too cold—you mustn’t freeze.”

Mother Li smiled and nodded. Every winter, she and Lele would huddle together tightly, yet still shiver despite the heated stove bed. The house was simply too drafty.

“All the food from lunch is gone. I’ll go prepare supper. Lele, help me fetch some firewood.”

She tried to stop them, but Li Huan blocked her. Leading his mother into the bridal room, he pulled out five or six pieces of fabric from the cupboard.

“Mother, make a few sets of clothes for Lele and Cheng Qiao, and two for yourself too.”

Looking at the cloth—sturdy serge in various colors suitable for outerwear—Mother Li nodded and put them away. She knew what her son was doing, so she asked no questions and went back to her room.

Cheng Qiao turned to the kitchen, found several empty clay jars, and asked Li Le to wash them. They would be used to store rice, flour, and oil.

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, she quietly produced a slab of fatty pork, washed it quickly, chopped it, and put it in a big pot with water to render lard.

The smell of pork fat soon wafted into Mother Li’s room. She rushed out, snatched the spatula from Cheng Qiao’s hand, and drove her out of the kitchen. What kind of daughter-in-law cooked on her first day?

Cheng Qiao stuck out her tongue mischievously. She had just hidden ten jin of rice and flour in the kitchen, along with pork and cured meat. No way her mother-in-law would let such good food go to waste—especially on their wedding day.

Sure enough, dinner had meat, white steamed buns, and a big pot of rice porridge. The four of them ate heartily. Just after they finished, a lively group of young people arrived to play wedding pranks.

Once Mother Li and Li Le had cleared the table, they set a big pot of water to boil, then returned to their room, thinking they’d bathe and sleep once the noise of the bridal pranks was over.

But the racket outside drew them back out again, interrupting their plans to start sewing.