Cheng Su still didnât know that her younger brother had taken up her cause, stirring up gossip in the village.
"What are you thinking about?" Cheng Su looked at Qi Taiguo beside her, who was so quiet that he hadnât uttered a single word.
Qi Taiguo curved the corners of his lips slightly, pulling her closer, and said, "Nothing much, just thinking about the things that have happened these past few days."
A jolt went through Cheng Suâs heart as she tentatively said, "Blaming me? Itâs made the New Year celebrations difficult."
"No, Iâm not blaming you, I blame myself," Qi Taiguo shook his head, gazed at the fleeting pure white snow outside the window, his look distant as he said, "Iâm thinking, maybe Iâve been too presumptuous."
Cheng Su tilted her head up slightly, "How so?"
"I thought I was holding the scales evenly, but in reality, they were tipped. The balance in my heart was off," Qi Taiguo admitted with some shame.
"Then which way do you think itâs tipped?" Cheng Su raised an eyebrow and asked.
Qi Taiguo looked embarrassed and said hesitantly, "Looking at it now, I guess itâs probably tipped towards my family."
"Oh?"
"Whenever thereâs a conflict, I always expect you to consider the bigger picture, to concede. Besides feeling that, as they are the ones who gave birth to me and raised me, my wife should respect them as I do, I havenât considered that to earn respect, one must first give it. My mom, with her lack of education and experience, just thinks a mother-in-law should act a certain way, so she doesnât see you the same as her own daughter, but this could also be a trait formed under the long-term oppression by my grandmother."
"Your grandmother?" Cheng Su asked, intrigued.
Qi Taiguo nodded, "I remember, when I was young, my mom also suffered quite a bit, my grandmother would boss her around too."
So there was such a history, but it was hardly surprising. Cheng Su had heard about it too, those who suffered under their mother-in-law might take it out on their future daughter-in-law.
"My mom, she just feels that she endured from a daughter-in-law to become a mother-in-law, so she treats you this way... Actually, precisely because sheâs been through hardships, she shouldnât treat her daughter-in-law like this. Itâs just that, my mom is set in her old, narrow ways, and will not adapt," Qi Taiguo sighed heavily.
Cheng Su remained silent.
"Iâm not trying to make excuses for my mom, just lamenting. Perhaps people can change. When she was younger, she was quite a gentle person," Qi Taiguo recalled his father-in-lawâs words. In the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, what matters most is the manâs stance. The attitude of a man is critical as it determines the good or bad of that in-law relation. If he resolutely doesnât allow his mother to bully his wife, if he stands by her without compromise, would things still be the same?
"That things have escalated to this point, the key issue is that I havenât done well. If I had firmly stood by your side, perhaps it wouldnât have come to this. The grievances youâve suffered now are due to my indulgence. Susu, Iâm sorry, please give me another chance," he said.
Cheng Su was slightly moved as she said, "I believe your mother doesnât have much ill intent, at least she didnât abuse me, her daughter-in-law. Itâs just her actions arenât always fair, her behavior is domineering. To put it bluntly, your mother doesnât like me, she sees me as an outsider. So, no matter what I do, she will never be pleased or willing, and will always find fault. After this incident, Qi Taiguo, all I can say is, Iâve done what I should. I wonât be unreasonably argumentative, but I wonât let anyone trample over me again. If your mother continues to be so overbearing towards me, even if sheâs your mother, I wonât be polite with her anymore."
Patience turns to gold, and she had given chances time and again, had made efforts as well, but what was the result? The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were natural enemies, and from now on, she intended to live for herself.
"Rest assured, I wonât let them disregard you, trample on your dignity anymore. If I really canât do well, then you should just divorce me!" Qi Taiguo declared as if making an oath.
Cheng Su looked at him in surprise, seeing the determination in his eyes, and suddenly felt, maybe she could trust once more?