Chapter 30 You're So Bad
Song Yi's eyes widened, so angry at Madam Zhang's twisted words that she forgot to shed tears.
"I...I didn't, they weren't lying."
She was so angry that her lips trembled uncontrollably, and her speech became increasingly incoherent.
Madam Zhang stepped forward and grabbed her hand tightly, her face showing a helpless expression.
"I know you've always been a kind and soft-hearted child. If you hadn't been driven to despair by your son-in-law's situation, you would never have come up with such an absurd idea."
"Was it those bastard servants around you who instigated you to do this? They're trying to harm you."
"Think about it, if you make such a scene at the yamen, people will say that you're so distressed about your husband that you're behaving irrationally."
Those who don't know will definitely laugh at you behind your back for not being able to manage your own dowry shop properly, and for not being able to come up with a sum of money when you urgently need it.
"When Ke'er is about to get married, who will still believe she has the ability to manage a household?"
“If this gets out, not only will the Marquis’s family lose face because of you, but your father and your sister’s family will also lose face.”
"You've always been a well-mannered and sensible child. How could you act so recklessly today?"
"If you ask me, we should drop the case as soon as possible. We shouldn't air our dirty laundry in public. Let's go home and discuss how to save our son-in-law."
"Whatever money you need, we'll lend it to you. You've always been the most obedient and best child in the family, so be good."
As usual, Mrs. Zhang casually rattled off a series of words that seemed to be persuasion but were actually accusations.
In the past, Song Yi would panic upon hearing such words, feeling that she had done something wrong, and would quickly correct herself according to her wishes.
Mrs. Zhang was quite confident about this, and looked at Song Yi with a hint of reproach, waiting for Song Yi to take the initiative to withdraw the lawsuit.
In fact, Song Yi did panic for a moment; she was all too familiar with her stepmother's words.
Just like when she was a child, she liked to use an abacus and learn how to do business, but when Madam Zhang took her to a banquet, she pointed to the rich young ladies at the banquet.
He said, "Look, a girl should prioritize chastity and virtue. If you learn those money-grubbing business practices, people will laugh at you."
Later, she wanted to study and learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Madam Zhang said, "Only women of the night in brothels would learn such seductive arts."
"It's enough for a girl to know some characters and understand basic decency. She should learn needlework so she can make clothes and shoes for her future husband."
Madam Zhang said, "A girl should not be sharp-tongued. She should be humble, tolerant, and quiet. As the eldest sister, you should give way to your younger brothers and sisters."
Madam Zhang added, "Men are the foundation of a family and the source of a woman's confidence in her husband's family. Therefore, women should wholeheartedly consider the interests of their fathers and brothers."
Madam Zhang also said, "Women who are too smart will not be wanted by men."
And so she ate, dressed, and made herself according to her stepmother's wishes.
She listened to her stepmother and gave up her favorite arts and crafts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as her desire to learn how to do business.
Then she obediently picked up the embroidery needle, learned needlework, and made clothes and shoes for the whole family.
But what about her younger sister, Song Hui? When she insisted on going to school and learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, what did her stepmother say?
"This little rascal, her mother can't control her anymore. Let her do whatever she wants. She'll suffer the consequences if she can't get married in the future."
Fortunately, our Yiyi is obedient; Yiyi is the most well-behaved and best child in her mother's heart.
The most obedient is the best.
Five simple words, yet they became a shackle around her neck.
Perhaps it was because of the series of blows that had been happening so frequently in the past few days, but Song Yi felt as if the slurred thoughts in her head were gradually falling away.
It made her feel much clearer-headed all of a sudden.
She gritted her teeth and shook off Madam Zhang's hand, her lips trembling as she squeezed out a few words.
"I...no, I...I won't leave."
Mrs. Zhang stared wide-eyed in disbelief, nearly biting off her own tongue.
How dare Song Yi defy her?
How is that possible?
His face darkened immediately. "If you don't drop the case, are you trying to embarrass your father throughout the entire capital of Bianjing?"
If your father finds out about this, think about the consequences.
Song Yi's face turned even paler as she recalled her father's usual behavior.
He subconsciously turned to look at his daughter.
Li Nanke had been paying close attention to the conversation between Song Yi and Madam Zhang, and now it seemed that Madam Zhang was about to twist the truth with just a few words.
Mother almost got caught up in it too, and her cheeks puffed up immediately.
No, we can't let Madam Zhang twist the truth.
Otherwise, all her previous efforts would be in vain, and if she didn't get the money, her father would continue to be caned.
Father won't be able to hold on.
Li Nanke looked up at Madam Zhang, her little face flushed with anger.
"Grandmother, do you know why we came to Bianjing Prefecture to file a complaint? Have you asked Mother?"
Madam Zhang's expression froze.
That's obvious, it's because Song Yi wants money.
Li Nanke shouted, "We came to the yamen because Granny Qian and Manager Liu beat us and forced my mother to sell the shop."
Lord Wei said this was called a wicked servant deceiving his master, and that he should be punished with a beating.
Madam Zhang was unaware of what had happened and was somewhat bewildered.
Li Nanke: "When Lord Wei held court, it was Qian Mama who confessed that it was all her grandmother's idea, and Manager Liu also admitted to falsifying the accounts."
Then, pointing to Zhang Jiulang, she said, "This uncle who looks like a monkey said himself that he is my maternal grandmother's nephew, and that my maternal grandmother wanted our family's shop."
Li Nanke looked at Madam Zhang with a puzzled expression.
"Grandmother said they lied, does that mean Lord Wei's judgment was inaccurate?"
Madam Zhang's face stiffened.
Although she held an imperial decree, Lord Wei could not directly interrogate her using torture.
However, the Tongpan of Bianjing Prefecture was a fourth-rank official, and her husband, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was also a fourth-rank official.
How could she dare to directly accuse the other party of misjudging the case? Wouldn't that give others ammunition to impeach her husband?
“I…I didn’t say that Lord Wei’s judgment was inaccurate.”
Li Nanke's face scrunched up.
“Since Grandmother thinks that Lord Wei’s judgment was accurate, it means that she agrees that Qian Mama and the others did not lie. That means Grandmother embezzled the money from Mother’s shop.”
Li Nanke puffed out his cheeks, pointed at her, and shouted, "Isn't Grandmother the one who loves me and Mother the most? If you want money, you can tell Mother, and she can lend it to you."
"Grandmother has always been so kind, Mother won't abandon you, so why did you try to steal it?"
"Oh dear, Grandma, you're so mean!"
Li Nanke's little mouth seemed to be loaded with ammunition, and she kept chattering away.
They actually returned everything that Madam Zhang had just said.
Madam Zhang was so angry that she was speechless.
"You...you!"
Song Yi looked at Li Nanke with teary eyes, her gaze filled with admiration.
My daughter is amazing! She actually repeated exactly what her stepmother said to her.
Seeing her stepmother so angry she couldn't speak, her sadness and pain lessened by two points, and two words kept swirling in her mind.
readily.
Li Nanke stretched out her small hand, palm facing upwards.
"Since Grandmother has admitted it, then hurry up and return the money to us."
Madam Zhang was so angry her nose almost crooked.
"Nonsense, when did I admit to that?"
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