Duan's face was calm, his back was straight, and his eyes were looking straight ahead with calmness.
Chen Cai and Xu Shi, one hunched his head, with an indifferent attitude; the other tilted his head, as if it had nothing to do with him;
Sun and Chen Sanlang, mother and son, were like a pair of silhouettes - their hunched backs and trembling legs were exactly the same.
"We have to give an explanation." Madam Qu had just recovered from a serious illness, her face as white as paper. "Should we continue to pay tribute with Bazhang Xuan? Or should we use other paper? Hengji won't speak up, and everyone's eyes are forcing the Chen family to speak."
Madam Qu's eyes fell on Chen Cai, "Second brother, you are also in charge of the shop, so tell me what you think."
Chen Cai shifted his gaze further away, "I shouldn't have been born, I'm stupid and dull, where do I get my ideas from?"
Madam Qu frowned, "Second brother! You——"
Aunt Qu hurriedly patted Old Madam Qu's back with tears in her eyes and advised Chen Cai, "Second Master! Your mother almost died from her illness this time! If you have any complaints, you shouldn't express them at this time!"
Chen Cai stood up suddenly, his usually honest and simple face flushed red, "It was hard for me to manage the shop before, but after Xianjin came to support the family, things got smoother for our Chen family! Xianjin is at home now, you offended her so much that you couldn't bring yourself to appease her, so you came to torment me! Am I a despicable person?"
Xu turned her head away and wiped the corner of her eyes.
Chen Cai grabbed his wife's wrist and was about to walk out. "I am so stupid. Now I understand why my third brother is so rebellious!"
Second Aunt Qu wanted to chase after them, but Old Madam Qu waved her hand and moved her gaze to Sun and Chen Sanlang's faces. After a pause, she slowly moved away and said in a hoarse voice, "Old Master's wife, what do you think?"
Duan smiled, with a hint of sarcasm on her usually dignified and generous face, "What does mother want me to say?"
Madam Qu was holding back her anger, physically and mentally exhausted, and seemed unable to speak, "Erlang would rather give up the imperial examination and marry her - after all, she is still a member of the Chen family. Now at this critical moment, I have something to say, but you will be her mother-in-law in the future..."
Duan suddenly raised her eyes, curled her lips and smiled again. After laughing, she felt speechless, "Don't you know that Xianjin rejected Erlang harshly?"
Sun and Chen Sanlang nodded silently in an invisible place: Cruel, very cruel indeed.
How could Old Madam Qu not know that Chen Jianfang went crazy in front of her and immediately went to Yiyuan. She knew everything he said and what He Xianjin agreed to.
Madam Qu waved her hands tiredly and indifferently, "That girl was just talking in anger at that time. She couldn't bear to take it. Now that Erlang wants to marry her, how can she not be grateful? How can she not be proud of it? Now the Chen family is being grilled on the fire. This matter was caused by her. She must come forward..."
"Then go ahead."
Duan interrupted Madam Qu's words without any hesitation and smiled again, "Xianjin may have been waiting for you to show up in person."
yes.
He Xianjin might have been waiting for her to come forward and plead for mercy in person.
After Madam Qu realized this, her face turned pale instantly. A piercing pain rose in her heart, causing her to unconsciously raise her hand to cover her chest.
However, Duan didn't buy it. She stood up, bowed, and followed the second wife to say goodbye.
Only Sun and Chen Sanlang were left in the room.
The mother and son both widened their ignorant eyes, waiting for Old Madam Qu to assign them an incredible task.
Old Madam Qu seemed to have forgotten the existence of these two people. After Duan left, she clenched her hands on her chest.
On the ninth day, Li Shiye, who was beside Prefect Xiong, came to question him. His words were gentle, but his tone was very firm. "The Chen family never fights without preparation. It's time for the finale to come out at the last moment, right?"
The government has taken action, and the Chen family must face the enemy head-on.
That night, the sky was full of stars, the chirping of cicadas and the singing of birds mixed together, and a corner of the lantern under the eaves of the east courtyard was lifted up by the wind, and the light swirled back and forth like a dancing girl.
"Knock knock knock--" the door opened.
Xianjin calmly stood up and opened the door, looking calmly at the old woman who was half leaning on Aunt Qu's arms at the door.
"Even if you don't serve tea, you should at least invite me in to sit down, right?" Old Madam Qu said weakly.
Xianjin stepped aside to make way.
It was the hottest time of the year, but Madam Qu was wearing a plywood cloak. Her face was pale, and her already skinny cheeks looked even more sunken.
Xianjin poured a cup of warm water and placed it in front of Madam Qu.
Madam Qu nodded gently, "Thank you."
Xianjin sat opposite Madam Qu and waited for the next words.
"...This is the first time I saw Erlang get angry." Madam Qu took a breath after saying this, "He smashed all the cups and bowls and threatened me that if I didn't let him marry you, he would never take the imperial examination again."
Xianjin's expression did not change at all.
Madam Qu forced a wry smile and said, "You win."
"I didn't win." Xianjin interrupted in a steady voice.
Madam Qu smiled knowingly, her face haggard and broken, "Yes, you didn't win. You've always been winning, so naturally you don't know what it feels like to lose."
Xianjin didn't want to get involved with her and didn't deliberately correct her.
Madam Qu suddenly realized, "I finally agreed to your marriage."
Madam Qu forced a smile, "I am here now to apologize to you - I imprisoned you, plotted against you, forced you... It was my fault. When you marry Erlang in the future, even if I don't like you anymore, I can only respect you as the next wife of the head of the Chen family..."
Xianjin sighed softly.
Madam Qu continued, "You have achieved all your goals. The ten-day appointment is coming soon. What should we do with the tribute paper? How will the Chen family end? I don't believe you are not prepared."
Madam Qu didn't wait for Xianjin to speak, and said hurriedly, "Don't worry, since grandma agrees, this marriage will definitely be concluded!"
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