Sister-in-law Qin looked enviously at the silver ring on her mother-in-law's hand and complimented, "Father is right. If Mother hadn't given birth to my sister-in-law, our family wouldn't be living such a good life now."

In all these years, it's only in these few days that she feels like she's finally living a normal life.

Before, even though I worked every day, I still didn't have enough to eat or wear, and my mother-in-law would beat me with a stick at the drop of a hat. Now, although I still have to work, I have new clothes to wear and meat to eat, and I no longer have to wake up hungry in the middle of the night.

The more she thought about it, the more hopeful Sister-in-law Qin felt for the future.

As long as she's doing well, that's all that matters.

As for what Qin sacrificed, that was not within her consideration.

No matter what, she was just an outsider. Their biological parents and twin brother didn't care, so why should she, an outsider, care?

"At least she's still somewhat useful," Qin's mother sneered. "It wasn't a waste of all those years of letting this old woman eat for nothing."

"Why bring her up? It's bad luck," Qin's father said, frowning. "She's no longer a member of our family. Don't mention her again."

“Father is right,” Qin Lao Er agreed. “She doesn’t deserve to be a member of the Qin family after going to such a filthy place.”

"It was my daughter-in-law's fault," Sister-in-law Qin patted her mouth and said ingratiatingly, "I will never mention her again."

"From now on, pretend this person never existed in the family, and no one is allowed to mention him," Qin's mother said. Then she asked, "Old man, it's been three days. Shouldn't you go and collect the money?"

“It’s time,” Qin’s father said, his eyes lighting up. “I’ll go collect the money right now.”

"Father," Qin the eldest said hesitantly, "we probably won't be able to take the oxcart today."

"Why?" Qin's father was taken aback. "The village chief won't lend it to us?"

Qin nodded. "When we returned the car last time, he said some very unpleasant things, complaining that we didn't send anything."

Everyone in the village knew that his family was wealthy, and the news naturally reached the village chief's wife as well. However, they had been borrowing oxcarts but had never given away even a pound of meat, so it was normal that people were unwilling to lend them any.

Qin Laoda mentioned this matter, but unfortunately, no one in the family took it to heart.

"How can you do this?" Qin's mother stood up abruptly. "We're all neighbors, and you won't even lend us an oxcart? Is it really necessary to be so heartless?"

"Mother," Qin Laoda said softly after considering it carefully, "It's busy with farming recently, and the village chief's family also needs to use oxen, so it's normal that they can't lend them any."

"Eldest son," Qin's mother looked at her son unhappily, "whose side are you on anyway? Why do you always side with outsiders?"

They used to side with that brat, but now they're siding with outsiders.

The second child is the most considerate; no matter what their parents say or do, they never argue with them.

“That’s right, brother, we’re family,” Qin Lao Er chimed in. “What’s wrong with using a cow? It’s not like it’s anything special. In a while, we’ll buy it, and even if he begs us to use it, we won’t.”

"Alright, stop talking. It's not good if outsiders hear this," Qin's father said in a deep voice. "If you don't want to lend it, then forget it. We can rent one from the next village. We don't need a few copper coins."

Qin, who had been at Qingfeng Temple for a few days, finally gained a foothold by showing loyalty and serving the nobles.

She received the news as soon as the Qin family father and his two sons arrived.

"Sister Qin," the young man in the Taoist robe smiled obsequiously, "the manager said that whether or not to give money is entirely up to you."

The reason Qingfeng Temple gave the three people money was because of Qin Shi. Now that Qin Shi lives in Qingfeng Temple, there is no longer any need to give the Qin family money.

“Give it, why not?” Madam Qin smiled coldly. “Go tell them that as long as they are willing to send your sister-in-law over, there will be an additional ten taels of silver as a reward.”

Upon hearing this, the young man in the Taoist robe paused for a moment.

He then glanced at Qin Shi with apprehension.

He had seen many women sold to Qingfeng Temple by their families, but Qin was the first one like her.

Those women, which one of them wasn't living in fear and trembling in their husband's home, afraid of being discovered to be anything amiss? And because of their impure paternity, they dared not hold their heads high, cowering and shrinking, afraid that others would find something was wrong.

Qin Shi, on the other hand, was completely different. He couldn't see any contempt this person held for him. Even after doing such a scandalous thing, he still held his head high, just like before.

He had previously thought that this person had resigned herself to her fate and was heartbroken, but today he realized that she was just waiting for an opportunity to take revenge.

“Alright,” the young man in the Taoist robe lowered his eyes, concealing all his thoughts, “I will send out the message right away.”

In the main hall of the manor, time passed slowly, but the silver had not yet arrived, and Qin's father's unease grew stronger.

"Father," Qin Lao Er asked nervously, "these people wouldn't be unwilling to give money, would they?"

"Don't talk nonsense," Qin's father scolded. "Qingfeng Temple isn't short of money, there's no reason for them not to give it to us."

Unless, that rebellious woman did something.

“How can you say that’s nonsense?” Qin Lao Er retorted unhappily, “My little sister is already living at Qingfeng Temple, so we’re no longer of any use to her.”

"So," Qin's father said thoughtfully, "we still need to bring them back."

"No way," Qin Laoda retorted. "If they stay at our house, with so many people coming and going, the villagers can't help but notice. If they discover anything unusual, our family will be in big trouble."

“That makes sense,” Qin’s father said, somewhat conflicted. After thinking for a moment, he decided to stall for time. “Let’s wait and see. We’ll talk about it if we don’t get the money.”

The young man in the Taoist robe who walked over heard the three people's conversation clearly.

He cleared his throat and then said, "Gentlemen, I've come to deliver some silver."

"Ah, you've come to deliver silver?" Upon hearing this, Qin's father smiled, his face crinkling with wrinkles. "Thank you, young brother. I knew I hadn't trusted the wrong person."

"No need to thank me," the young man in the Taoist robe handed the loose silver to Qin's father. "This is what you deserve."

"Brother," Qin Lao Er asked, puzzled, "why is it taking so long to retrieve the silver this time?"

Normally, they would just give it to him directly, but today he had to wait so long, and Qin Lao Er felt that something was wrong.

Ever since he learned that these people were not clean, Qin Lao Er became more cautious and wary.

Could they be plotting something bad?

Upon hearing this, the young man in the Taoist robe's eyes gleamed.

Just as he was wondering how to steer the conversation towards Sister-in-law Qin, someone brought him a ladder, and instantly, his gaze towards Qin Lao Er softened considerably.

“That’s what I wanted to say,” the young man in the Taoist robe said slowly. “The manager believes in you and is willing to give you another chance to make money. It’s up to you whether you can seize it.”

"A money-making opportunity?" Qin's father perked up and asked eagerly, "What kind of money-making opportunity?"

The young man in the Taoist robe smiled before continuing, "I've heard that the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qin family is quite beautiful. If you send her over, the steward is willing to give her ten taels of silver."

"No way," Qin said angrily. "Don't even think about it. I would never push my wife into a fire pit."

"Brother Qin, there's no need to be so agitated. I'm just passing on a message. Whether you're willing to do it or not is up to you. I won't force you."