Her eyes welled up with tears as she spoke.
Zhang Xiangliang said with heartache, "Don't worry, I'm strong, and our mother is very good. She will never mistreat you."
He rushed out and told Aunt Zhang that there was nothing in the house, angrily intending to go find Landlord Wang and have a word with him.
Aunt Zhang said, "I'll go with you."
When they arrived at Landlord Wang's house and explained the situation, Landlord Wang was also somewhat annoyed.
They specifically named Ye Ting as the one who shorted the goods, so this must not be nonsense. They even have the nerve to come and settle accounts with me.
Unfortunately, there were too many cotton-padded clothes, trousers, and shoes. Before everything was shipped out, it was hard to tell if anything was missing or if a few items were missing.
He could only tell Aunt Zhang, "Don't take it to heart. I was just saying that your daughter-in-law didn't distribute all the supplies she sent out. She sent out a total of fifty sets in one afternoon, but the people who came to complain were missing one cotton-padded jacket, two pairs of cotton-padded trousers, and four pairs of shoes."
Zhang Xiangliang said angrily, "Master Wang, we are poor, but we don't steal, rob, or lie. We work to help others. You can't just accuse my wife of taking things without my knowledge."
"How can she, a new bride, hold her head high in town with such a reputation?"
Landlord Wang was so frustrated by Zhang Xiangliang's words that he apologized repeatedly and sent someone to deliver a bag of rice as an apology, saying that he would continue to investigate thoroughly.
No sooner had Zhang Xiangliang and Aunt Zhang left than Landlord Wang clutched his chest and said, "Steward, take men and investigate thoroughly."
He was furious; he had never suffered such humiliation in his life.
He wants to get to the bottom of this.
The next day, Zhang Xiangliang accompanied Ye Ting back to her parents' home.
Zhang Xiangliang pushed a wheelbarrow (a wooden ox and flowing horse, a single-wheeled cart) loaded with gifts for returning to his parents' home, including grain, fruit, snacks, pork, and cloth. Ye Ting changed into new clothes, and they went back to her parents' home together.
Ye Ting was pretty, wearing new clothes, a silver bracelet given to her by Aunt Zhang, and a silver hairpin in her hair. She looked charming and shy.
Zhang Xiangliang was overjoyed. While pushing the turtle, he said, "When you have children, it would be best if they all looked like you and were good-looking."
Ye Ting thought of Yin Jin'an, who was truly beautiful.
She asked cautiously, "Is our family on good terms with the young master in brocade robes?"
Without much thought, Zhang Xiangliang said, "A few days ago, he was staying at the Cui family's old house. He was sick and hungry, and my mother brought him food twice. He is a kind-hearted man and has always been grateful to my mother."
"Is the young master in brocade robes really a cripple?"
"Yes, he was sent by a high-ranking official in the capital. He was mentally challenged and was chained up by Cui Fude, who also broke his legs and left him to fend for himself in the old house."
"He's an idiot?" Ye Ting was very surprised. The person she saw that day was so handsome, yet he was an idiot?
No wonder he's afraid to see anyone.
"Yeah, he was locked up by Trevor after only a few days in town, who said he was an idiot."
"Can't the leg be cured?"
"The town doctor said the bones are broken and there's no cure. Even if a celestial being came, he couldn't cure it."
What's the use of having a pretty face if you're both stupid and paralyzed?
For some reason, Ye Ting felt much better, and the previous feeling of frustration disappeared instantly.
Broken is good; only brokenness makes it perfect.
I found Zhang Xiangliang much more agreeable now.
Upon arriving at the Ye family home, Ye Ting's elder brother Ye Xuyang, sister-in-law Wu, and nephew Ye Wei all came out to greet her. Wu held Ye Ting's hand and said, "Sister, you must be tired from your journey."
His eyes, however, were fixed on her silver bracelet and the silver hairpin in her hair: "Did your mother-in-law give these to you?"
Ye Xuyang studied at the private school for a few days, but he didn't make a ripple. He had a lot of bad habits, though. He was lazy to the bone and did nothing.
Zhang Xiangliang stopped the turtle and immediately noticed Ye Xuyang's cotton-padded clothes, trousers, and shoes, as well as Ye Wei's new shoes.
It's exactly the same as the poverty relief clothing that was distributed yesterday.
Zhang Xiangliang's heart pounded, and he silently carried the gifts into the house.
After pondering for a long time, he asked Ye Xuyang, "Brother, this new cotton-padded coat should be a matching set, right? Why aren't there any cotton-padded shoes?"
Ye Xuyang was indeed fooled and exclaimed in surprise, "There are cotton shoes too? I thought the cotton-padded clothes and trousers were a complete set."
Zhang Xiangliang shook his head and said, "They come in sets, whether for adults or children."
At this moment, Ye Wei came in and shouted, "Dad, see? I didn't lie. Yesterday, Zhao Da-Gouzi's family at the village entrance received matching sets of clothes, but my mother didn't believe me!"
Zhang Xiangliang asked, "Do people in your village also receive these clothes?"
"Yes, Zhao Da-Gai-Bai from the village entrance, his family received both clothes and grain."
“If these are relief clothes, then they must be a complete set!” Zhang Xiangliang said. “Who helped you collect the clothes?”
“My aunt sent it,” the nephew said bluntly, “and she repeatedly told us not to tell anyone! She must have been shortchanging us, afraid that people would find out.”
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