Chapter 200 I Hold Grudges

Chapter 200: Chapter 200 I Hold Grudges

Seeing Zhou Xiuer driven away in anger, Madam Zhou took the opportunity after dinner to have a heart-to-heart with Wufu.

"Wufu, a girl who has no playmates or bosom friends before marriage, where can she turn when she harbors any worries after marriage? There’s no one to confide in or to help lighten her burdens. It is beneficial to make more friends of the same age; there’s no harm in that," Madam Zhou said gently.

Wufu was busy sharpening her carving knife, examining its sharp edge against the sunlight, clearly satisfied, and said, "Mother, I’m very busy, I don’t need playmates."

Playmates, what nonsense is that, asking her to mingle with girls like Zhou Xiuer? To do what, embroider? Play house? Or perhaps chat about clothes and jewelry?

She’d rather run more laps up the mountain to train her physical skills.

Madam Zhou’s mouth twitched upon hearing her daughter claim she was busy. Now that they had Liu Jin and Hongyu at home, Wufu barely lifted a finger for chores; even a small garment was washed by Hongyu, not to mention cooking. Wufu’s busyness consisted of carving stone and practicing martial arts every day.

This martial arts business also turned what was once a pretty young girl into a tomboy in such a short time.

Madam Zhou felt a tightness in her heart. When she tried to get her to learn embroidery, Wufu treated the embroidery needle like a weapon!

But she had no way to make Wufu change; the child had a righteous heart and was quite headstrong.

"Even when you’re busy, you have times to catch your breath. It’s good to chat together when you’re free," Madam Zhou urged again.

Wufu looked up at her, "Mother, if I want to talk to someone, I can do so with Hongyu or Liu Jin, and you. As for Zhou Xiuer, I really don’t have much to say to her."

Without waiting for Madam Zhou to respond, she continued, "Mother, Zhou Xiuer nearly killed me three months ago, have you forgotten?" She had indeed nearly killed "her," but she didn’t clarify in order to spare Madam Zhou from getting upset.

Madam Zhou, taken aback, awkwardly replied, "Cousins don’t hold grudges that last overnight, do they?"

"Mother, I do hold grudges indeed," Wufu shook her head and said, "Besides, you don’t know what she’s scheming by coming over, do you? I don’t believe she’s had a change of heart and wants to be good sisters with me. It’s just because we now live in comfort that she wants to take advantage. I really don’t need such a ’bosom friend.’"

At this, Madam Zhou said, "Don’t think too ill of her; Xiuer is just spoiled by your Elder Maternal Aunt. She’s not truly malicious at heart."

"If she were truly malicious, I would have killed her long ago," Wufu said nonchalantly.

Madam Zhou’s heart skipped a beat.

She hadn’t expected her daughter to harbor such deep prejudices against her maternal family; this would be difficult to handle. They had no one substantial to rely on as their back-up; if Wufu’s father never returned, all they could depend on was their maternal family.

At her age, Madam Zhou could tolerate some grievances, but Wufu was still so young, not yet married. Once she did marry, without the support of brothers, she would have to rely on these male cousins.

Madam Zhou’s brows furrowed tightly as she didn’t know how to erase the prejudices deep-seated in Wufu’s heart.

Indeed, her worries were not unfounded. In those times, women were in a vulnerable position. After marriage, without the support of their maternal family, if they were bullied or wronged by their in-laws, they truly had nowhere to cry.

Thus, for women to live well, they needed two things: sons and the strong backing of their maternal family. This was the basic foundation for a woman’s stability and standing in that era.

However, Madam Zhou had forgotten that Wufu was not an ordinary girl; she had sufficient skills to protect herself. Unfortunately, mother and daughter were not on the same wavelength, their education differed, and naturally, so did their mindsets.