USWHC -Chapter 26 The Runaway Bride (Part 6)

“Hey! Husband—Dad—listen to me!” Sister-in-law You shouted while dodging the stick in her husband’s hand, slipping off the bed in one quick motion.

“What do you have to say? What’s left to explain? You climbed onto someone else’s bed!” Elder Brother Ji refused to give her a chance to talk and struck even harder. “What, you think he’s impressive and you’re jealous of them?”

Sister-in-law You cried as she was beaten, desperately trying to explain. “No, no, that’s not what happened!”

At this moment, she was truly crying. Not only because the stick hurt, but also because tears of regret were pouring out. When Ji Yi had suddenly shouted just now, she had panicked and only thought about covering his mouth. She didn’t even know how she had ended up climbing onto his bed!

But she really had no such thoughts! She was innocent!

Old Madam Ji also started wailing from the side. “What misfortune for this family! How did we end up marrying such a shameless woman!”

“Mother, that’s not it! I came to wake up Erhan’s wife!” Sister-in-law You shouted regardless of whether anyone would listen. “Wait—where is Erhan’s wife? Mother, she’s gone! Erhan’s wife is missing!”

Only then did everyone realize that Zhu Jie was gone. That’s right—just yesterday there was a new daughter-in-law, so how did it turn into the sister-in-law in bed early this morning?

Everyone finally stopped fighting and stared at each other in confusion. The noisy room instantly fell silent, except for Sister-in-law You’s soft sobbing.

“Mother, I really just came to wake Erhan’s wife so she could cook with me. I didn’t expect Erhan to misunderstand! Mother, you have to believe me!”

Everyone looked at her suspiciously, then glanced at Ji Yi. Finally, Old Madam Ji hesitantly asked, “Erhan… where’s your wife?”

Ji Yi immediately put on a shocked expression and hurriedly looked around the room. But the hut was tiny—there was nothing to look at. The person was clearly gone.

“That’s right… where’s my wife?”

“Oh no—she ran away!” Old Madam Ji slapped her thigh and suddenly realized. “Quick! Go after her!”

A newly acquired daughter-in-law couldn’t just be allowed to run away like that! Old Madam Ji immediately led everyone out to chase her.

“You useless thing! All you know is getting bewitched by that vixen! Why didn’t she just suck you dry? You slept like a dead pig—didn’t even notice she left!” Old Madam Ji cursed while angrily slapping Ji Yi’s back as they walked home.

The others behind them also looked furious and miserable. Early in the morning they had chased all the way up halfway to Mount Qi. In this freezing weather, the snow hadn’t even melted yet. Along the way they had slipped who knew how many times and eaten plenty of snow and mud. Now each of them looked more bedraggled than the last.

“Brother, why are you so useless? Do you know how hard it is to find you a wife? We finally got one!” Ji Mei also complained loudly.

Ji Yi only lowered his head. No matter how much everyone scolded him, he didn’t say a word and silently walked back home.

But when they stepped through the gate, they all suddenly stopped.

What was that smell? Something smelled delicious. Was it food?

Yes—at this moment, the small courtyard was filled with the rich aroma of cooking.

Everyone looked at Sister-in-law You in confusion.

“Big Sister-in-law, did you cook?” Ji Mei asked in surprise.

Sister-in-law You shook her head blankly. “No. As soon as I got up this morning I went straight to check the bedding. When would I have had time to cook?”

“Then who did?” Everyone became even more shocked.

Just then Old Madam Ji stomped her foot and cried out, “Oh no—there’s a thief!”

The moment she said it, everyone’s faces immediately showed shock and agreement.

Yes, that must be it!

All of them instantly grew agitated again and rushed inside like a swarm of bees. First they crazily ran into their own rooms—but after looking around, nothing was missing.

Could it be that the thief was just hungry?

Or maybe they were so greedy that they started eating before stealing anything?

Everyone gathered again in the courtyard, gripping their weapons tightly. Since early morning they had been running around carrying all kinds of “weapons”—sticks, brooms, even rolling pins.

It looked like those things were finally about to be put to use today.