Green as Far as the Eye Could See

Yu Shu sneered, "Gold? Thank you, but they're all fake, fake, understand? They're all brass."

Old Madam Zhou looked at the gold jewelry and said, "What brass? You're talking nonsense! These are all real."

Yu Shu scoffed lightly:

"What does your Zhou Family have that's real? I'm truly impressed; I've finally witnessed your family's poverty."

If you don't want to give me this gift, you can just say so. Why humiliate me like this?

Zhou Qingzhou walked in, frowning, and said, "Yu Shu, how can you talk like that?"

Yu Shu snorted coldly and said:

How do you want me to speak?

"On my very first day married into this family, all the gifts you gave me were made of brass. Isn't that an insult?"

Zhou Qingzhou was also dumbfounded. Qian Huihui, with red eyes, said, "Daughter-in-law, these things were given to us by the Princess and Liu Su'e. We had no idea they were fake."

Yu Shu looked at them and said:

"What did you say this morning when your fourth uncle and aunt were here?"

You say these things belong to you and have nothing to do with their family.

Now that these things are made of brass, you're starting to blame it on others again.

"Which of your Zhou Family's statements are true, and which are false?"

Zhou Qingzhou quickly said, "Yu Shu, stop joking around, this is just a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding? Perhaps your Zhou Family looks down on me? I heard you wanted to marry Shen Yunshu before, didn't you?"

Zhou Qingzhou quickly waved his hand and said, "I only want you, Yu Shu. I only love you. You have to believe me."

Old Madam Zhou said softly:

"Okay, it's not a big deal. We were scammed too."

I have a bracelet here, a gift from the Empress Dowager. I... I'll take the liberty of giving it to you.

This is a filigree gold-plated and gem-encrusted bracelet that the Empress Dowager bestowed upon her; it's incredibly expensive.

Yu Shu put it on her wrist, nodded, and said, "Those from the palace are truly different; they look especially beautiful. Thank you, Grandma."

She looked at Qian Huihui beside her, Qian Huihui coughed and said, "Didn't Grandma already give me the bracelet? Do I have to pay for another one separately?"

Zhou Qingzhou nodded and said, "Mother..."

Qian Huihui gritted her teeth for a long time before pulling out a bracelet from her pocket and saying, "I saved up for a long time to buy this one. If... if you don't like it..."

Yu Shu quickly put it on her wrist and said, "I don't mind, Mother. You're so good to me, even better than my own mother."

Qian Huihui was on the verge of tears, while Zhou Wanwan laughed uncontrollably beside her, "Oh my! This wife is really well-chosen! I never expected the Yu Family to be so funny, I almost died laughing."

Old Madam Zhou coughed and said, "Alright, let's serve the dishes!"

Dinner was served, and all I saw was a table full of vegetarian dishes.

A large octagonal table was laden with Manman than a dozen dishes, all green as far as the eye could see.

Stir-fried romaine lettuce, garlic spinach, cucumber salad, stir-fried green beans, braised green beans, stir-fried water spinach, blanched bok choy, stir-fried chives and bean sprouts, bitter melon salad, clear winter melon soup, stir-fried loofah, pickled green radish strips...

Old Madam Zhou's face turned green. "Are you all crazy? What are these? You want us to eat vegetables every day?"

The maid beside her said:

"Madam, we're out of rice now."

These vegetables were all picked directly from the garden, and this is all that's left. After we finish these, we'll have to buy our own vegetables tomorrow.

Also, our household is short of a cook; these dishes were all prepared by servants, and they don't taste very good."

Old Madam Zhou shouted:

"This is what we're supposed to eat? Why didn't you say so sooner?"

At the very least, there should be some meat in the food! Who's going to eat this?

The maidservant lowered her head, not daring to speak.

Qian Huihui said helplessly, "Mom, let's hire a cook tomorrow! We'll just make do tonight."

She took one bite and immediately spat it out. "It's too salty! How much salt did they put in this dish?"

The maid knelt down. "I've tried my best, but I haven't cooked much before!"

Yu Shu was so angry that she stood up abruptly and said:

"I'm not eating anymore. How can I stand being treated like this right after marrying into this family?"

Nothing goes right from morning till night; I've had enough of this life.

Yu Shu wanted to go home. She walked and cried. Even in the Yu family mansion, she had never been treated like this!

Now, things have gotten really bad. She's only just arrived at her husband's family home, and this is how they treat her.

At first, she thought she might be overthinking things, but now, time and again, it's clear that her in-laws do have a problem with her.

Otherwise, why would they put her through all this trouble?

Yu Shu felt increasingly wronged, so Zhou Qingzhou hugged her tightly and said, "Wife, don't be sad. This was all Zhou Wanwan's doing. You have no idea how wicked that girl is."

Yu Shu furious. "Why do you let someone like that live in your house?"

Zhou Qingzhou coughed and said:

"We're family after all! But we've rushed to the side hall now, things will be better tomorrow."

Honey, don't be angry anymore, let's go back inside!

Yu Shu asked, "Zhou Qingzhou, whose house is this anyway?"

Zhou Qingzhou quickly said, "Of course it's mine! Alright, alright, let's get some rest today."

Yu Shu then gave up. Once inside, Zhou Qingzhou said, "I'll have someone buy roast duck and roast chicken, as well as some good wine and dishes—all of which are my wife's favorites."

Yu Shu rubbed her stomach and said, "I'm really hungry."

Zhou Wanwan rubbed her stomach and said, "I'm hungry too, let's go home for dinner!"

Their dinner today was completely different from the neighbor's.

Steamed grouper, boiled prawns, stir-fried fresh scallops, spicy stir-fried flower crab, oyster omelet, and sea cucumber and mushroom soup.

Braised whole pork knuckle, crispy roasted pigeon, honey-roasted venison, braised goose feet in soy sauce, cordyceps-stewed old hen soup, and braised deer tendon.

Garlic-flavored kale, blanched bok choy, stir-fried snow peas, and braised bok choy with shiitake mushrooms.

The eldest princess looked at the dishes and said, "Ah! At least I don't have to eat dinner with that family anymore. I never get enough to eat there."

Liu Su'e nodded and said, "It's always more comfortable to eat with family; we can eat whatever we want."

Zhou Fusheng, while eating the braised pork knuckle, exclaimed, "Delicious, so delicious!"

Zhou Qingyan, Zhou Qinghe, Zhou Qingchen, Gu Sinian have all returned, and even Dean Zhu has come over.

Dean Zhu looked at Zhou Wanwan with a smile and said, "Little apprentice, you've been quite busy lately!"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Not busy, not busy at all, I'm nowhere near as busy as you!"

Dean Zhu looked at her and said, "Let's eat first. I'll deal with you after we eat. I want to see if you've memorized everything I've been making you memorize lately."

Zhou Wanwan stuck out her tongue and said, "Master, your disciple is very diligent. I'll do whatever you ask me to do."

Dean Zhou sighed softly and said, "Busy growing vegetables in the Cold Palace? Or busy setting up branch offices? Or...?"

Hehehe!

Zhou Wanwan smiled shyly and said, "You really can't hide anything from your eyes."