Chapter 34: Disdain for Her

Tang Xin did not pretend; after exchanging a few words with her mother-in-law, she went to brush her teeth and wash her face before coming back for breakfast.

The breakfast was quite plentiful—boiled eggs, millet porridge, corn buns, and tasty little side dishes. She wondered if these were specially prepared for her as the newlywed daughter-in-law. In Tang Xin’s memory, the Li family had never enjoyed such good conditions; it was unusual for everyone to eat so well in the morning.

So Tang Xin pulled her mother-in-law to sit and eat with her. Everyone else had already finished and gone out to work. Madam Fang certainly wouldn’t reproach her daughter-in-law for rising late; she actually wished Tang Xin would sleep a little more. That morning, her eldest son had remarked that his wife was exhausted at night and should be allowed to rest longer.

Madam Fang was delighted, secretly hoping her son and his wife would tire themselves out every day, so she could have grandchildren sooner. However, Fang worried that the young woman might be shy, so she only said, “It’s fine, you eat first. I still have some tasks in the kitchen to finish.”

And so Tang Xin was left alone in the hall eating breakfast, quietly considering how she might bring out goods from the storeroom to supplement the Li family’s grain supply. Her mother-in-law treated her well, and the other members of the Li family would also be her family in the future; Tang Xin hoped everyone could have better lives.

Of course, in Tang Xin’s heart, the best of them was her mother-in-law. Li’s mother was kind and gentle, so much so that Tang Xin already regarded her as another mother. As a daughter-in-law, she had clearly gotten up late, yet her mother-in-law didn’t laugh at her or mock her. Instead, she left food for her, acting so naturally as if she wanted Tang Xin to feel truly at home.

With such kindness, Tang Xin would repay it doubly; this was her principle in life. After breakfast, Tang Xin originally planned to go to work with Li Sheng. Though she didn’t do much, most of the labor was handled by Li Sheng.

Tang Xin knew well that Li Sheng had his own job, and he had been toiling in the fields these days mainly to earn work points for her. That was the kind of man he was—quietly gentle, always doing things for her without ever coming forward to claim credit.

She might not be needed for the hard work, but surely she could accompany her husband, cheer him on, and offer support. Yet Li Sheng said, “No need. We have guests at noon; help Mother at home instead.”

Though he said this, Li Sheng didn’t truly expect Tang Xin to cook. Even Fang added, “That’s right, Tang Xin, don’t go to the fields. The sun is harsh outside; just stay home with me.” She glanced at her daughter-in-law’s delicate skin—she couldn’t bear to let her suffer outdoors.

Soon, someone would bring a basket of vegetables from the garden and leave it at the kitchen door; Tang Xin could help by picking and preparing them. The Li family had been busy preparing for Li Sheng’s wedding, mostly assisted by close relatives, and today’s lunch was mainly to entertain them.

It was Li’s father who reminded them—since Tang Xin’s parents weren’t nearby, there was no need for a homecoming banquet. Instead, they invited the brigade leader as well, formally welcoming Tang Xin into the family.

Those relatives had not only helped with the preparations but had brought generous gifts—fish, vegetables, meat, noodles. So in addition to yesterday’s feast, the Li family would host another meal for them today.

By eleven, the men and women who had gone out to work returned one after another. Li Xiyue and Li Kai came back arguing, as usual. They were close in age, and unlike their elder siblings, Li Kai didn’t indulge his younger sister, so the two often quarreled at home.

Sometimes their fights would turn physical, with a fierce disregard for kinship. Even the twins, though only seven years old, joined the adults in working—collecting fallen wheat stalks in the fields, which could earn work points when handed in to the brigade.

Li Jiang and Li Hai watched their older siblings bicker, their faces resigned, while Tang Xin was amused by their adult-like expressions. Li Xihua, upon returning, went straight to the kitchen, inviting Fang out to greet the guests and rest.

In her own words, she was born to labor, working nonstop at her husband’s home and now at her parents’ home as well. These days, besides kitchen duties, she went out to work during the day.

The task of picking vegetables, originally assigned to Tang Xin, was taken over by the two younger brothers. Li Jiang, ever considerate, told his sister-in-law, “You’re newly married; you should rest these days.”

Li Sheng was chopping firewood in the courtyard. The two quarrelling siblings stopped to work, and Tang Xin, after surveying the scene, realized she had nothing to do.

Even when she volunteered to help in the kitchen, Li Xihua chased her out, complaining that she would only make things harder.

With so many hands, lunch was ready quickly—especially since the family had vegetables these days, the women worked efficiently. In truth, most country women at this time weren’t lacking in skill, but even the most capable cook couldn’t do much without rice or oil, often making do with whatever was available.

Because there were many people, Tang Xin suggested pushing the two Eight Immortals tables together, seating the men on one side and the women and children on the other. Gathering everyone together made the meal livelier.

The elders of the Li family were rather conservative, believing women shouldn’t sit at the table with men or drink. But since the suggestion came from the new daughter-in-law, and Li’s father, mother, and Li Sheng didn’t object, the others couldn’t protest either.

Tang Xin then noticed that everyone had taken their seats except for Li’s mother and Li Xihua. She was displeased—she had already realized that those two worked the hardest every day, always busy from dawn to dusk, yet when it came time to eat, they weren’t allowed at the table. Tang Xin felt genuinely unhappy.

Children of poor families grow up quickly. That morning, while chatting idly with her mother-in-law, Tang Xin learned that the most diligent in the family was the eldest sister. Since she was seven or eight, she had never been idle, taking care of chores inside and out, and helping raise her younger siblings. Even after working in the fields, she still helped her parents at home.

When working, Li Xihua earned as many work points as many of the men—ten per day. For instance, Tang Xin woke late that day, but her mother-in-law said the courtyard was swept and the laundry done; in fact, it was all Xihua’s doing.

The eldest sister had been up since five in the morning, busy ever since without a break. Seeing Xihua’s selfless diligence, Tang Xin felt quite uneasy.

Yet when she turned, she heard the eldest sister teasing her, complaining that she couldn’t do housework.