After leaving the yamen, Master Qian thanked Hua Rumeng profusely and gave her a generous reward. Hua Rumeng, not being so noble, accepted the money, thanked him, and took her leave.
After all, given her status, even without taking the money, she wouldn't have any dealings with someone like Master Qian. It would be better for her to take the money and let things go peacefully.
Li Rouniang and Erni left the Qian residence early. Of course, the Qian couple warmly wanted to entertain Li Rouniang, but she politely declined, as she was already physically exhausted.
"Miss Hua, what are your plans for the future?" Li Rouniang asked as she saw Hua Rumeng come out.
"Let's leave the brothel first, then see if we can open an inn, welcoming and seeing off guests, and observing all walks of life," Hua Rumeng said.
"That's great! Let me know if there's anything I can help with. Thank you so much this time," Li Rouniang said, happy for the person in front of her.
“Master Qian just gave me a sum of money, and I took it.” Hua Rumeng said to Li Rouniang, thinking that Li Rouniang would look down on her, but to her surprise, the other party nodded and said, “It is only right.”
Hua Rumeng smiled and said, "When my inn opens, I'll invite you for drinks."
Li Rouniang nodded and said, "It's a deal."
After they parted, Hua Rumeng turned back and called out, "Li Rouniang, are we friends now?"
Li Rouniang smiled and said, "We have been for a long time."
Once outside the town, Mo Bei was already waiting there. Li Rou Niang wasn't surprised, and Er Ni ran over happily: "Master!"
"Erni!" Mo Bei hugged Erni, overwhelmed with joy at having her back.
"Mo Bei, was that you just now?" Li Rouniang asked.
Mo Bei did not deny it: "It's good that you're all alright."
"Let's go home," Erni said.
Mo Bei picked up Erni and walked side by side with Li Rouniang toward Zhao Family Village.
Looking at Erni in Mo Bei's arms, Li Rouniang felt a strange emotion welling up inside her. It was a very strange feeling. Being with Mo Bei made her feel at ease. Moreover, she would always inexplicably think how wonderful it would have been if she had married Mo Bei from the beginning!
Meanwhile, Granny Zhao, after enduring much suffering, finally saw Granny Gu arrive. Granny Gu brought her food, but Granny Zhao refused to take it. Instead, she anxiously asked, "Can I go out early?"
"Wait a little longer, Miss will figure something out tomorrow, and then she'll bring in someone else to replace you," Granny Gu said fabricatedly.
Only then was Granny Zhao relieved. While eating, she said, "Don't forget to give me the fifty taels of silver that Miss Qian promised. Also, regarding the matter of bringing my daughter into the house, even though she's a concubine, we still need to make some arrangements."
Granny Gu secretly pursed her lips, but nodded in agreement. She had nothing to argue with a dying man.
After finishing her meal, Granny Zhao handed the food box to Granny Gu, saying, "I need to take a bath and change my clothes after I leave tomorrow. Staying here is really bad luck."
"Alright." Granny Gu nodded, turned and left: I'm afraid you won't see tomorrow's sun.
In the middle of the night, Li Rou Niang had a nightmare. In the dream, Granny Zhao, with disheveled hair, chased after her, shouting, "Give me back my life!"
I woke up with a start and found myself covered in a cold sweat. I hadn't slept well for most of the night and was listless when I went to the Mo family's house the next day.
"Didn't you sleep well last night?" Mo Bei asked with concern.
Li Rouniang shook her head, unable to explain. Logically speaking, with the spiritual spring water in her space, she shouldn't be sick!
"Dayou's wife, you must go to town quickly, something has happened to your mother-in-law!" Just then, someone from the village came to deliver the message.
Li Rouniang was startled and quickly asked, "What's wrong with her?"
"Alas, I heard from the officials that he died of illness in the middle of the night," the villager sighed. "This officialdom is no place for ordinary people!"
Li Rouniang quickly told the children to stay at the Mo family's house, then headed out. At the village entrance, she encountered a sobbing Zhao Dahua. The two exchanged a glance, said nothing, and went to town one after the other.
A tattered straw mat was carried back like this. Zhao Youtian was quite kind; he found someone to help bury Granny Zhao.
Of course, most villagers went because of Zhao Youtian's status as clan chief, since what Granny Zhao did was very dishonorable and everyone disliked her.
After everyone dispersed, Zhao Dahua knelt before Granny Zhao's grave and wept bitterly. Li Rouniang didn't linger; she walked down the mountain alone, her mind filled with the image of the first time she saw Granny Zhao in both her past and present lives.
The one with the critical eye said, "So thin, can she even have a son? She doesn't look like she'll have many children."
It was because of that look and those words that Li Rouniang realized that her mother-in-law could not treat her like a daughter.
But I never expected that I would be tormented by her for so long.
The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law ends with death; grudges and affections vanish with the wind.
Mo Bei was waiting for Li Rouniang at the foot of the mountain, which surprised Li Rouniang. In fact, Mo Bei himself was also quite surprised. He didn't understand his own feelings. He didn't know what to say to Li Rouniang. He just wanted to stay quietly with her.
The two returned to the Mo family together. Rou Niang said to Da Ni and Er Ni, "Your grandmother passed away and is now living on the mountain. Would you like to go and see her?"
The two girls shook their heads. In their childhood memories, their grandmother didn't like them and often abused them, so they had no feelings for Granny Zhao.
Even as grandparents and grandchildren, they were unwilling to part ways at the very end.
Li Rou Niang didn't say much or force them. It was the children's choice, and she wouldn't interfere. After all, in their previous life, this so-called grandmother was an accomplice who killed them.
The sky was overcast, and everyone was in a bad mood.
Li Rouniang originally thought that she had gotten her revenge and that the wicked had been punished, so she should feel very happy and relieved. However, she did not feel relieved at all. Instead, a deep sadness washed over her.
She herself couldn't explain why she had this feeling.
"Rou Niang, if Zhao Dayou comes back, will you still live a good life with him?" Mo Bei asked, sitting down next to Li Rou Niang.
Li Rouniang shook her head and said, "I don't want to. In fact, I haven't wanted to for a long time. It's just that I can't bear to part with the children. If I can successfully divorce with the three children, I think I won't want to be with him anymore. But taking the three children with me is easier said than done."
They both fell silent...
Zhao Dahua wept bitterly at the grave. He had a vague feeling that this matter was related to him, but he didn't know exactly why his mother had passed away so suddenly and unexpectedly!
Just yesterday, I cooked her a delicious meal. Now I'm completely alone and helpless.
She was taken back by Zhao Dazui, and Zhao Dazui's enslavement of her became even more severe, even worse than yesterday, because Zhao Pozi died, and Zhao Dazui would no longer be able to give her the ten taels of silver.
She couldn't just let Zhao Dahua drown in a pig cage like that; that would be too easy on Zhao Dahua.
Or perhaps, because Zhao Dahua was all alone, she tormented her without restraint!
The night was completely silent, except for Zhao Dahua kneeling in the courtyard with a basin of water on her head. She claimed it was her so-called mother-in-law teaching her manners, but she truly hated it.
But when her mother passed away and she lost her protection, she matured instantly and was no longer as willful as before.
In just a few days, she was betrayed by her lover and lost her mother; her upbringing was tragic.
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