My Future Mother-in-Law Made Me Drink Obedience Soup, So I Taught Her a Lesson

1: 1

The moment I stepped down from the wedding car, my mother-in-law, dressed in a bold red gown, thrust a bowl of murky black liquid in front of me.

Kate, back in our hometown there's a rule. A new bride has to drink this obedience soup before she comes through the door. From now on you take your mother-in-law's guidance in all things, no talking back, no rolling your eyes.

"Only when you've finished this bowl are you truly a daughter-in-law who's married into our family."

That bowl of black soup.

The smell turned my stomach so violently I nearly threw up.

I frowned and looked at Oscar Delgado. "What is this supposed to mean?"

Oscar rubbed his hands together and coaxed me under his breath.

"Just one mouthful. Pinch your nose and get it down, don't make my mom lose face in front of the relatives. You've always been the sensible one."

I smiled and pushed the bowl back at her.

"And if I don't drink it?"

Her face darkened. "Not drinking it means you look down on your husband's family. Then there's no wedding today!"

I lifted the hem of my wedding dress and spoke, unhurried.

"Since you all want to set rules, I've just remembered my family has one too."

Everyone froze and turned to look at me.

"Before a new bride comes through the door, the groom's family has to kneel and roll out the red carpet from the entrance all the way to the wedding suite. It means the husband's family paves the road, so every generation rises higher."

"Since you want me to be sensible, then you kneel first. Show me what 'sensible' really looks like."

"What did you say?"

The smile on my mother-in-law's face froze on the spot.

"You're the one marrying into our family. A bride who hasn't even come through the door yet, and you want your elders to kneel? The world's turned upside down!"

She slammed that bowl of black soup down hard on the table.

"This obedience soup stays right here."

"Today you drink it whether you want to or not!"

I let out a cold snort.

Obedience soup, my foot. It was nothing but a way to put me in my place.

Just two days ago I'd told my mother.

My mother-in-law was a simple, honest woman who wouldn't make trouble for anyone.

I never imagined that on the wedding day itself she'd force bitter medicine down my throat in front of everyone.

The commotion over here had set the crowd whispering, heads bent together.

Oscar couldn't take the embarrassment.

And he was still standing there smoothing things over.

"It's just a bowl of soup, isn't it? Take a couple of sips, pinch your nose, and it'll go down."

"That's how it's done back home. Every new bride we bring into the family goes through this."

"Kate, it wasn't easy getting here. We've been through so much to finally reach our wedding day."

"You can't throw all of that away over a little temper of yours."

I dropped the hem of my dress, my face cold.

I turned and looked at him.

"Like I said, before I drink this obedience soup, your parents kneel and roll out the carpet first."

"Nonsense!"

His father, who'd been silent this whole time, cracked his long pipe down against the table.

"Whose bride makes her in-laws kneel when she comes through the door? What would people say if that got out!"

"Kate Henson! I don't think your hometown has any rule like that at all. You're just deliberately turning everything on its head, aren't you?"

I tilted my head and gave a little smile.

"Weren't you the ones who started this?"

"I held back and didn't bring up my rule out of respect for both families."

"But since you insist on forcing bitter medicine down my throat, since you insist on this obedience soup with no room to talk it over."

I toyed with my bridal manicure and spoke lightly.

"Then we'll just have to go by both families' rules."

This bridal manicure had cost me five hundred dollars, freshly done.

Such a shame, really.

The room fell silent, sinking into awkwardness.

Then Oscar's childhood friend Eleanor Simmons suddenly spoke up with a cold laugh.

"Kate, Auntie doesn't mean any harm. It's just an old custom, everyone's been through it. Why do you have to be so precious about it?"

I turned to her and sneered.

"What does any of this have to do with you?"

Her face went pale, and she stiffened her neck.

"I'm Oscar's childhood friend. He's like a real brother to me, and Auntie's practically half a mother to me."

"You humiliating Auntie in front of everyone like this, I won't stand for it."

"Oh?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"You're saying you're Oscar's sister?"

Eleanor eyed me warily and nodded.

"And what if I am?"

"Don't think marrying into the Delgado family makes you better than everyone else."

"This family values filial duty above all."

"Now that you're the Delgado daughter-in-law, you should do as your in-laws say."

I smiled too and clapped my hands.

The bridesmaid behind me caught my meaning at once and handed me something wrapped like a chocolate.

"Since you're Oscar's sister."

"Then now that I've married in, of course you're my sister too."

"This is your welcome gift."

"Where I'm from there's another rule. On a bride's first day through the door, no one is allowed to refuse the bride's welcome gift."

"So, right here in front of me, you eat this first."

2: 2

"What is it?"

Eleanor edged closer, two careful steps, and reached out to take it.

The moment she saw the wrapping, her eyes lit up.

"Is this imported chocolate?"

I smiled and nodded.

Eleanor beamed, unable to stop grinning.

"You really do things in style."

"I've seen this kind of imported chocolate before, on a friend's feed."

"She went abroad once and couldn't bring herself to buy this brand. A single piece costs thousands."

Eleanor showed it off to everyone, gushing, even as her hands quickly tore open the wrapper.

The next second, a shrill scream cut through the air.

"Ahh! What is this thing?"

Eleanor lost her grip, and the thing in her hands nearly flew loose.

Then dropped fast to the ground.

A black scorpion crawled slowly out of the chocolate wrapper.

The crowd sucked in a breath.

"Kate Henson! You, you actually dared to pull a scorpion on me!"

Eleanor's face went white, disbelief all over it.

"I really thought it was imported chocolate. Who would've guessed it was a live scorpion?"

"You vicious woman. If I'd actually eaten that, would I still be alive?"

I gave a cold little laugh.

Of course I knew she wouldn't eat it.

It was only to shut that foul mouth of hers.

She was the one who couldn't mind her own business.

"The scorpion's just a little toy for you."

I folded my arms and spoke slowly.

"If you keep helping them and keep pushing me to drink that bitter swill, next time what I hand you won't just be a scorpion."

Seeing I had a few tricks up my sleeve.

That I wasn't some soft target anyone could squeeze.

The onlookers who'd been egging on the in-laws, shouting for me to drink the obedience soup, all shrank back a couple of steps, none of them daring to speak again.

"Kate, what exactly are you playing at?"

Oscar forced down the anger simmering in his eyes.

He turned to apologize to his future in-laws.

"Mom, Dad, don't take it to heart."

"Kate's just childish like that. She's only joking with everyone."

"The obedience soup, she she'll drink it."

The smile on my face vanished instantly.

I turned to look at Oscar in disbelief.

"Whose side are you actually on?"

Oscar frowned and leaned in close, his voice almost pleading.

"Kate, I know that stuff tastes awful."

"But today's our big day, and all these neighbors are watching."

"If you won't drink it, my parents will lose face in front of everyone."

"After this, people in the village will look down on them."

"I'm begging you. Just for my sake, take two sips, okay?"

That actually made me laugh out of sheer anger.

For your sake? How much is your face even worth?

You're not fit to hand me my shoes.

But I still drew in a deep breath and reasoned with him, keeping my tone civil.

"Oscar, I've smelled that bowl. Angelica, wormwood, coptis all bitter, heat-clearing medicine."

"And there's something else in there I can't name, something that reeks."

"Never mind that you know full well,"

"I never touch anything of unknown origin."

"Just take this one bowl of bitter soup. What does it symbolize? Don't tell me you don't know."

I stared into Oscar's eyes.

"You're telling me that step one of marrying you is signing up for a hard life?"

I trained in Eastern medicine, so one close whiff was enough to make out what was in that black brew.

Not only did it do nothing.

It was pure torment.

"Kate, this is all in your head."

Oscar frowned and grabbed my hand, coaxing. "It really doesn't mean any of that. It's just a custom back home."

"Besides, you heard her. Mom said only after you drink this bowl are you truly married in. She's just following the rules"

"Following the rules?"

I looked into his eyes, and for the first time, regret stirred in me.

In front of outsiders, his first instinct had been to protect me.

Yet now he was helping that pack of people force me.

"In the car you told me that once I married in, my life would be good, that no one would ever bully me."

"And now? Do you know this soup, back in your hometown, is what they pour down the throat of a daughter-in-law who's done wrong?"

I'd looked into it long ago.

His family had no such custom at all.

They were just afraid that, coming from a good family, I'd marry in and not fall into line.

So the moment I stepped through the door, they had to put me in my place.

"What?!"

Oscar froze. "How could it be for a daughter-in-law who's done wrong?"

"Kate, you must just not understand the customs back home. That's why you've misread it."

"Besides, my mom is so careful and cautious. She wouldn't get it wrong."

Seeing Oscar standing firmly on his mother's side.

Madge's mouth curled up in triumph as she rushed over and picked up that bowl of medicine.

"Don't try to haggle with me. You've been told to drink it, so drink it, and be good about it!"

She stepped up beside me, making to pour it down my throat.

I stared at the black brew and gave a cold little laugh.

"Fine. But I can't take bitter things. So before that, Oscar, why don't you drink a few mouthfuls for me?"

The words were barely out when Madge's face changed in an instant, and she shoved her son hard away.

"Drink it? There's never been any such rule!"

"This obedience soup is only for the new bride to drink."

I didn't move from where I stood.

I only looked at that twisted face of hers and smiled.

"I can drink it. But I, Kate Henson, have always had one rule. I don't take anything of unknown origin."

"Before I drink, I should find out first what's actually in it, shouldn't I?"

Madge's face changed, but she barked back, brazen.

"What could possibly be in it? You think I'd harm you?"

"Stop stalling. Drag it out any longer and it won't be any good, so hurry up and drink."

I just gave a cold laugh and clapped my hands.

I had my private physician, who'd come with me, step forward.

"This is the finest doctor in the country, out of a top-tier hospital. Dr. Chavez, why don't you tell everyone right now what's in this medicine?"

Dr. Chavez strode forward and took the bowl of obedience soup.

He only brought it close to his nose for a sniff, then quickly covered his nose and mouth.

His face turned unpleasant.

"There are indeed a few medicinal herbs in here."

"But besides the herbs, I also detected traces of fecal matter!"

3: 3

The whole place erupted at once.

"Wait... what? That's just crap, isn't it?"

"So much for their obedience soup. They're literally feeding the new bride crap. What a freak of a tradition."

Oscar's movements froze mid-motion. He turned to look at his mother.

"...Mom?"

His voice was thick with disbelief.

"You said this was a tradition. What did you actually put in it? How could you do something like this?"

"What are you talking about? This is what the bride drinks!"

Her face was ugly, but she still refused to back down.

"What does that doctor know? He's just talking nonsense. This is a secret family recipe!"

The murmurs kept rippling through the crowd.

"Secret family recipe, my foot. It's making her daughter-in-law eat crap."

"I've heard about this kind of mother-in-law before. Petty, vicious, and cruel to the bone."

"She saw the new bride marrying in and got scared of losing face, so she cooked up a way to throw her weight around."

"Absolutely disgusting."

Dr. Chavez couldn't take it either. He pointed at her, his face grim.

"I've practiced medicine for twenty years. I have never once misjudged a medicinal ingredient."

"If you think I got it wrong, then drink a mouthful yourself!"

At that, the people beside him started egging her on.

"Yeah, go on, drink some yourself."

"Bullying a brand-new daughter-in-law. What kind of skill is that?"

She was cornered into silence.

All she could do was sneer, over and over.

"You're about to become a Delgado bride. Can't even swallow a little bitterness?"

"Once you're married in, you'll learn. Eating a bit of crap is nothing."

"There'll be plenty of days worse than this."

Her voice was low. The people around her didn't catch it. I heard every word.

Watching every jeer in the crowd turn into an accusation against his mother,

even her own son, Oscar, went cold-faced and made his stance clear.

"Mom, I told you, Kate is the wife I'm bringing home."

"She shouldn't have to suffer a single grievance."

"If you're still going to force her to drink this, then I'll take the first mouthful."

His father couldn't hold his face any longer and got to his feet to smooth things over.

"Enough. If she won't drink it, then she won't."

"This is a joyful day. We can't keep quarreling like this."

"Kate, your mother-in-law was just going through the motions, nothing more! If you don't want to drink it, then don't. Hurry up and come in for the ceremony."

She glared at me, hard, and muttered under her breath.

"Little slut. You're getting off easy."

"I'll find another chance to make you suffer."

Everyone assumed that after the mood had reached this point, I'd give them some face.

But I still didn't move.

"Kate, my mom's already given you a way out. What are you standing around for?"

I crossed my arms and gave a cold little laugh.

"Your mother backed down. I didn't."

"I already said it. Where I'm from, there's a rule."

"Before the bride crosses the threshold, the groom's family kneels and rolls the red carpet out the whole way."

"The carpet isn't laid yet. No rush on the ceremony."

That tipped her over into pure rage.

She smashed a bowl next to her hard against the ground.

"Listen to yourself, spouting this crazy nonsense!"

"The Delgados have never heard of such a shameless rule for taking in a bride!"

"This is outrageous! The moment you step through that door today, you're a Delgado! Since when does a daughter-in-law haggle with her in-laws?"

I let out a laugh.

"No bride marries into a family to haggle."

I let go of the hem of my gown and turned toward the wedding car.

"You were the ones who mistreated me first."

"Since you won't agree, then fine."

"There's no point in this wedding at all."

4: 4

"Kate!"

Oscar caught up to me and grabbed my wrist.

"What are you doing? Mom just talks tough, that's all. Give her a way out"

I looked at him once, then turned and walked back.

Oscar thought I'd finally changed my mind, and let out a breath of relief.

The next second, I faced every guest in the courtyard.

I picked up the microphone.

"Elders of the Delgado family, I, Kate Henson, came here today to marry Oscar Delgado."

"Not to be your errand girl, and not to have them lay down rules for me."

I paused, then raised a hand and pointed at the red carpet under my feet.

"Either it goes the way I said: his parents finish laying out these fifty meters of red carpet, on their knees."

"Finish it, and the wedding goes on."

"Don't finish it, and the wedding car is still at the edge of the village. I go back the way I came."

Madge's face went livid, and she let out a cold laugh.

"You little slut, are you dreaming?"

"You marry in as a daughter-in-law, and you want me on my knees laying carpet for you? Who do you think you are, ordering me around like that!"

"Even if you want my old life today, there is no way I will ever kneel and lay carpet for you!"

I smiled.

"Everyone heard that, didn't you?"

"It wasn't me, Kate Henson, who backed out first."

"It's the Delgado family that has no sincerity. In that case, the wedding ends here."

Madge spat hard in my direction.

"You dare walk out! You step out that gate today, and not one cent of your dowry gets returned!"

Oscar stamped his foot in a panic.

"Mom! Dad! Can you two say a little less!"

Then he turned back to me, pressed his palms together, and begged.

"Kate, I'm begging you, just this one day, give me some face"

"Oscar Delgado."

I cut him off, calling him by his full name. "From this morning until now, have you blocked a single word for me?"

He froze.

I let out a scornful laugh.

"Your mom carried that bowl over and made me drink that reeking thing, and the whole time you were just pushing me to swallow a few mouthfuls. You never once spoke up for me."

With every sentence I stepped forward.

He stepped back.

"Your face matters, but my dignity doesn't count?"

"Kate, I"

Oscar's face went white as he stammered out some explanation, but I had no time left for his nonsense.

I walked to the wedding car, pulled the door open, and got in.

"Driver, turn around. Back to the city."

The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror.

Then he looked at the dark crowd of Delgado relatives outside the window, swallowed, and shifted into reverse.

"Don't you dare!"

Madge rushed forward and threw herself in front of the car.

"You can't leave! If you leave today, how will the Delgado family ever show our faces again!"

I rolled the window down a crack.

"That's your problem."

"Kate!"

Oscar ran up. "It was my fault. I'll apologize to you, all right? Don't go."

Eleanor Simmons, his little childhood sweetheart, came over, gloating.

"Oscar, don't stop her."

"A daughter-in-law who hasn't even married in yet really thinks she's some big shot."

"Don't stop her. Let's see who ends up looking like a fool when she rides off in the wedding car."

Oscar shot her a vicious glare.

"Shut up. Get lost."

Then he turned back and begged me, groveling.

"Come out and let's talk this through! My mom doesn't know how to talk. I'll apologize for her, okay?"

I looked at him through the window.

"Apologize with what? Oscar Delgado, you and me, it ends here."

His eyes went red, and his lips trembled for a long moment.

"...You're really that heartless?"

"The moment you decided to stand with your parents and bully me, we were already over."

I closed my eyes and rolled the window up.

The engine gunned, and the car pulled quickly away from that ruined village.

Old scenes flashed through my mind.

Oscar used to get up early to buy me a glass of milk.

Every meal, he picked the scallions and cilantro out one by one.

On rainy days, he always tilted the umbrella toward my side.

The year I decided to go for grad school, Oscar gave me all his spending money.

"Kate, you're definitely going to get in."

His hands were cracked and raw from a winter part-time job, but his eyes were bright.

"If you don't get in, I'll take care of you."

Back then he was scraping by on barely a couple hundred dollars a month, and still he held me with his whole heart in his face.

Later we graduated, and our life got better day by day.

The day I tried on wedding gowns, Oscar's eyes went red with feeling, and he said I was the most beautiful bride in the world.

"Kate, once you marry me, I swear I'll never let you suffer."

His words were still ringing in my ears.

But everything had changed now.

The car jolted, and I opened my eyes.

Outside, we were already past the small town, with the overpass ahead.

So what if the feelings we once had were good? In the end it lost to reality.

A husband's family that humiliated me on the wedding day itself.

There was no way I would marry into it.

I was just about to take out my phone to call my mom, working out how to break the news about calling off the wedding.

The car suddenly lurched forward, lost its balance, and nearly hit the guardrail at the roadside.

The driver got out, checked for a long while, then shook his head and sighed.

"Miss, someone tampered with the car!"