Volume One, Chapter 15: The Ugly Daughter-in-Law Meets Her In-Laws

Wang Yuanya suddenly opened her eyes and immediately saw "Fool" Li Jize holding a piece of dark, grimy object, leering at her with lustful eyes.

"Oh! So you're actually a great beauty, not an ugly girl!"

Seeing Li Jize getting closer and closer, Wang Yuanya panicked!

She struggled desperately, but oddly enough, she felt overwhelmingly exhausted, unable to move an inch.

She could only watch helplessly as the lecherous Li Jize drew nearer.

"Ah! You... what do you want? Don't come closer!"

"Hey, you're my wife! What else could it be but our wedding night?"

With that, Li Jize lunged at her, tugging wildly at her clothes.

Wang Yuanya was terrified and weak, but to protect her purity, she summoned the last shred of strength and clenched her delicate fists, landing a solid punch on Li Jize.

And then...

Nothing happened after that!

With a loud thud, her fist truly connected firmly with Li Jize’s face... right on the eye socket!

Damn it!

Li Jize, sound asleep and completely unprepared, was punched straight in the eye.

Instantly, the world spun, golden stars flashed before his eyes, and he struggled painfully to get up...

Looking around carefully, damn! That ugly girl was causing trouble again!

Her pink fists flailed wildly as she shouted, "No! No! You pervert, don't come near me!"

Li Jize: "???"

Had she overestimated her own looks? Dreaming someone wanted to do something to her?

If he wasn’t a pervert, she should be thanking her lucky stars.

Seeing his "hideous wife" making a fuss, Li Jize gritted his teeth, moved to the foot of the bed, and tried to go back to sleep.

But...

"Don't come closer! Don't come closer!"

This time, she gave up on punching and switched to kicking.

Feeling the "fragrant foot" landing on his face, how was he supposed to sleep?

Unable to endure the kicks, and with important work to do tomorrow on his land making firearms, he had to get some rest.

Offended and fed up from the kicks...

To hell with it!

He kicked the unruly, glaring, and kicking Wang Yuanya off the bed.

Instantly...

Ah! Comfort! The world fell completely silent.

The next morning, Li Jize got up early and headed straight to his land to forge weapons.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuanya finally woke from the nightmare.

Yawning, she felt that last night’s sleep had been restless, as if she had a bad dream.

But what was the dream about?

She simply couldn’t remember.

Getting up and looking around, something was wrong.

Why was she sleeping on the floor?

Looking around, where was Li Jize? Where had the fool Li Jize gone?

Knock, knock, knock!

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door, and Wang Yuanya panicked!

She hurriedly grabbed the quilt off the floor and ran to the bed.

After pulling the quilt over herself, she called out to the door.

"Who... who is it?"

"Young madam, young master, it’s time to get up. The master and mistress are waiting for you to serve tea!"

Wang Yuanya snapped back to reality.

Looking around, her husband was nowhere to be seen. Serve tea? Serve what tea?

Sigh! Surely Li Jize had another episode, lost his mind again! How could he forget such an important matter?

Helpless...

Wang Yuanya braced herself, washed up, changed into fresh clothes, and transformed into a delicate, gentle lady once more.

...

In the Li Family mansion’s main hall.

Li Jin paced impatiently with his hands behind his back.

Sitting in the main seat, Huang Suqiu looked at the rising sun outside and felt awkward.

In the seat to the left below, sat Chen Anran and her son Li Jihuan.

At that moment, Chen Anran sipped tea and sneered, "It’s this late already, and they still haven’t come to pay respects! Jin, the Li family kindly arranged a wife for him, yet he doesn’t treat the Li family as his own!"

Li Jin was stunned, his face turning dark with displeasure.

Huang Suqiu quickly stood up and smiled brightly, "No, no! They had their wedding night last night! Young people stay up late, it’s normal to get up late!"

"What? Auntie, do you really think my big brother consummated the marriage last night?"

Leaning on his hand, Li Jihuan mocked from the side.

Clearly implying that Li Jize was a fool! Did he know anything about men and women?

Huang Suqiu’s face soured. Now that she was no longer called “mother” by the concubine’s son, she was “auntie” instead.

What annoyed her most...

Was that he repeatedly insinuated her son was an idiot!

Immediately, she snapped, "Jihuan! You’re the younger one; is it appropriate to speak about your elder brother like that? Don’t forget, when Jize made achievements for the Li family, you were just a lowly soldier!"

Li Jihuan shrugged, "But he’s also the one who brought disaster to the Li family!"

"You—"

"Enough!"

Li Jin cut them off irritably, "Neither the old nor the young behave like they should! I want to see what this rebellious son of mine is really up to."

With that, Li Jin swept his sleeve and prepared to go “check the rooms.”

Unexpectedly, a “female ghost” suddenly appeared from behind!

Whoa!

Startled, Li Jin took two steps back, assuming a defensive stance. "What demon are you? How did you get into the Li family?"

Wang Yuanya: "???"

Is that polite?

Seeing everyone present, she quickly forced a smile and made a formal bow.

"Wife Yuanya pays respects to father-in-law!"

Then, she bowed to the others in turn.

"Respect to mother-in-law! Respect to the concubine! Respect to younger uncle!"

Everyone in the Li family exchanged bewildered looks.

After a long moment...

Pfft!

Li Jihuan and Chen Anran covered their mouths, struggling to hold back laughter.

Li Jin’s face darkened.

Is this really his daughter-in-law? Had he lost his mind?

No wonder the Empress Dowager insisted on this marriage!

She didn’t want Li Jize to have a good match; he must marry the ugliest woman in the realm!

One had to admit, the Empress Dowager’s generosity was unmatched.

Not only would she refuse any better bride for her son, she insisted he marry the ugliest.

Huang Suqiu reacted quickly, standing up to help Wang Yuanya and cheerfully handing her a red envelope.

"Daughter-in-law, how thoughtful of you!"

As she spoke, she kept signaling Li Jin to at least show some recognition.

Li Jin snorted coldly, folding his hands behind his back as he sat arrogantly in the main seat.

"And where’s that rebellious son? Why don’t I see him?"

Wang Yuanya felt awkward. She hadn’t seen Li Jize when she woke up, alright?

Just as she was about to tell the truth...

Huang Suqiu pinched her and gave her a warning glance.

Quickly catching on, Wang Yuanya glanced at Chen Anran and the younger uncle beside her.

Her eyes shifted, and she changed the subject, putting on her best “leading actress” performance.

"My husband... he had an episode in the middle of the night and ran straight out of the mansion! He said... he said he was going to pay respects to the master!"

Li Jin immediately froze on the spot...

Huang Suqiu gasped softly as well.