Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1271: Complaints

Young Master Xu and his wife looked on with growing unease, their voices urgent. "Father, Girl Ling has been confined for three days now, without a single bite to eat. She’s already terrified. Is it truly necessary to send her to the Manor?"

Although Young Master Xu felt a pang of disappointment in Xu Ling's behavior, she was, after all, his own daughter. Her appearance was respectable, and she was of marriageable age; she would still be useful for a strategic alliance through marriage.

"Yes, Father-in-law, Girl Ling truly knows her mistakes now. She deeply regrets her actions. She promised never to mock Miss Zhong again and to treat Mrs. Chen as if she were her own aunt. Please, just spare her this once," Mrs. Zeng pleaded, dabbing at her eyes with tears. "Girl Ling is a delicate young lady; how could she possibly endure the harshness of a country Manor?"

Furthermore...

"The people at the country Manor are all uncouth. If they were to inadvertently offend Girl Ling, her entire life could be marred. She has been raised with such care for so many years; surely you don't wish to see Girl Ling's future ruined so carelessly?"

"She is already ruined!" Elder Xu declared, his voice booming with anger. "Go and inquire for yourself about her current reputation. In front of all the esteemed ladies of the county, and even the Magistrate's wife, she poured tea on Mrs. Jiang during her own cousin's betrothal ceremony. Is this the conduct of a well-bred young lady? Every prominent family in the county is mocking her relentlessly. In this lifetime, in Tianfu County, she can forget about marrying into any respectable household!"

And who exactly was Mrs. Jiang?

She was the wife of the former County Captain, the esteemed mother of the current one, a woman belonging to the elder generation. Yet, that girl, Xu Ling, had dared to scald her with tea. Did she possess any sense of decorum whatsoever?

Mrs. Zeng hastily interjected, "Father-in-law, Girl Ling had no intention of pouring tea on Mrs. Jiang; her aim was Mrs. Chen. You are well aware of what a shrew Mrs. Chen is; her words can provoke anyone the moment she opens her mouth. You mustn't sacrifice your own granddaughter's entire future for an outsider like Mrs. Chen."

Elder Xu pointed a finger at Mrs. Zeng, his voice laced with fury. "Zeng, what are you implying? To utter such words—it's no wonder Girl Ling was raised into such a state. It is entirely your fault as her mother!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zeng abandoned all pretense of respect and retorted with a sneer, "Did this daughter-in-law say something incorrect? You favor Mrs. Chen more than Girl Ling, your own granddaughter."

"Silence!" Elder Xu roared, trembling with rage. Fortunately, he was already advanced in years; if outsiders were to overhear such insolence, one could only imagine the gossip that would ensue.

During these recent days, Xu Zhao Ming had been diligently attending to Elder Xu. Standing outside the door at this very moment, he could no longer restrain himself upon hearing the exchange. He entered, patting Elder Xu's back to help him calm his breath. "Grandfather, please do not be angry. Mother did not mean it."

He then turned his gaze to Mrs. Zeng, addressing her directly. "Mother, our family has already forged a marriage alliance with the Gu Family. By speaking in such a manner, are you attempting to bring harm to Grandfather and Aunt Da Gui?"

This accusation left Mrs. Zeng feeling even more wronged. Gazing at Xu Zhao Ming, she finally succumbed to tears. "Zhao Ming, your sister's entire life is about to be ruined. Instead of standing up for your own sister, you have the audacity to worry about others? Girl Ling's predicament is all because of Mrs. Chen!"

Xu Zhao Ming's brow furrowed at his mother's words. Looking at Mrs. Zeng, he realized for the first time just how unreasonable his own mother could be... Grandfather was correct; for Xu Ling to have become this way, Mother bore an undeniable responsibility.

"Mother, while my sister's current situation does have some connection to Aunt Da Gui, the greater portion of the blame lies with her own actions," Xu Zhao Ming stated firmly. "How about this, we bring Sister here and explain everything to her clearly, so that she doesn't remain trapped in despair for the rest of her life."

Mrs. Zeng's face lit up with joy, and she quickly exclaimed, "Good, good, good! We must let your sister out. We shall explain everything to her, leaving no detail unsaid. We cannot simply send her off to the countryside without a word."

These words clearly carried an undercurrent of grievance directed at Elder Xu, yet the old man found himself unable to stoop to arguing with his daughter-in-law. Considering that Xu Ling was, after all, his own granddaughter, he finally gave his assent.

The chief steward promptly summoned two nannies and they were dispatched to fetch Xu Ling.

For the past few days, Xu Ling had been subsisting on a single steamed bun and a bowl of water each day. At night, she slept on a pile of hay in the woodshed, repeatedly startled by the scurrying of rats. She had grown noticeably thinner, with hollows appearing beneath her eyes. Upon seeing Elder Xu and her parents, she could no longer suppress her tears, which streamed down her face.

"My child, you have suffered so much!" Mrs. Zeng rushed forward, embracing Xu Ling tightly and weeping. She then turned her tearful gaze to Xu Zhao Ming, exclaiming, "Look at your sister! She's already been through so much, and now you intend to send her away to a country manor?"

Elder Xu, though aware of Mrs. Zeng's pointed words, paid them no mind. Instead, he addressed Xu Zhao Ming directly. "Zhao Ming, you are the eldest grandson of the Xu Family and have already attained the status of a Scholar. Your future path lies in the officialdom, and the challenges you'll face will undoubtedly be greater than this. Today, Grandfather entrusts this matter to you. Handle it as you see fit."

If Zhao Ming could not even manage this relatively simple affair with competence, then aspiring to an official career in the future would merely lead him to his own downfall.

Upon hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Zeng's eyes flashed with renewed hope. They turned their expectant gazes toward Xu Zhao Ming, saying, "Zhao Ming, since your grandfather has placed his trust in you for this matter, we leave it entirely in your capable hands." They reasoned that Girl Ling was Zhao Ming's own blood sister, and as an elder brother, he surely would not bring harm upon her.

Xu Zhao Ming offered them a silent glance before walking over to Xu Ling. He then knelt before her, presenting a cup of warm tea and a plate of pastries.

Without hesitation, Xu Ling snatched them up and began to eat ravenously, showing none of the delicate manners expected of a young lady from a prominent family.

Witnessing this, Xu Zhao Ming's heart ached. However, he understood the necessity of strict discipline for his younger sister. Once she had finished eating, he gently inquired, "Do you understand what you did wrong?"

Startled, Xu Ling's eyes welled up with tears once more. She nodded, her voice trembling, "I—I know I was wrong." Her only thought was to avoid being locked away again. The woodshed, where she had been confined, housed a rat's nest, and the creatures would emerge as soon as darkness fell, terrifying her to the brink of death. She had no desire to ever return to that dreadful place, nor did she wish to be sent to the Manor!

"Where exactly did you go wrong?" Xu Zhao Ming pressed further.

Where had she been wrong? Xu Ling was momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, she dissolved into tears, weeping, "I was wrong to have poured that cup of tea... but it was Mrs. Chen who provoked me."

Xu Zhao Ming simply shook his head at her response. "You still haven't grasped the true nature of your mistake."

He then helped Xu Ling to her feet and guided her to a chair. Pulling another chair closer, he sat down facing her. "You must remember every word I am about to tell you. If you fail to do so, I will no longer be responsible for your well-being."

Xu Ling visibly trembled with apprehension at his words, quickly clutching his sleeve. "Brother~" she pleaded.

Xu Zhao Ming continued, "Your primary failing is your lack of restraint. Everyone is well aware of Mrs. Chen's sharp and shrewish disposition, yet you allowed yourself to be provoked by her and subsequently committed a grave error because of it."

"On an important occasion like a betrothal ceremony, with numerous outsiders present, you, as a junior, upon facing someone like Mrs. Chen, should have simply endured it. If Mrs. Chen had truly overstepped, your family would have stepped forward to defend you. Your greatest folly was in failing to exercise patience, thus offending an elder in public, disregarding the rules of propriety, and handing others ammunition against yourself."

"Should you ever encounter a similar situation in the future, especially when elders are present, your first course of action must always be to endure. Stand firm on the side of reason. As long as your actions are justified, your family will naturally offer their support."

"Do not repeat the foolishness of this time, where you personally laid hands on an elder, abandoning both propriety and reason, and consequently ruining your own reputation."