Chapter 56 Shen Yuanruan's Choice!

Madam Shen immediately retorted angrily, "You lowly concubine, it's none of your business to speak here!"

To say you're honest is actually to say you're stupid.

Wei Rulan snorted coldly: "We are all prisoners now, no one is more noble than anyone else!"

These words struck a nerve with the Shen family, and they all glared angrily at Wei Rulan.

"Eldest son, how could you let a lowly concubine treat your mother like this? Your family supported your education, taught you manners and a sense of shame, and you've learned nothing from it all?" The old master Shen, who had been keeping a low profile, questioned his eldest son, Shen Congwen, sternly.

Shen Congwen had never been criticized by his father like this before, and for a moment he was dazed and speechless!

“Brother, we won’t say anything about what happened to the Shen family. But because of you, Father and Mother have to wander and suffer in their old age. Now they are being forced to do this by you, a mere concubine. Brother, you have failed as a son!” Shen Congyi immediately accused.

Shen Congwen clenched his fist, raised his hand, and slapped Wei Rulan across the face.

"Shut up! Considering you followed the Shen family into exile and were quite dutiful on the way, this slap is punishment for disrespecting your elders. If there's a next time, I won't let you off easily!"

With tears in her eyes, Wei Rulan stared intently at Shen Congwen, her voice filled with grievance and resentment: "They bullied our eldest son's family like this, and I stood up for our eldest son's family, and this is how you treat me?"

She wholeheartedly protected the eldest son's family and stood up for them, but all her efforts were in vain. Not only was the master ungrateful, but he also treated her like this.

Wei Rulan's heart grew colder and colder.

Madam Shen sneered, "What is your status? A lowly concubine. If this were the capital, you would have been sold off long ago!"

Wei Rulan's heart turned completely cold. She put on a self-deprecating smile, walked to a corner and sat down, not saying another word!

The children of the eldest branch of the Shen family all stared at their father expressionlessly, unable to understand how their refined, wise, and intelligent father had become like this.

Shen Congwen felt his face burning and didn't dare to look up and meet his children's eyes!

"Father, Mother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, let's pool our money to buy water!"

The second wife, Liu, pulled Shen Conglian behind her and immediately began to speak with sharp and sarcastic words.

"Brother, in the end, you're just unwilling to give us your generous money, aren't you? Don't forget that Father and Mother are still alive, and the Shen family hasn't divided its assets yet. The family's money should be managed by Mother, and the money you left with Lanxi should be handed over to Mother according to the rules."

Shen Congwen was speechless and subconsciously looked towards his children.

His children all turned their heads away as if they hadn't heard or seen his predicament!

“Sister-in-law, even if Lanxi is rich, it’s her own money. All the money in our eldest branch has already been handed over to Mother.”

The third wife, Madam Miao, also stepped forward.

"Brother, you're wrong about that. Lanxi will return to the Shen family after the divorce. She'll still be a member of the Shen family. When she got married, her dowry was magnificent, with 208 loads carried by palanquins—all of which came from our Shen family. Since she's divorced, her dowry will definitely be returned in full. Every member of the Shen family has a share of the money she has!"

Shen Congwen never expected that even after he had compromised so much, his family would still press him relentlessly. Was he wrong?

"If you want money, go ask for it yourselves if you dare!" Shen Yuanjing suddenly said.

"Let's see if he angers my big brother. Will he abandon us and go back to the capital by himself?"

The members of the Shen family glared angrily at Shen Yuanjing, but couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

After a while, Madam Shen was really thirsty. Seeing that everyone else had water to drink but they didn't, she was afraid that the water would be sold out, so she hurriedly asked her sons to pay for it!

"Mother, we don't have any money. Don't you have some money on you? Take it out first, and when my eldest brother gets the money from Lanxi, it will all be yours!"

"Yes, Mother, all the money my elder brother sent was given to you. We didn't see a single penny!"

As Madam Shen looked at her sons, each one complaining of poverty, her chest ached with anger.

"You unfilial children! If I had known you would turn out like this, I should have kicked you out of the house long ago!"

Even with all the harsh words from Old Madam Shen, no one would contribute money. Finally, seeing no hope, she had no choice but to pull out her purse from her wide sleeve.

"Mother, please buy us some water too, we're dying of thirst!"

Upon seeing Madam Shen take out money, Shen Conglian and the others immediately surrounded her.

"Get out! You all complained about being broke when I asked you to pay for my water. Now don't expect me to pay for your water either. If you want to drink, pay for it yourselves!"

After speaking, Madam Shen immediately took the money bag and went to find the yamen runner.

At first, the three Shen brothers watched, thinking their mother wouldn't be so heartless as to only care about them. But when their mother returned empty-handed, their expressions changed, and they reluctantly took out money to buy water.

Before long, everyone in the Shen family's houses had water, except for the eldest son's family who just watched longingly!

"Father, I'm thirsty!"

Looking at his son's chapped lips, Shen Congwen gritted his teeth and went to borrow money from his mother and brothers.

The result was predictable!

~

Without having to endure the scorching sun, the prisoners rested for a while and regained their strength. Lacking money for water, they reported to the constables and began searching the village!

The result was predictable: everything that could be taken was taken. Several bodies were found inside the house. Liu Laohu deduced that they were elderly people who could no longer move; some had stayed behind voluntarily, not wanting to burden their children, while others had been abandoned as a burden.

After this incident, the prisoners were no longer willing to go out and search. They all found places to rest and waited for night to come.

Before they knew it, it was evening. Liu Laohu had already led his men to check the footprints and tire tracks, and they all pointed southeast.

Southeast is also the direction of Tianjin, and they happened to be going to Tianjin as well.

"Get up, everyone, let's go!"

After feeding the horses with water, Liu Laohu immediately directed the team to set off.

All the yamen runners rode in carriages, and prisoners who could afford to pay could also ride in carriages. Those who couldn't afford to pay would follow the horse-drawn carriages.

Horses are more precious than human lives now!

They had already spent all their money on water, so only a few could afford to ride in a carriage. In the Shen family, only Old Madam Shen and Old Master Shen rode in the carriage; everyone else ran. The eldest branch of the family was even worse off—they were the poorest members of the Shen family!

Some people can endure it, while others cannot. After falling down again, Shen Yuanruan looked at the wealthy and powerful man in the carriage in front of her, who was drinking water from a water bag, and his eyes gradually turned crazy.

Father is right, everyone looks out for themselves. She just didn't want to suffer, she did nothing wrong!

After running for an hour, the constables ordered the horses to stop and rest.

Taking advantage of this time, Shen Yuanruan quietly walked towards the carriage.

~

Shen Lanxi stepped out of the carriage carrying a stick, mounted her horse, and rode it to Liu Laohu.

"I'll go scout ahead!"

Liu Laohu looked at the stick in her hand and nodded silently.