By the time Granny Yang and Madam Qiu chased after him, Shen Yunsheng was already far away.

No matter how Qiu called her, she pretended not to hear.

Luo racked her brains but couldn't figure out why her daughter-in-law didn't want Qiu's money.

“Jingchuan’s family, I’m very curious why you don’t want your second aunt’s money.”

The mother-in-law suddenly stopped, and Shen Yunsheng stopped as well.

"I did want my second aunt's money before, but then I realized it wasn't worth it."

“Hey! You should accept it. Add to the five taels of silver your second aunt owes Jingchuan, and we can redeem the jade pendant with a few more taels of silver.”

“Mother, the old lady never does anything that doesn’t make a profit. If I accept my second aunt’s money, she will definitely go around saying that she helped us pay off our debts. Most importantly, she will use this as an excuse to make us continue to work like slaves for my second uncle’s family.”

“Jingchuan’s family, you can’t fight city hall. We’d better not provoke the old lady anymore. If she goes to the yamen to accuse you of being disobedient and unfilial, you’re finished.”

Shen Yunsheng was utterly speechless at her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law was just too afraid of everything, which was why she was being manipulated by the old lady. Since she dared to take her mother-in-law away from home, she was confident that she could make the old lady come and apologize.

"Oh no, your grandma is catching up."

When Luo saw her mother-in-law and sister-in-law running towards her from the bridge, she was so frightened that she froze on the spot.

"Mother, don't be afraid, let's keep going."

Shen Yunsheng had already come up with a plan. Through her observations over the past few days, she learned that the villagers of Dahe Village liked to go to the big locust tree at the entrance of the village to boast. It was not only a gathering place for people, but also a good place to relax and cool off.

She stopped slowly when she got close to the big locust tree.

Seeing her daughter-in-law walk forward, Luo followed.

Granny Yang, still on the stone bridge, stomped her feet in anger. That brat had clearly stopped, but she still insisted on walking forward.

Qiu was even more upset than her mother-in-law, who had offended the woman but was now using her as a punching bag.

"Wen Kai's family, stop them quickly!"

Remembering what Shen Yunsheng had said, Qiu Shi no longer wanted to pursue him.

"Mother, I think your worries are unnecessary. Even if we catch up with them, they won't obediently go home."

"You don't know anything. That girl doesn't want money, which means she's planning something big. If I don't stop her in time, your second branch of the family will be finished."

Qiu was very upset. What she hated most was her mother-in-law using the second wife as an excuse. It was clearly her mother-in-law who wanted to use the second wife to realize her own life value, and she was using them as an excuse.

The second daughter-in-law stood there dumbfounded, and Granny Yang was so angry that she kicked her calf.

“Mother! You really need to change your temper of hitting people so easily. Jingchuan’s family is afraid of you and that’s why they don’t dare to stay at home.”

Qiu complained bitterly that her mother-in-law would hit people at the slightest disagreement, and that her character was terrible.

"You can't even stop one person, and you still have the nerve to criticize me."

Granny Yang glanced at Qiu Shi and immediately went to chase after Shen Yunsheng.

......

As soon as Shen Yunsheng arrived near the big locust tree, he saw a group of villagers sitting under it chatting.

"Have you heard? Jingchuan's family has fully recovered."

“I had heard about it a long time ago. I even saw her taking a walk with Aunt Luo a couple of days ago.”

"Alas! Jingchuan's family is also a pitiful person. If it weren't for Granny Yang's refusal to help, her mother-in-law wouldn't have gone to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates."

"That old hag is very wicked. In order to support Xiao Wenkai and his son's schooling, she squeezes her eldest son's family in different ways every day. I heard from the lumber shop workers that Uncle Wenjing gives all the money he earns to the old hag. She doesn't leave him a single penny."

"My God, how can we live like this? A grown man has no backbone at all. It's really tough on Aunt Luo!"

"That's right. Marrying a man who listens to his mother in everything means a lifetime of hardship, and even the Jingchuan family suffers along with him."

"That old hag is so biased. I even suspect that Uncle Wenjing isn't her biological son."

The young woman who was eating melons saw Shen Yunsheng and his mother-in-law carrying their bundles and walking over, and immediately alerted the others.

"Shh! Don't say anything, Aunt Luo and Jingchuan's family are coming."

"Did you see that? That old hag is chasing them. She must be up to her old tricks again."

“I saw it too. That old hag is a vicious woman who loves money more than anything. Now that Aunt Luo owes us money at exorbitant interest rates, she’ll definitely try to drive Aunt Luo to her death.”

Shen Yunsheng chuckled to himself, knowing that no matter what era one is in, the pressure of public opinion should not be underestimated.

The old lady had asked Qiu for ten taels of silver before, also to shut the villagers up.

Now that public opinion is on their side, she will definitely make good use of it.

As they approached the crowd, Shen Yunsheng whispered a reminder: "Mother, you'll have to play along with my act later. Watch how I deal with the old lady."

"I'll do whatever you say."

Mrs. Luo nodded. Her daughter-in-law had done things that she herself dared not do, and she trusted her daughter-in-law.

Just as Shen Yunsheng and her mother-in-law finished their discussion, the pink-clad girl standing under the big locust tree, munching on a cornbread bun, looked over at her.

"Sister Yunsheng, where are you all headed?"

“Alas! There is no place for us in the Xiao family anymore. I plan to take my mother to live in a cave.”

Before Shen Yunsheng could finish speaking, Granny Yang and Madam Qiu jumped out from behind him.

“Jingchuan’s son, you’ve grown quite temperamental. I just said a few words to you and you ran away from home.”

Shen Yunsheng stared sharply at the old lady who rushed up.

"Grandma, if I don't leave now, I'll lose my life."

Granny Yang froze on the spot, terrified that Shen Yunsheng would reveal her attempted murder.

Qiu was also taken aback. Only now did she understand why Shen Yunsheng had run away from home.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!