Zhao Quan had previously set his sights on becoming a constable as if it was his destiny, never imagining there would be any mishap. He walked with his nose in the air, putting on airs both in the village and at the old Zhao Family home. Now, having failed to secure the job, the feeling of disappointment he harbored inside was bad enough, but the scorn and schadenfreude in the eyes of others made him feel even worse. He spent all day holed up at home and would not go out, becoming increasingly irritable. Even Wei Family didn't dare push him too much, although she felt a pang of heartache over the lost twenty taels of silver, her son was still more important in the end.
Once Wei Family made her stance clear, the daughters-in-law held grievances but dared not show it, only venting to their own men behind closed doors, resentful that the mother-in-law played favorites.