Chapter 28 It's settled

Sun snorted coldly, her face displeased. "Mother, let me say something a daughter-in-law shouldn't say. You can't touch this money now. Some things are still open to discussion. If you give the money to the third brother now, what will you give him when Butcher Li comes to cancel the engagement?"

Old Mrs. Chen paused, retracted her hand, and put the silver back into the cloth bag.

Chen Zhancai answered empty-handed, his heart aching. What if his mother went back on her word?

He quickly said, "Second sister-in-law, what are you talking about? Qing girl will have to marry him sooner or later, so why would you cancel the engagement?"

Sun raised an eyebrow, "Third brother, have you become stupid from studying? The eldest wife's family was driven out by mother, and a letter of severance was written, so we are like strangers. You still want to sell Qing girl to Li the butcher? You are dreaming!"

Old Mrs. Chen rolled her eyes at her and said, "Just do your work properly. Is this something you should worry about?"

Sun was furious. She was clearly thinking about the family, but hearing what they said made it seem like she was meddling in other people's business. Her face immediately fell.

"Mom, I don't like what you said. What do you mean I shouldn't worry about it? If someone comes to your door and asks for money one day, what will you do?"

"Bah!" Old Lady Chen spat. "You're a worthless idiot. Why would anyone ask for money? Qing will get married sooner or later. Trust me, and you'll be fine. Just wait for your happy life with Zhan Cai in the future."

Chen Zhanliang curled his lips when he heard this. "Cuiqin, you haven't figured out what mother and third brother mean. They deliberately gave half a bag of rice bran to eldest brother's family. They're waiting for them to run out of food so they can force eldest brother to send Qing girl to the Li family. So just keep quiet and don't worry about it. It has nothing to do with us."

Sun's face was gloomy. "What do you mean it doesn't matter? In my opinion, since the relationship has been severed, my eldest brother's family would never come to the old house to beg for help even if they starve to death.

You still want to threaten her. Do you think that girl is a good person?

Yesterday, her mother made things difficult for her by not giving her a pot and a pan, but she still had a meal. Wu Baoan not only gave her the pot and a pan, but also gave her half a bag of corn.

Old Mrs. Chen shuddered. "You're talking nonsense. Food is as important as life these days. Why would Wu Baoan give it to that damn girl?"

Sun snorted coldly, "Not only did they give her half a bag of corn, but the village head also said that Qing Ya is extraordinary and will one day rise to prominence. If we protect her now, she won't suffer any loss in the future."

Old Mrs. Chen laughed disdainfully as if she had heard a huge joke.

"That damn girl has no luck at all. She is nothing after leaving the Chen family. Yet, she is able to rise to prominence. I think not only the eldest brother's family are idiots, but even Wu Baoan and his wife are fools. They actually believed the nonsense of a little girl. They are really brainless..."

"Believe it or not, the village head's wife told the villagers herself." Sun glanced at Chen Zhancai and continued, "Mother, I'm making this clear today. If you give all the silver to the third brother's family, then if Butcher Li comes and you don't have the money to return it to him, you'll have to marry Chen Ruolan to him to pay off the debt. Don't even think about taking money from our family anymore."

Old Mrs. Chen was so angry that she was shaking all over. "Zhanliang, look at the good wife you married. Before she even takes charge of the household, you're already lecturing your mother-in-law. You're really going to rebel against her."

Chen Zhanliang was not moved at all. "Mother, I think what Cuiqin said is reasonable. As the head of the family, you should treat everyone equally. I accept that you have favored the third child for so many years, but you can't sell Qing girl just to let him study, and you shouldn't give the money to the third child before the matter is resolved. What if you can't deal with Li the butcher? What will you do?"

Old Mrs. Chen slapped her thigh and was about to cry when she heard Chen Zhanliang say, "Don't cry, make a scene, or even threaten to hang yourself. This trick works on my eldest brother, but it won't work on me. Let me be frank. If you insist on giving the silver to the third son, you won't be able to fill this hole in the future. Don't even think about harming our second branch. I won't enter the palace to be a eunuch, and I won't allow you to have any ideas about my two sons."

Old Mrs. Chen's face turned pale and she almost fainted. She pointed at Chen Zhanliang and Sun and cursed, "You two are heartless. You believe what outsiders say and treat your mother's words as fart. How can I do something I am not sure of? I have eaten more salt than you have eaten rice in my life, and I have crossed more bridges than you have walked. If you don't believe me, just wait and see if I am right."

Old man Chen was puffing on his pipe. He was unsure at the moment. After separating the eldest brother's family, he felt empty inside. He always felt that the young girl had changed, but he didn't know what had changed. She was still the same person, but the look in her eyes when she was killing the chicken, the movements of her hands and the knife, made people shudder.

"Old woman, think carefully about what Zhan Liang and his wife said. The third child's studies are important, but we also have to make a living."

Chen Zhancai's heart tightened. "Dad, Mom, I will definitely pass the exam next spring. How can I manage without money? All my efforts over the years have been in vain."

Seeing her beloved third son looking so aggrieved, Old Lady Chen felt heartbroken. She glared at him and waved her hand.

"Okay, everyone, shut up. This is settled. The silver must be given to the third brother. We can talk about the rest later."

"I know that mother loves me the most. When your son passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, I will definitely be filial to you."

"Okay, I believe what my son says." Old Mrs. Chen nodded happily and winked at Chen Zhancai and his wife. "How about this, I'll give you the silver tomorrow morning. You can go back to your room first."

Chen Zhancai understood what he meant.

Old man Chen sighed, knocked on his pipe and went into the house silently.

Chen Zhanliang and his wife had gloomy faces and said nothing.

..........

The next morning,

Chen Qingqing had finished breakfast and just walked out of the room,

Then I saw all the Chen family members standing in the yard.

Chen Zhanliang and his wife were dejected.

Chen Zhancai and his wife looked very proud.

Old man Chen was loading bags and small things onto the old ox cart outside the gate.

She knew without guessing that Chen Zhancai must have taken the money and gone to the town to live a leisurely life.

This guy is really hopeless. He has failed to pass the imperial examination for more than ten years, but he blames his bad luck. Doesn't he know that he is not cut out for studying?

The young ones are ignorant, and the old ones are confused. They only think about fame and fortune, without considering whether you have the destiny to do so?

Forget it, it's better not to meddle in other people's affairs. The food in my own home can't last for a few days.

The most urgent thing is to see if there is any way to make money quickly.

Touching the ring on my finger that I can’t take off.

What is this used for?

Can't eat it, can't sell it.

If I had known earlier, I would have asked for the Ala Ghost Lantern. Maybe it could really fulfill my three wishes.

She shook her head helplessly. There is no medicine for regret in the world. She still had to go up the mountain and take a walk. Maybe she would be lucky enough to dig up some ginseng.

......