Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 196

The next morning, Zhao Tiesheng got up early and put several eggs and some fruit into a basket. After thinking for a moment, he also took a few bottles of wine…

Zhao Tiegang saw this and asked curiously, "Second Brother, what are you doing? What are you going to do with all this stuff? I was saving it to make some egg sauce to go with my drinks. Besides, your father-in-law is gone, what are you going to do with my wine?"

Zhao Tiesheng casually said, "My brother-in-law is still here. This is for your sister-in-law. I'm going to her parents' house today to persuade her to come back, so I brought her some things."

After hearing this, Zhao Tiegang was stunned for a moment, then shouted into the house, "Mom, my second brother is going to his mother-in-law's house, and he even took my wine!"

Zhao Tiegang could tolerate taking anything else, but taking his liquor was worse than taking his life!

Wang Guixiang came running at the sound, cursing as she said, "Tiesheng, are you out of your mind? How could you bring things home and give them to that damned woman Cheng Jinxiang? Have you forgotten how that damned woman treated your mother yesterday, leading a group of people to bully her? Have you forgotten all of that?"

Zhao Tiesheng pursed his lips, feeling somewhat helpless: "Mom, what should I do? She's been back for over a month and there's still no news. If I don't persuade her to come back, do you want your son to be a bachelor for the rest of his life?"

"I've taken the eggs from home first. If we run out of eggs, I'll go to the market and buy some more."

While Zhao Tiesheng was speaking, he had already put the cleaned eggs away.

But Wang Guixiang still wouldn't let it go, yelling at her unfilial son, "I won't allow you to bring the eggs from home over there! Do you know how much this basket of eggs costs? How could you give it to outsiders? You're always siding with outsiders! You're really going to drive me crazy!"

"I've said my piece. I don't care if you're going to find that damned woman or not, you absolutely cannot take these eggs with you. Otherwise, don't call me Mom anymore, and don't ever come back to the Zhao family. I'll pretend I never had such a spendthrift son like you!"

Wang Guixiang's words were harsh, and Zhao Tiesheng's face also turned ugly. In the end, he let go of the basket he was carrying.

Zhao Tiegang also snatched the bottle away: "The wine is no good either, I'm keeping it for drinking."

He couldn't help but say, "You two expect me to go to my mother-in-law's house empty-handed?"

The story of how Old Zhao's family angered Cheng Jinxiang so much that she ran back to her parents' home was widely circulated in the village. When he went out to work, people would always tease him for not being able to keep his wife and say that he was a useless man.

At the time, Zhao Tiesheng dared not refute and could only silently endure it. Such humiliation was unbearable, and he did not want to be gossiped about. Moreover, life was indeed difficult without Cheng Jinxiang by his side.

Besides, how can he be blamed for his wife running back to her parents' home in anger? The storeroom at home is not suitable for postpartum confinement, and his mother-in-law won't let him move into the tile-roofed house. In the end, it's all Wang Guixiang's fault; otherwise, Cheng Jinxiang wouldn't have made such a fuss about going back to her parents' home.

Looking at the furious Wang Guixiang in front of him, Zhao Tiesheng swallowed hard, but still didn't say what he was thinking. He just frowned, clearly uncomfortable with what Wang Guixiang had said.

Wang Guixiang scoffed and grabbed Zhao Tiesheng's ear, yelling, "You dare give me that attitude? You actually dare to give me that attitude? I've wasted my life raising you! You're such an ingrate! What kind of women have you married? What kind of daughters have you given birth to? I bet they're all here to bring misfortune to your mother! You even thought about giving the eggs to that damned woman? I'm telling you, no way! Don't even think about going after that damned woman. Even if you do, with me here, Cheng Jinxiang won't be able to set foot in the Zhao family!"

As she spoke, Wang Guixiang poked Zhao Tiesheng's forehead with her finger, her face contorted with rage. Recalling the scene of Cheng Jinxiang confronting her yesterday, she felt terrible. Moreover, this brat was even siding with that damned woman, which made Wang Guixiang even angrier, and she hit him even harder.

Zhao Tiesheng was in excruciating pain from being pulled, and after finally breaking free, he was met with a glare from Wang Guixiang. Feeling uncomfortable, Zhao Tiesheng couldn't help but say, "If you don't want to bring the eggs, then don't. Anyway, I'm bringing Cheng Jinxiang back today."

After saying that, Zhao Tiesheng ran off without another word, heading towards Cheng Jinxiang's family home.

Upon seeing this, Wang Guixiang couldn't help but spit on the ground viciously and cursed, "What an ingrate! She doesn't listen to me at all! Fine, very well! I'm in the Zhao family. If Cheng Jinxiang can live comfortably in the Zhao family, then I, Wang Guixiang, am not a Wang!"

Cheng Jinxiang's family home was not far from Dongtaizi Village, so Zhao Tiesheng arrived there quickly.

As soon as Zhao Tiesheng walked in, he encountered Cheng Jinxiang and her family having dinner. Besides Cheng Jinxiang, her sister-in-law Zhu Yufeng and Cheng Jinxiang's mother Wang were also present.

Cheng Jinxiang's expression turned sour the moment she saw Zhao Tiesheng. Her smile vanished instantly, she put down her chopsticks, and said with displeasure, "Why did you come here?"

Seeing Zhao Tiesheng arrive empty-handed, Zhu Yufeng asked with disdain, "What are you doing here?"

Wang was over sixty years old this year, with a lot of gray hair. She looked three or four times like Cheng Jinxiang. She glanced at Zhao Tiesheng, who was empty-handed, and said in an annoyed tone, "What are you doing here? My daughter is not going back with you. You should go back as soon as possible."

As soon as Zhao Tiesheng arrived, Madam Wang ordered him to leave. She had heard about what happened yesterday, and when she heard the news, she was furious all night.

Wang Guixiang actually slapped her daughter in the street! She'd never hit her daughter before, not even once. Who did Wang Guixiang think she was! Wang was paralyzed and powerless. Her son and daughter-in-law were weak and alone, unable to go to the Zhao family to support their daughter. Unexpectedly, Zhao Tiesheng stepped in at this crucial moment!

Previously, Cheng Jinxiang was timid. Several times when the old lady asked Cheng Jinxiang how she was doing, Cheng Jinxiang always sided with Wang Guixiang, saying that her mother-in-law was doing well. Unexpectedly, Wang Guixiang turned out to be such a scoundrel. Now the old lady hates Wang Guixiang intensely, and she is even more hostile towards Wang Guixiang's second son, Zhao Tiesheng.

Zhao Tiesheng's face was very unpleasant. He never expected to be kicked out so soon after arriving at his wife's parents' house. His face was full of embarrassment. He tried to explain, "Mom, it's not like that. I originally planned to bring some eggs from home to show my respect to you, but..."

Zhao Tiesheng couldn't explain how his mother had discovered the eggs and forced them to stay at the Zhao family home.

Thinking of this, Zhao Tiesheng couldn't help but blame his mother for not letting him bring eggs over, causing him to lose face so badly, especially in front of his mother-in-law.

Finally, Zhao Tiesheng stammered, "I had prepared eggs... but I tripped and fell when I went out, and the eggs broke."

Zhao Tiesheng told a small lie; he was too embarrassed to say that his mother wouldn't allow him to bring eggs. Finally, he changed the subject, looking at Cheng Jinxiang and saying, "Jinxiang, come back with me."

When Cheng Jinxiang saw Zhao Tiesheng's stuttering, she immediately guessed that he had lied. Maybe the eggs weren't broken, but rather Wang Guixiang had stopped them from being delivered.

Thinking about this, Cheng Jinxiang couldn't feel happy; she only hated that her man was weak.

You only brought a few eggs when you came to your parents' house? That's so stingy. You didn't even bring the questions?

So what did he come here for?

She said coldly, "Go back now. I don't want to go back to the Zhao family, and I don't want to see anyone in your family."

Rejected on the spot, Zhao Tiesheng lost face. He tried to say, "Jinxiang, come back with me. Don't stay at your parents' house. It's not good for you. You'll only cause trouble for Mom and your sister-in-law."

Zhu Yufeng quickly chimed in, “Oh, this is no trouble at all. This is my sister. She can come back to live here whenever she wants. Besides, your Zhao family doesn’t take my sister seriously at all. Why would you send her back to the Zhao family with you to suffer and be scolded by Wang Guixiang? Tiesheng, I’m not trying to criticize you, but you can’t even take care of your own wife. How can I entrust my little sister to your Zhao family to take care of her?”

Zhao Tiesheng felt embarrassed by what was said. He lowered his head, but then stole a glance at Cheng Jinxiang. Seeing that she had no intention of speaking up for him, he couldn't help but blame Cheng Jinxiang. How could she eat when her husband was being scolded outside?

With no one to speak up for him, Zhao Tiesheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Sister-in-law, my mother was wrong in this matter. Please let Jinxiang come back with me. After we get back, I will definitely talk to my mother properly and make sure she doesn't bully Jinxiang. I will also take good care of Jinxiang. Besides, it's not good for Jinxiang to always stay at her parents' house. Now that she's married into the Zhao family, she's a daughter-in-law of the Zhao family, and the Zhao family is her real home..."

Before she could finish speaking, Wang threw her chopsticks at Zhao Tiesheng in anger, pointing at him and yelling, "What nonsense are you spouting? You say the Zhao family is Jinxiang's real home? Have you ever treated Jinxiang as a member of your Zhao family? You're acting like an old man, taking advantage of your age. And your brother's whole family is being waited on by Jinxiang. Tiesheng, when I married Jinxiang to you, you told me you would take good care of her, but what about now? Is this what you call taking care of her? Let me tell you, our Cheng family isn't short of people. Jinxiang is doing quite well here with me. There's no rush for her to go back to the Zhao family. You can leave now."

Hearing her mother speak up for her, Cheng Jinxiang was deeply moved, and her eyes reddened.

Zhao Tiesheng's face turned ugly from the shouting, and he clenched his fists tightly, but he was still unwilling to give up. So he looked at Cheng Jinxiang beside him and said in a gentle voice, "Jinxiang, come back with me. The newborn Juan also needs her father. You can't let her not see her father."

Zhao Tiesheng planned to start with his youngest daughter, appealing to her emotions and reasoning with her.

A daughter cannot live without her father.

But Cheng Jinxiang turned her head away and said coldly, "Hurry up and leave. When my older brother comes back, no one will bother arguing with you about this useless stuff."

If his older brother were home, he would have already beaten Zhao Tiesheng up. How could Zhao Tiesheng have the right to speak?

Cheng Jinxiang didn't want to go back, and Zhao Tiesheng didn't want to say anything more either; he was also angry.

He was scolded by his own mother in the morning, and then by his sister-in-law and mother-in-law when he arrived here. This made him feel ashamed and uncomfortable. He also blamed Cheng Jinxiang for not speaking up for him. He had tried his best to say nice things, but Jinxiang just wouldn't go back.

But no matter how much he blamed his mother, Zhao Tiesheng still blamed her the most. If his mother had treated Jinxiang better, would Jinxiang have been so angry that she went back to her parents' home? Would he have been suffering here?

But it's her own mother, so you can't hit her or scold her.

Zhao Tiesheng was unwilling to stay any longer and endure the scolding from Zhu Yufeng and Wang Shi, so he said a few words and left in a dejected manner.

Seeing this, Zhu Yufeng said irritably, "This Zhao Tiesheng is a hopeless case. He just left after we said a few words to him."

Wang snorted coldly and said, "Good riddance. I was annoyed just looking at you."

Cheng Jinxiang took a sip of the porridge in her bowl and said, "Auntie, Mom, let's eat and not talk about him."

Feeling extremely annoyed after suffering a loss, Zhao Tiesheng kicked the fence of his house when he returned home. Seeing that there was still some wood that hadn't been chopped, which was to be split in half to make matches, Zhao Tiesheng decided to get to work.

Picking up the axe to chop the wood, Zhao Tiesheng remembered the grievances he had suffered at Jinxiang's parents' house that morning, and the harder he chopped the wood, wishing he could split it into pieces to vent his emotions.

But the noise woke up Wang Guixiang, who was taking a nap. She got up and cursed at the yard, "What are you doing now, you ingrate? Chopping wood in the middle of the day!"

Ignoring what Wang Guixiang was saying, Zhao Tiesheng continued to chop the wood in his hands with increasing force.

Seeing that Zhao Tiesheng ignored her, Wang Guixiang returned to the room, cursing and swearing, "How could I have given birth to a son like you? I think you're just here to torment me. If you were even half as obedient as Lao San, I would thank God."

After Wang Guixiang left, Zhao Tiesheng said in a sullen voice, "Tiegang is your son, but am I not your son? Jinxiang doesn't want to come back with me, are you satisfied now? Just watch your son be a bachelor for life!"

After chopping the wood, Zhao Tiesheng still felt uneasy, so he simply went back to his room, covered himself with a blanket, and went to sleep.

Recalling his mother's words that morning, calling him an "ungrateful wretch," Zhao Tiesheng felt incredibly aggrieved. He had given all the money he saved to his mother and helped with household matters whenever he could, making him much better than his third brother, who knew nothing.

But why does my mother only favor my third brother?

Thinking of this, Zhao Tiesheng couldn't help but grab a bottle of wine and gulp it down.

And when Jinxiang was at her parents' home, why did Zhu Yufeng and Wang say such things about him? He believed that he had always treated Jinxiang very well, it was just that his own mother had not treated Jinxiang well, so why did they blame him for all the mistakes?

Thinking of this, Zhao Tiesheng took another swig of wine, getting quite drunk. Only drinking could vent the frustration in Zhao Tiesheng's heart.

It just so happens that Zhao Tingming came to visit Zhao Tiesheng today, wondering if Zhao Da'e was home. He had some raisins that someone had given him and wanted to bring them over. As soon as he entered, he heard Zhao Tiesheng muttering about how he went to his mother's house to call her back but failed.

He went up to Zhao Tiesheng and kicked him in exasperation, throwing the bottle away: "Drinking yourself to death won't do any good. What are you thinking all day? You think you can bring your wife back by yourself? She's in such a state, even if your whole family kowtows and kneels before the stove, it's still a struggle to bring her back. And you're still drinking... There's not a single brain in this family."

After finishing his rant, Zhao Tingming left.