Chapter 116 The Li Family's Scheme
Wang Da Niang's words startled the Li family, especially Li Shi, whose expression immediately changed. Luckily, she didn't explode on the spot.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to unleash a torrent of curses, and forced a smile.
"Sister, please don't misunderstand. We don't want to take your and your husband's money. Although you and your husband are coming back to live here, it's only right that we provide you with a place to stay."
We already borrowed some money to build our house, so we really didn't have much extra money to build another one. That's why we were thinking of shamelessly asking you, my sister, for some money."
Li emphasized that they didn't have enough money to build a house, implying that they were only asking for the money to help the Wang couple build a house.
Wang looked at her for a while, and then suddenly smiled.
“I see. But I’m also a refugee, and it’s true that I don’t have any money. We appreciate your kindness in wanting to build us a house, but let’s just forget about it.”
Upon hearing this, Li's expression froze completely. She twitched her lips and it took her a long time to find her voice.
"But...but you two don't have to live a life of hardship and deprivation! If the villagers found out, who knows what they would say about us behind our backs!"
"Yes, sister! This is your home too!"
Home? Aunt Wang gave a cold laugh. When she went to see them yesterday, they didn't ask how their journey was. Instead, they started talking about money and scheming. She couldn't see any semblance of a home here anymore. She just felt a chill in her heart.
Uncle Wang understood the expression on his wife's face. He sat down beside her and glanced at Li Da: "Brother, you don't need to worry anymore. We can't force you to borrow money. If you stay, we can find some work in town and buy a house next spring."
Li Da's lips moved, but he hesitated for a long time without knowing what to say.
"Brother-in-law, this is not right!" Li glared at her husband, somewhat displeased with his dull appearance.
“Yes, Uncle. Mother just said that if you move out, what will the villagers and the clan chief think of us?” Li Yuan, Li Da’s eldest son, frowned, clearly disapproving of his elders’ decision.
Aunt Wang was so annoyed by their constant refrains that she let out a cold laugh: "You say this won't work, that won't work. So what do you want for it to be acceptable? I've already said it: I have no money. Do you really expect me to force you to borrow money to build us a house?"
"Sister, that's not what we meant, don't worry." Li walked to Wang Da Niang's side, took her hand, and began to speak kindly in a gentle voice.
“We haven’t seen each other for so many years, how can we let you come back and stay outside? If you don’t want us to borrow money, then we won’t borrow it.”
Hearing this, Aunt Wang's expression softened slightly. But what Li said next almost made her furious.
"But if you two really move out, it doesn't matter if we two old folks get a bad reputation. The main thing is, I'm thinking about these children. Look, Yuan'er just got married, and the second one hasn't even been engaged yet."
If our elders come home, we have nowhere to stay. Do you think any girl would want my son?
As she said this, Li squeezed out a few tears, looking quite pitiful.
Aunt Wang glanced silently at Li Yuan and Li San. She left home when she was seventeen or eighteen, when Li Shi and Li Da had just gotten married. So, to be honest, she didn't feel particularly close to these nephews.
but……
Aunt Wang glanced at Li Da, who stood helplessly in front of her, and remembered how this younger brother had stood up for her years ago, protecting her from her parents who were forcing her to marry a wealthy merchant as a concubine.
Well, they are, after all, her younger brother's sons, of the Li family bloodline. She sighed softly and glanced at Madam Li.
"So what exactly do you want?"
Sensing that Aunt Wang was somewhat relenting, Li narrowed her eyes and smiled sincerely: "To be honest, this was a method I came up with on the spur of the moment. Those two ladies should also be settling in Jingchuan with my elder sister, right?"
If they were to settle here, they would certainly need a house. My idea was that our Li family could work for them, and then we could find jobs for the two ladies. The money they earned could then be used to build an extra room for my elder sister and brother-in-law.”
Although that's what she said, Li had no intention of actually helping those two people of dubious origin build a house. She had clearly seen in the courtyard that the two women had brought quite a lot of things. If Wang (Aunt Wang) really said she had no money, then she would go to those two women and cry. She had seen their close relationship yesterday, and she figured they wouldn't abandon her husband's sister.
As long as they contribute money, they can build another house. Once it's finished, when to repay the money is entirely up to them. The house will then be theirs, and they can delay paying the Wang couple until they pass away!
"Mother and Auntie don't live here! We're going somewhere else!" Xiao Bao came out of the thatched shed at some point and shouted at Li Shi from the edge of the yard.
"Wh...what?" Li was taken aback by the little child's voice and asked in surprise, "Not settling down here!?"
“That’s right, Fan Niang and the others won’t stay here. They’re just passing through Jingchuan.” Uncle Wang stood up, blocking Li Shi’s glare at Xiao Bao.
"If you want to ask them, you should forget about it."
Li took a slight step back, gritting her teeth inwardly. Those two young women weren't even settling here? Did that mean they really wouldn't be able to get any money? No way, she refused to believe that those two had come here without a single penny!
Since borrowing money isn't an option, let's try another! If that still doesn't work, then we absolutely cannot let them go back to live and eat at our place!
Having made up her mind, Li steeled herself, looked up and chuckled dryly, "Oh...oh, hehe, is that so? I saw those two ladies and this little child getting along so well with you two, I thought you would stay too."
Aunt Wang didn't reply, she just looked at her quietly.
Li choked slightly. The other person's gaze seemed to see right through her, sending a chill down her spine. She swallowed hard and stammered as she continued, "Well then, how about this, how about my sister and brother-in-law come with us to the clan chief's place and see if there are any houses available? We can find a place for my sister and brother-in-law to stay. We can't... we can't stay here forever."
She had already made arrangements with the clan chief yesterday. All she had to do was have the clan chief propose adopting a child for the couple once the Wangs arrived. She knew that the Wangs' son had passed away several years ago. Her brother-in-law was said to be a skilled hunter, so he wouldn't have to worry about earning money.
“This…” Li’s words did not arouse Wang Da Niang’s suspicion. She was about to speak.
Just then, a young woman rushed in, looking extremely anxious. She lunged at Li Shi, crying, "Mother! You! You must go see! Erlang! Erlang has been taken to the authorities!!!"
(End of this chapter)
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