Rebirth: Contract Husband Falls in Love with Me-Chapter 415 - 212: News of Shi Fengming

Mrs. Zhou scrutinized Sang Wan for a few moments before hearing her daughter gripping her hand and calling her "sister-in-law". She then said, "So you are the Shi family’s First Lady? Ah, our Jingyi is just too straightforward and slow-witted. If she had half your tact and intelligence, she wouldn’t have ended up in her current predicament! Wait? Men amusing themselves is inconsequential, but women’s youth is fleeting, how many years can she still afford to wait!"

Mrs. Zhou here was implying that not long after Sang Wan married into the Shi family, she "snatched" Shi Fengju away from Gu Fangzi. Many people in the hall understood this immediately and their expressions turned slightly odd. Sang Wan felt a bit embarrassed, but pretended not to know and responded with a smile, "Regardless of how many years, the junior sister-in-law remains the Second Master’s legitimate wife, no one can surpass her! Over these past two years, the Shi family has not ceased searching for the Second Master, mother-in-law please have a bit more patience, there will surely be results!"

"Yes, mother-in-law, the young couple is not heartless; wouldn’t it be a pity to separate them just like that? My nephew was merely foolish for a moment. After learning his lesson, he will surely not make the same mistakes again! Isn’t it good when both of them can live their lives well together? Sending your daughter back home now, those who don’t know might think she lacks the virtue and can’t maintain her reputation, then who will make a good match for her in the future! My words might not be pleasing, but think about it, isn’t this reasonable?" Mrs. Wang also added with a smile.

Mrs. Zhou’s eyes widened in anger upon hearing the last two sentences, but after thinking it over, she had to admit that Mrs. Wang wasn’t wrong. Men flirting around outside is "romantic and suave," but women being slightly unreserved is "libidinous!" Although Shi Fengming was at fault, in the eyes of the public it would just be considered a harmless romantic affair. If her daughter really got a divorce and returned home after only two years of marriage, as Mrs. Wang said, it was very likely that people would say she "couldn’t stand loneliness" or "longed for a man," which would tarnish a perfectly innocent girl’s reputation for the rest of her life.

Seeing her daughter’s teary, pitiful look pleading, Mrs. Zhou sighed inwardly.

"But we can’t just keep waiting endlessly! Is my daughter supposed to remain a widow for her whole life!" Mrs. Zhou retorted coldly.

Second Madam Shi couldn’t bear it anymore, jumping to her feet and demanding, "What do you mean by that? Are you cursing my son!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Sister-in-law, mother-in-law, let’s sit down and talk this through slowly, let’s all calm down, arguing won’t resolve anything, right?" Mrs. Wang quickly intervened.

Sang Wan signaled with her eyes, and Xingzhi, Xiuchun, and others hurried forward to help the two madams to their seats, while Sang Wan also helped Mrs. Wang sit down and stood behind her, with Mrs. Lu and Zhou Jingyi standing behind Mrs. Zhou.

"My daughter will wait another year. If your Second Master doesn’t return after one year, First Lady, then please take charge at that time and send my daughter back to her natal family!" Mrs. Zhou’s eyes reddened as she wiped away tears, "I’m not being unreasonable. We’re all parents here, who doesn’t want their children to live well! But I can’t just watch my daughter suffer like this, she’s a decent girl, what wrong has she done!"

"You—" Second Madam Shi was about to speak but was glared back by Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang thought for a bit, then suggested: "A year seems a bit short; how about three years? If my nephew still hasn’t returned after three years, then we will send Jingyi back to her natal family!"

Sending someone back to their natal family has its considerations: a voluntary send-off by the in-laws suggests generosity and not wanting to stall the daughter-in-law’s prime years, the daughter-in-law out of determination should plead several times to stay, then the in-laws would persistently persuade her, and the daughter-in-law should leave for home tearfully with frequent lingering looks. This way she wouldn’t be criticized. This is what Mrs. Zhou is requesting from the Shi family to actively send her daughter back.

"Three years is so long!" Mrs. Zhou slightly furrowed her brow, "Isn’t that a bit too extended?" Her daughter is now eighteen, and after another three years she will be twenty-one. When she returns home, it naturally wouldn’t be possible for her to get married right away; at least another two or three years would be needed, right? By then, she’ll truly become an old maid!

"Mother-in-law, if you’re unwilling, you can take your daughter back now!" Second Madam Shi sneered.

"You!"

"I actually think three years is short! Humph, but since the First Lady has spoken, I won’t say more! If you’re unhappy, take her now and go! My son can still marry a good wife!" Second Madam Shi was also full of pent-up frustration.