Rebirth of a Farming Wife

Chapter 593: Chapter 599: Absolutely Not Allowed

Just a delusional nymphomaniac woman, Su Wenyue couldn’t be bothered to entangle with her more. After a dose of sarcasm that gave Xiao Xi a satisfying outlet, Su Wenyue was too lazy to listen to any remaining words Zhou Yao had and bluntly kicked her out. Indeed, she was quite mighty. Xiao Xi, who watched from the side, found it extremely gratifying. To deal with a self-righteous and shameless woman like Miss Zhou, Madam’s way was both effective and satisfying!

The servants in the mansion weren’t surprised by Su Wenyue’s rough treatment of Zhou Yao, and some even thought that as Madam, she should be just like that. After all, Su Wenyue had done harsher things in the past, like beating up a woman Han Yu had placed outside. Although that was just a drama according to Han Yu’s wishes, other people didn’t know that; thus, seeing Su Wenyue only using her words this time, without getting physical, was already very polite in their eyes.

“Madam, you were simply too powerful! Miss Zhou’s nose must have been bent out of shape with frustration. Her look of utter defeat because she couldn’t utter a word in the face of Madam’s rebuttal was hilarious! And you even blasted her out of here. Let’s see if she has the face to come back after this!” Xiao Xi said with a giggly laugh, deliberately showing the triumph of a nasty person, which amused Su Wenyue.

“You! Now that you’ve vented and seen the excitement, get back to work quickly,” Su Wenyue said as she tapped on Xiao Xi’s forehead.

Watching Xiao Xi nearly hop away, she murmured to herself, “What an oddity this woman is, I really have no idea how she was raised.”

Even in her previous life, when she had been spoiled by her parents, Su Wenyue hadn’t been naive enough to lose all common sense like that. She wondered if Zhou Yao was genuinely foolish or just pretending. Although Zhou Yao hadn’t shown any flaws, a woman’s intuition led Su Wenyue to suspect that Miss Zhou wasn’t as she appeared on the surface. But if all of this was an act, what purpose would Zhou Yao have in doing so?

At this thought, Su Wenyue also recalled the gathered information. Not only Zhou Yao, but also within the City Lord Mansion, Lord Liu Wenyong’s three sons were at odds with each other, engaged in vicious internal conflicts. Peicheng’s waters ran deep indeed, Su Wenyue mused.

Regardless, whether true or false, since Zhou Yao had the audacity to provoke her by coming to her door, she deserved a profound lesson, ensuring no one would mistake her for an easy target. With this one instance, she had to make it clear to Zhou Yao that provoking her would carry a hefty price.

Upon returning to the mansion, Han Yu sensed something odd about the atmosphere. The servants whispered amongst themselves; what could they be discussing? They dispersed upon seeing him, yet their looks suggested they had more to say, with a hint of dissatisfaction directed at him. What was going on?

Han Yu furrowed his brow and went to his study room to clear up the situation, only to find out that it was all because of that woman with a loose screw in her brain and that the servants clearly thought he was involved with her. He couldn’t possibly be interested in that type of woman; he wasn’t crazy. His daughter-in-law knew him, didn’t she?

Han Yu believed his daughter-in-law should know his taste, but he still felt uneasy, knowing that his daughter-in-law could be quite jealous.

Uneasy, Han Yu returned to his room and found his daughter-in-law absent. Although relieved, he feared she had stormed out in anger. He quickly seized a servant and asked, “Why isn’t Madam in the room? Where did she go?”

Han Yu spotted his daughter-in-law on the land behind the mansion, with Xiao Xi in tow, gesticulating at the ground as if planning something with great focus, oblivious even to his presence. Her concentration was mesmerizing.

After a moment, Han Yu snapped out of it and walked towards Su Wenyue, feeling a sense of calm. His daughter-in-law looked alright, unfazed by that crazy woman’s antics.

“Daughter-in-law, what are you two working on? Are you planning the usage of this land to prepare for the arrival of the disabled retired soldiers?”

“That’s right. I’ve said that I don’t feed people for nothing here. Naturally, I must arrange work for them. If anyone expects me to support them for nothing, they are dreaming! No, they shouldn’t even dream about it! I don’t care what others say, no matter how nasty the words, they can yell till the skies fall, but they won’t make me change my principles!”

It was clear that his daughter-in-law was hinting at something, probably having heard the nonsense gossip deliberately spread in the military camps. It was understandable for her to be upset. Despite her good intentions, she faced criticism from greedy people who said she wasn’t doing enough.

“Daughter-in-law, you needn’t pay attention to those unpleasant words, and certainly don’t change your principles. You have to believe that with your husband here, I will protect you. Those rumors have spread because I permitted them,” Han Yu said, for he never kept his actions from his daughter-in-law.

Humph, what do you mean by that?” Su Wenyue fixed her gaze on Han Yu, sensing that something about this situation was unusual. She had initially thought it was Han Yu’s political opponents trying to tarnish her reputation to drag him down, but it turned out to be his own doing.

“You’re right, daughter-in-law, one cannot predict human nature. Even if you do a good deed, it doesn’t guarantee gratitude, and you might even attract trouble. One’s true character isn’t easily discerned,” he added.

Now Su Wenyue understood, “So you have employed this strategy. Even though it might start with unsavory rumors, it won’t truly ruin our reputation, but it can truly test people’s hearts—a good method, indeed. Now it reveals many issues, doesn’t it?”

“Correct. I’ve paid special attention to the returning disabled retired soldiers and had them tested. Those with flawed characters will not be kept; I can’t allow danger to stay close to you, daughter-in-law.”

Everyone has flaws, but what mattered most to Han Yu was the character of these men. Flaws were acceptable—they could change—but character defects were not, especially not those ungrateful individuals who took everything for granted, regardless of how much you did for them. These people were utterly unacceptable. Busy with affairs outside, Han Yu could not always keep an eye on the inner house, and it was even more critical for him to screen thoroughly to prevent any scheming against his daughter-in-law during his absences. That was a situation he would never allow.

Moved by his words, Su Wenyue realized Han Yu’s actions were not obligatory. If he weren’t sincerely concerned for her, he could have just sent the men over without further ado. Why go through such elaborate efforts and cause such a fuss? Han Yu’s ways made her almost forget what the man from her previous life was like—the one who was so indifferent and neglectful towards her. Was that uncaring man truly the same as the one before her? It was astounding how much a person could change. Perhaps it was she who, in her previous life, had failed spectacularly; back then, she had only resented Han Yu, not realizing that everything was reciprocal.