Early in the morning, Jin Dashan and Zhao Heng prepared an oxcart and went to the market to hire craftsmen and buy all the materials needed to build the house, as instructed.
Zhang, Sanwang, and Old Lady Jin all came out, intending to ride in Jin Dashan's donkey cart to the restaurant together. Then, they split up and went about their own business.
Liang Shuyan strode out of the courtyard and grabbed Sanwang's arm: "Sanwang, wait a minute, I have something to tell you!"
Sanwang's heart skipped a beat. What else could it be but his affair with Ruyan?
Liu had also been holding a grudge against Sanwang lately. She didn't want to speak when she saw him, and Sanwang kept his head down, pretending not to recognize her.
"Mom, I'm going to boil some water. There's no hot water at home."
In the teahouse, all the workers had arrived. As was customary, they first cleaned the shed, then took their places and began their work.
Liang Shuyan didn't care about the teahouse right now. She dragged Sanwang to her room and slammed the door shut.
Sanwang's heart skipped a beat. He thought, "Oh no, is Mother going to punish me? Grandma isn't home right now, what am I going to do?"
After a moment's thought, Sanwang suddenly knelt down on the ground, trembling as he said, "Mother, please don't hit Sanwang. This is not my fault. It's because Zhao Heng is the magistrate's son. I... I can't take Zhao Heng's wife away!"
Liang Shuyan sat down on the edge of the kang without saying a word and sneered: "This brat, I haven't even laid a hand on him yet, and he's already scared like this. Looks like he's a coward."
"Get up and tell me, how did this matter get dragged into Zhao Heng again? Did Zhao Heng do something?"
Sanwang shook his head: "No, Mother, it's because Zhao Heng has feelings for Ruyan, and Ruyan is not opposed to either of them. I'm also upset. I want to study hard with Mr. Su and don't want to get married so early. Mother, this is my decision!"
Liang Shuyan remained calm and said, "Alright, then let you get married first. After you get married, no matter if you become a scholar or a graduate, Ruyan will always be your wife!"
"Mother, I don't want to!"
Liang Shuyan had heard rumors that Sanwang had changed his mind, but she refused to believe it. She never expected that Sanwang would actually do it. She reached out and pinched Sanwang's ear, saying, "Tell me, what do you mean? Do you have someone else in your heart? Who is it?"
Sanwang grimaced in pain, crying out, "Mother, let go! If you let go, I'll tell you everything."
The room was quiet as Liang Shuyan waited for Sanwang to honestly explain the matter.
Sanwang then said, "Mother, do you still remember Yinxia? I... I like Yinxia. Yinxia is more suitable for me. Besides, we've been together since we were little and have a foundation of feelings for each other. Ruyan is a good girl, but she's not suitable for someone like me. Mother, please, please grant your son's wish!"
Sanwang's behavior would be considered irresponsible in modern terms, and fickle in ancient times. Liang Shuyan hated this kind of person the most. She slowly stood up, without saying a word, and slapped Sanwang across the face.
“Jin Sanwang, let me ask you, since you like Yinxia, why did you maintain such a close relationship with Ruyan when she first came to our house? Tell me, now you don’t want her anymore, and you’ve hooked up with Yinxia. Let me tell you, this is called starting something and then abandoning it. Give up on this idea as soon as possible. Not to mention that Ruyan is your second sister-in-law’s sister, what will Ruyan’s mother think if she finds out about this?”
With red eyes, Sanwang said, "Mother, I... I really don't like Ruyan. Let Ruyan marry Zhao Heng. Anyway, Zhao Heng likes her! Even if you beat me to death today, I will still love Yinxia!"
Yinxia is currently working at Liang Shuyan's teahouse. Thinking of this, Liang Shuyan immediately said, "Fine, if you're so unkind, I'll be unkind too. I'll fire Yinxia right now!"
Sanwang knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing: "Mother, please, I beg you, Yinxia, Yinxia already has a child, I, I can't not marry her."
These words struck Liang Shuyan like a bolt from the blue. Yinxia was Aunt Liu's child. She was a bit impatient and quite serious about her work. But for some reason, Liang Shuyan always felt that this was not a good marriage. Although she and Aunt Liu had been neighbors for many years, she was still not entirely sure about becoming in-laws.
Liang Shuyan collapsed. What would be the point of her killing Sanwang now?
If word gets out that something like this happened between the two children, not only will Yinxia's reputation be ruined, but will the Jin family's reputation be able to be preserved?
Thinking of this, Liang Shuyan was so angry that she kept spinning on the ground. Then she said, "Listen to me carefully. If you marry Yinxia, you will no longer be a son of the Jin family. There is still the old house left by your father. You can move out. I'm not joking with you!"
Sanwang hadn't expected his mother to be so serious about this. He stepped forward and hugged Liang Shuyan's legs, saying, "Mother, no! I can't bear to part with you. It's all my fault, but I can't help it. I was just confused at the time, and when I woke up, I found Yinxia lying next to me!"
Liang Shuyan knew that she had to give an explanation to Liu Shi and the old lady of the Liu family. Otherwise, she might face a lot of problems. For example, the old lady of the Liu family might leave in a fit of anger. With Erniu's temper, wouldn't he beat Sanwang to a pulp if he found out about this?
"Sanwang, you're a man now. You should figure out how to handle things yourself. Don't even mention me, your second brother, with his temper, would beat you to death if he knew about this!"
Jin Sanwang collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face like a broken string of pearls.
Liang Shuyan walked out of the courtyard and went straight into the workers' shed. Chunyan was talking to the workers when Yinxia said eloquently, "What did I do? All I did was put these things into the material bin without draining them properly. Do you have to yell at me like that?"
Seeing Liang Shuyan burst in, Chunyan blushed and walked over, calling out in a low voice, "Auntie!"
Liang Shuyan gathered the workers together and pointed at Yinxia, saying, "Liu Yinxia, what just happened? Why don't you come out and explain!"
Yinxia has indeed changed. She's different from before. The Yinxia used to wear plain clothes, work with her head down, and didn't talk much. That was the kind of person Liang Shuyan liked. But now, she's wearing a light red dress and floral cloth shoes. Her eyes are alluring. She doesn't look like a worker at all.
"Auntie, all I did was put the peppers and hawthorns into the feeder without washing them properly, and that fat pig Chunyan actually dared to lecture me? Who does she think she is?"
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