“As for you,” she said, her tone hardening, “you will accompany me to the kitchen, and together we will prepare something for your guests. It’s time you understood the true meaning of partnership and respect in a marriage.”

Her son-in-law, for the first time, had no retort. He followed her into the kitchen, his mind reeling. His mother-in-law, with her air of authority and compassion, was nothing like he had expected. In the kitchen, she didn’t just instruct him on what to do; she taught him. She showed him how to prepare a simple yet delicious meal, guiding him with patience and care.