Chapter 92 Don't Make Excuses

Chen Ruolan's heart was filled with intense hatred. She clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth...

Seeing her daughter's red eyes and silent face, Liu Fengjiao quickly touched her forehead and asked, "Ruolan, why are you so unhappy? Are you sick?"

"Mom, I can't stay in Qingshui Town anymore. Everyone is laughing at me."

Liu Fengjiao frowned when she heard this, and she couldn't help but sway when she remembered that she had gone to deliver the fine silver to Wang Qichang last night.

Everything started because of Chen Qingqing. If it weren't for that damn girl, how could my daughter be crying and making a fuss, throwing cups and bowls, and how could I be bullied by Wang Qichang...

She hated Chen Qingqing so much that she wanted to eat her flesh and drink her blood.

Seeing her daughter's melancholy expression, Liu Fengjiao had to comfort her softly, "Ruolan, don't worry. Qingshui Town is so big, and not many people know us. This matter will be forgotten in a few days."

"Yes, Ruolan, your mother is right. It will be fine in a few days. Don't always take it to heart." Chen Zhancai also spoke to comfort her.

Chen Ruolan was filled with hatred. That damn girl had dared to make her crawl like a dog in public, making her a laughing stock in Qingshui Town.

As soon as she went out today, she felt that everyone around her was pointing fingers at her and looking at her with contempt.

Even her usual playmates would make sarcastic remarks from time to time.

She shook her head vigorously. "Dad, Mom, my sisters, including Wang Qichang's daughter, all know that I crawled out of the cloth shop. If this gets spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, how can others not know?"

Chen Zhancai sighed helplessly, his tone tinged with complaint, "Why did you two bother her while shopping? You didn't get anything good out of it, but ended up getting yourself into trouble."

Liu Fengjiao didn't like what she heard and she was so angry that she put her hands on her waist. "You blame us now. I was holding my breath too. We were living a good life, but because that damn girl didn't listen and she wanted to marry Li the butcher obediently, we ended up with all these messes today."

"Fengjiao, don't be angry." Chen Zhancai saw that something was wrong and quickly put on a smile, "I'm not blaming you, I just feel sorry for Ruolan."

Liu Fengjiao snorted softly, "I'm not mad at you. I just can't understand how that damn girl got so lucky to actually dig up ginseng. With the money from selling ginseng, it won't be easy for our mother to get her back in the future!"

Chen Ruolan was filled with resentment. "It's all my grandma's fault. She insisted on breaking up the family and severing the relationship. Now, everything is gone, nothing gained."

"Ruolan is right. I get angry every time I think about this. Your grandma is really old and confused. I don't know what she's thinking."

Liu Fengjiao stamped her feet in anger. Thinking of the white silver, her eyes rolled around.

"Zhancai, the life of the eldest wife's family is getting better and better. No matter what, Chen Zhanshan is also our mother's son. You have to find a way to get the silver out of her."

Chen Ruolan was hit hard by the cloth shop incident. She used to be the proudest person in the Chen family. Whenever she was at home, Chen Qingqing would follow her around like a clown.

She would give her old clothes that she no longer wore and her disliked rouge and powder to Chen Qingqing.

Seeing Chen Qingqing happily expressing her gratitude, she felt an invisible sense of superiority.

But now, that damn girl seemed like a different person. Not only did she speak more toughly, but she also looked at her with disdain.

Chen Qingqing is just a lowly person. Why does she live better than her? Why doesn't she take herself seriously?

Chen Ruolan's heart was filled with jealousy. "Dad, my grandparents listen to you the most. Go back to Nanshan Village and make a scene. Get the silver from the eldest wife. If she doesn't have the silver, I'll see how that damn girl can act so arrogantly in front of me."

Chen Zhancai nodded in agreement, "Ruolan, you are right. This matter was caused by your grandmother, so she must be the one to solve it.

By the way, Ruolan, don't you feel like everyone is laughing at you behind your back? Why don't you go back to the village and live there for a while? Wait until your father passes the imperial examination next year, and then you can come back. By then, you'll be the eldest daughter of a scholar, and no one will make fun of you anymore."

Chen Ruolan pouted, looking reluctant. "Dad, I don't want to go back to the village. Besides, if you still can't pass the exam to become a scholar, do you think I will have to stay in the countryside for the rest of my life?"

"What nonsense are you talking about, kid? Just go back and stay here honestly. When the time comes, Dad will definitely bring you back in style."

Liu Fengjiao also chimed in, "Yes, Ruolan, your grandma loves you the most and she won't treat you unfairly. Besides, you can go back and help your grandma with some ideas and think of a way to get the money from the first wife."

"Okay then!" Chen Ruolan was at a loss for a moment and had to nod in agreement.

******

The Chen family's old house.

Ever since she learned that Chen Qingqing had dug up ginseng and sold it for silver, Old Mrs. Chen's eyes have turned red with envy.

It was a cart full of good stuff, including refined rice, white flour, and several rolls of cotton cloth.

She had lived most of her life and had never been willing to make a set of cotton clothes, but that damn girl bought several pieces at once.

She was extremely jealous. Since that damn girl could dig ginseng, why couldn't their family?

Yesterday afternoon, she sent Old Man Chen and his son Chen Zhanliang to the mountains to look for ginseng.

"Old woman, go get me a glass of water."

Looking at the old man Chen who returned empty-handed, the old lady Chen sat there motionless, staring at him fiercely, with a look of deep dissatisfaction in her eyes.

"Is there anything else you can do? You went out early in the morning and now you're back empty-handed. How can you be so stupid?"

"Old woman, where can I find ginseng in such a big mountain? If I can't find any, what can I do?"

"How dare you say that others can dig it up, but you can't?"

Seeing her being unreasonable, Old Man Chen was so angry that he pounded his head and said, "Why don't you understand? Ginseng is not something you can find just by going into the mountains. It depends on luck and whether we have the destiny. If we don't have that blessing in our destiny, it will be useless even if we work ourselves to death."

Old Mrs. Chen rolled her eyes angrily. "Nonsense! That damn girl is just a poor bastard. How could she be so lucky? It's just a lucky gamble. If she can have such a good thing, why can't you? Don't make excuses. You and Zhan Liang should take a break and go into the mountains quickly. As long as we can dig up ginseng, our family can eat fine rice."

"Aren't you making things difficult for me? If you want to go, you go. I won't go." Old man Chen got stubborn and turned his face away...