Xu Shi felt relieved and went to the riverside to wash clothes, feeling much lighter on her feet. Unexpectedly, she ran into Niu Shi halfway. Xu Shi greeted her with a smile, “Second sister-in-law!”
“Hey,” Niu Shi had been envious of the hustle and bustle of the first brother’s wedding yesterday, seeing all those dowries made her so jealous that she couldn’t sleep all night, feeling sour.
Now that she saw Xu Shi, her eyes lit up. How could she let go of the opportunity to sow discord?
“You’re…going to wash clothes?” Niu Shi glanced at Xu Shi and smiled, “If you ask me, as the eldest sister-in-law, you should teach the new sister-in-law, why didn’t you bring your fifth sister-in-law along?”
Xu Shi was taken aback and smiled, “Fifth sister-in-law probably didn’t have any clothes to wash today. I’ll call her tomorrow.”
Niu Shi said, “If she doesn’t have any clothes to wash, can’t she help you? Oh my, you’re washing all these clothes by yourself! In the past, it was fine, but now that there’s another person, shouldn’t you share the burden? Doesn’t your mother-in-law say anything? She’s too biased!”
“Let me tell you, you’re too honest! You’re the eldest sister-in-law, the saying goes that the older sister-in-law is like a mother. Regardless of the background, since she married into our Shao family, she should respect her elders, don’t you think? Doesn’t she…” Niu Shi paused, “disrespect you, her sister-in-law like this?”
“If you don’t show your authority as the eldest sister-in-law and teach her a lesson, won’t she become even more demanding and disrespectful in the future? Don’t you feel wronged? Honest people can’t handle it, they will be bullied to death! I care about you and want to remind you…”
Niu Shi was talking with relish when suddenly a loud shout came from behind her, “Second sister-in-law, what are you saying!”
Both Niu Shi and Xu Shi were startled and turned to see who was angrily approaching. It was not Fang Shi?
Xu Shi was shocked and hurriedly tried to explain, “Mother, I…”
“Get out of the way!” Fang Shi snorted, glanced at Xu Shi, and coldly smiled at Niu Shi, “Second sister-in-law, what were you saying to my daughter-in-law? Why don’t you say it again in front of me? Let me hear it for myself and see where I did wrong, that I need my second sister-in-law to teach my daughter-in-law!”
Xu Shi’s face turned red and she was at a loss for words.
Niu Shi, on the other hand, regained her composure after a moment of panic. She felt that her sister-in-law seemed more spirited and her steps were more energetic today. It seems that marrying the daughter of the county official has made her confident.
This made her even more jealous…
As her jealousy surged and her anger burned, Niu Shi smiled and said, “Look at the eldest sister-in-law, asking questions like she’s accusing me. I didn’t know that the daughter-in-law of the county official’s family has become so powerful that she no longer regards us as her sisters-in-law!”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Fang Shi spat at her, scolding, “I know you’re jealous. I heard all those disgusting words you said yesterday, but I pretended not to hear. Yesterday was a happy day, with relatives and friends all around, I was too lazy to argue with you. You’re feeling proud now, right? Do I have power? So what? If you have the ability, show it to me! If you don’t have the ability, don’t talk nonsense, it’s ugly!”
Niu Shi’s face turned red with anger, “You…you…”
