Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Earnest Advice Despite Displeasure
Xia Lan bit her lip and said with intentionally subdued emotions, “Second Aunt, I think Chuyi is also tired. Maybe I should head back first. There’s still a pile of things waiting for me to do at home.”
“Ah, such a poor child. I’ll get Chuyi to help you when we get back!” Mother Xia hurriedly said.
After saying a warm and affectionate goodbye to Xia Lan, Mother Xia turned her head and whispered to Xia Chuyi, “Chuyi, Er Lan has it tough. She needs to look after her younger sisters too… Our family should help her out whenever we can.”
Xia Chuyi shrugged, rolled her eyes, and flatly refused, “I’m busy.”
After speaking, she went to fetch water from the kettle to wash her hands and face.
“Chuyi, you child…” Mother Xia stood to the side, watched Xia Chuyi for a while, and her eyes gradually reddened as she wiped them, “Your temper… I’m not nagging, but you could learn from your Sister Lan. Girls should not be too brash. They need to be gentle to win their husband’s affection, to win the in-laws’ affection…”
It was the same old lecture that Xia Chuyi had heard so much her ears could have developed callouses.
“Chuyi, it’s not that I want to say this, but Er Lan’s situation is harder than yours. Your marriage is being arranged by your uncle, but what about Er Lan? Her parents don’t care, they just let her stay at home taking care of the younger ones. It was thanks to your matchmaking that she could go to the military to have a blind date.”
Speaking of which, Mother Xia asked Xia Chuyi, “By the way, Chuyi, how did Er Lan’s blind date go? Did the other party take a liking to her? I asked her and she was too shy to say. Er Lan looks good and she’s gentle too, so the other side must have taken a liking to her, right?”
Xia Chuyi tossed the towel in her hand, her expression indifferent, “Xia Lan’s blind date? Smooth, very smooth. They took a liking to each other, head over heels in love… They can start discussing the marriage details after this trip.”
“What? Really? What’s his name, is he also from Ling County? I wonder how far he is from He Mountain…” Mother Xia was overjoyed, no longer dabbing at her tears, she stopped what she was doing, “Er Lan, that child, she is gentle and will definitely make a good wife…”
Mother Xia went on and on.
Xia Chuyi stared fixedly at her own mother, the undisguised surprise on Mother Xia’s face pricked at her numb heart, feeling nothing at all.
It’s true, when there are no expectations, there is no pain.
Xia Chuyi’s unusual silence caught Mother Xia’s attention.
“Chuyi, what’s wrong? Are you still upset about things with He Qing? You know, I’m not criticizing you, but a woman’s heart should be more open…”
“What did Xia Lan tell you?” Xia Chuyi raised an eyebrow, questioning Mother Xia.
“Ah? Well, she didn’t say much.” Mother Xia felt somewhat uneasy, “Just that there was some issue with your marriage arrangements with He Qing, saying you wanted to call it off… She said you would discuss it with me… Chuyi, tell me, what exactly happened?”
She raised her eyebrow, Xia Lan really knew how to shirk responsibility.
“It’s nothing much. He Qing has someone else he loves, and besides, our personalities don’t mesh well, so we decided to call off the engagement,” said Xia Chuyi casually.
Mother Xia looked at her and sighed, then habitually started wiping the corner of her eye again.
“Chuyi, listen to me. As women, we need to learn to endure. Enduring is the key to a harmonious home.”
“Love or not, once you’re actually married to He Qing, he’ll get to know you better and naturally start to treat you well… How many marriages in our countryside start with romance anyway?”
While wiping away tears, Mother Xia relentlessly tried to persuade Xia Chuyi, “Chuyi, a woman’s temper really shouldn’t be too strong.”
Hearing Mother Xia’s words, Xia Chuyi finally couldn’t help but lift her head, her eyebrows knit tightly and her lips pressed firmly together.
“What about you and dad then? Was there no love either?”
Her words successfully left Mother Xia speechless.