Chapter 271 — Venting Anger

"No, I didn't!" Wei Fan said awkwardly. Seeing that his sister clearly did not believe him, he hurried on, "Really, I didn't! Why would I lie to you?"

Wei Wan, seeing that her brother was still shielding Dou Ming at a time like this, was beside herself with fury. "I knew it—he's no good!" she cried. "And now it's been proven, bit by bit! How many days has this marriage even lasted? Three days and a small quarrel, five days and a great row! Father and Mother went a whole lifetime without ever flushing at each other, and you two have learned nothing from them, not one good thing! And you needn't lie to me—I know perfectly well. The wife you've married is nothing but a bankrupt household! Her mind is narrower than a needle's eye, and her vision is shallower than the jelly-sellers in the street—she begrudges the price of the water I drink when I come home to my own mother's house! You've taken a wife and forgotten your mother, and you're in league with her, keeping watch on me in everything, hiding everything from me. Rest assured, I know I'm not welcome to your wife. I came back only to see Mother. I won't drink a single sip of your family's tea, much less take any petty advantage of you. Oh—and while you're at it, why don't you make an inventory of how many pieces of pastry are in Mother's house? That way, the next time I come, your wife won't have to suspect that the pastries have gone missing and worry herself to death over it!"

Madam Tian had long been displeased that Dou Ming would run weeping to her son whenever anything happened, and that her son, the moment he saw her tears, would soften and agree to everything. It made her feel as though her son had been caught in his wife's grip—she resented his spinelessness and pitied him for being bullied by his wife. Hearing her daughter now, she did not think her unreasonable or shrewish at all; on the contrary, she thought her daughter was right. Her son had been honest and simple from childhood, and it was his wife who had led him astray. His wife quarreling with him like this was nothing but a disturbance of the household's peace. Her eyes moistened, and she pulled out a handkerchief to dab at the corners. "Yu'er, how good your sister has been to you! Now you've taken a wife, and this is how you treat your sister? Don't forget—when you were small and could not recite your lessons, who sat with you over your books? When the family was strapped for money, who pawned her own jewelry to help you? You must have a conscience! I have only the two of you, brother and sister. If the two of you come to have a rift between you, I shall not go on living!" With that, she took Wei Wan's hand and wept.

Wei Wan shot Wei Fan a fierce glare, then hurried to comfort her mother in a low voice.

Outside the door, Dou Ming was so angry that the handkerchief in her hand had been wrung out of all shape.

Was this Wei Wan her sister-in-law, or her enemy?

A married sister-in-law, and she meddled in her brother's household affairs! If word of this got out, would she not be laughed at?

Dou Ming instinctively raised her hand to lift the curtain, ready to burst out. But in the instant her fingers touched the cloth, she changed her mind.

She had already made Wei Fan unhappy. If she went in now and quarreled with Wei Wan, Wei Fan would only be more displeased. Her footing in the Jining Marquis's estate depended entirely on Wei Fan's affection for her. Without Wei Fan to back her, this sister-in-law of hers would probably devour her alive. Especially since she had flatly refused to go back and demand a dowry from her father—after that, her sister-in-law had found fault with everything about her!

Even so.

The Jining Marquis's estate was not only short on people, but weak in influence as well; when trouble came, there was not a single person to lend a hand. There would be many future occasions when she would need the backing of the Dou clan. If she went back now to demand a dowry from her father, would she not be looked down upon by the Dous? All things in this world worked on the principle that the tide lifts the boat; one person raises another higher. If in the future she had need to ask a favor, and the Dous saw her as an empty shell, why would they help her?

She thought for a moment, then gritted her teeth and quietly withdrew. She instructed the little maid on duty nearby: "Go and announce me."

The little maid answered meekly, but out of the corner of her eye shot a flicker of contempt.

When Wei Wan learned that Dou Ming had come, she did not drop the subject; instead her voice grew louder. "If I were to stop her, would she even come in?"

Wei Fan felt that Wei Wan's words had gone too far. He called out "Sister!" in a loud voice, his eyes pleading.

Wei Wan gave a humph, turned her face away, and at last said nothing more.

Dou Yan, pale of face, made her respects to Madam Tian and Wei Wan.

Madam Tian said, "It's getting late. You should be on your way to Longhua Temple Alley—don't keep the in-laws waiting."

Dou Chu had no desire to stay here a moment longer. She murmured her assent, and went with Wei Fan to Heming Temple Alley.

Dou Huaiying was not at home; they were received by Dou Wenchang and his wife.

At the urging of Dou Bingheng and the others, Dou Huaiying had not written a divorce letter, but he insisted that Wang Shuying move out of Yunqi Temple Alley, and declared: "She is not to see Dou Ming again." The Wang family had no choice but to take Wang Shuying back to Liuye Alley. With no one left at home to manage the household, and Dou Ming returning for her month-long visit, Dou Huaiying thought to ask Madam Ji to come and help entertain Dou Ming—but Madam Ji refused outright on the grounds that Madam Han was with child. Having no other recourse, Dou Huaiying asked his eldest nephew and his wife to come and help.

"Seventh Uncle has business at the yamen—he said he'd be back early." Dou Wenchang smiled and ushered Wei Fan and Dou Ming into the flower hall to sit. "Have some tea first. By the look of the hour, Seventh Uncle should be back very soon." Then he asked in surprise, "Why have you only come now? A little later and I was about to send someone to fetch you."

The month-long return visit was the time when a new bridegroom should ride a fine horse, with a great retinue before and behind, showing off to all the world. Wealthy families, needless to say, came in fine clothes and splendid mounts; even poor families would hire a carriage at dawn that day to send the bride back to her parents' home. Wei Fan and Dou Ming had not arrived until past noon—and Dou Ming had gone to the Jining Marquis's estate in Dou Yan's place as a bride. How could Dou Wenchang not worry?

Wei Fan and Dou Ming answered vaguely.

Dou Wenchang saw at once that there was some complication behind this, but he truly could not be bothered to concern himself with Dou Ming's affairs. Since Dou Ming said nothing, he was content to pretend ignorance and made small talk with Wei Fan. Dou Ming, seeing how cold and quiet the house was, guessed that the Sixth Madam, the Fifth Madam, and Guo-shi and the others had most likely gone to the Ying Duke's estate to congratulate Dou Yan on being granted the title of "Madam." The handkerchief in her hand was twisted into a knot once more.

As soon as Dou Ming had left, Wei Wan's face turned to ice. Greatly displeased, she said to her mother, "You must not indulge Dou Ming any longer. It's time you made her observe the rules."

When Madam Tian had been a daughter-in-law, she and her mother-in-law had been like mother and daughter born of the same flesh. Her mother-in-law had never made things difficult for her, and she had never once thought of making her own daughter-in-law observe the rules.

She blinked and said, "Is—is that fitting?"