The stench made Huang recoil backward, nearly straining her back.
She rubbed her lower back and, seeing that Ge was about to reach for the account book, Huang quickly picked it up and blew on the ink to dry it.
She closed the ledger, stood up, and said, "Ms. Ge, please sit down for a while. I'll go and put all these things away."
Before Ge could respond, Huang quickly grabbed the things and headed towards the bedroom.
Ge rolled her eyes inwardly.
"What are you pretending for? You can only write a few words. If it weren't for your literate husband, you wouldn't be completely illiterate either."
Even if she rolled her eyes to the heavens in her heart, Madam Huang would be completely unaware. Right now, she really wanted to drive Madam Ge away.
Today, this old woman finally witnessed what bad breath truly means; she almost threw up her dinner from the night before.
After putting her things away, she saw her son bending over to set up the kang (a heated brick bed) for her, and said something rather heartless.
"Be careful, don't make sure your mother's house is covered in dirt and dust."
"I just ground ink on my inkstone. If you ruin it, I'll skin you alive!"
Zhao Minggeng wanted to cry but had no tears.
“Mom, there will inevitably be dust and dirt when you work. If you’re worried about getting your ink dirty, why don’t you just cover it with something?”
Huang glared at him, "You listen to whatever I say, and you dare to talk back to me now? You've grown some guts, haven't you?"
Zhao Minggeng quickly bowed and surrendered, "Mother, you are right no matter what. It was my fault. I couldn't control the dust."
Huang chuckled, "What a character!"
After saying that, he washed the brush, placed it on the inkstone, found a rag to cover the inkstone, and then left the bedroom.
Ge clearly saw Zhao Qianci leave the main room and Huang enter the bedroom, where she was still talking to someone, indicating that there was a man in the bedroom.
His eyes rolled around.
"How could there be a man's voice coming from Huang's bedroom in broad daylight?"
Could it be that she's keeping a lover? That can't be right, with so many people in the house, what are they doing?...
In just a short while, a hundred dramas were playing out in Ge's mind, none of them of which were good.
After Huang put down her brush and ink, she came out and saw Ge's eyes darting back and forth, which made her displeased.
Previously, Huang Shi sat at the Eight Immortals Table, but this time she specially chose to sit in the main seat of the hall.
The phrase "stay away from the Ge family" is now deeply etched in Huang's mind, and it's incredibly irritating.
"You've finished planting your land, what brings you here today?"
Huang spoke up, admitting that she didn't consider herself very close to her.
"Hey, what kind of talk is that, Auntie? We're all neighbors, can't you come over to visit me for a bit?"
I'd heard before that my aunt's family hadn't been home for a long time; maybe they're up to some kind of get-rich-quick scheme.
"Tell me about it. We're from the same village, and besides, we're all relatives within five degrees of kinship."
Huang wanted to stand up and throw Ge out.
"Hehe, didn't you say there was nothing wrong? Why are you asking about my family's path to wealth again?"
Who told you that your aunt's family has become rich? How come your aunt didn't know?
"Tell me, how did you know your auntie had become rich?"
Ge was momentarily speechless, her mouth agape. Ultimately, her thick skin prevailed.
"Auntie's family must have made a fortune. It's only been a short time, and they're already using mules and horses. What else could it be but a fortune?"
"Auntie, you can't keep a secret from me if you have a way to make money. We're all true relatives."
One sentence made Huang laugh in anger, "Fine, so you can't keep your own money to yourself? Why should I? Just because you have a big face?"
After cursing Ge in her heart, Huang smiled and spoke.
“Niece-in-law, we are all relatives within five degrees of kinship. My aunt’s family is short of money recently. Go home and give her ten or twenty taels of silver to spend.”
We're all close relatives, so you can't hold back. You can't just ignore your aunt's hardships and refuse to lend a hand.
Ge was a little dazed, not expecting Huang to ask her for money.
“Auntie, what are you saying? My family doesn’t have the ability to help you. Even if we are close relatives, we can only lend what we have, not what we don’t.”
Mrs. Huang continued to smile.
"You can't keep anything from us. We're all real relatives, and your family has more labor force than mine."
Your houses are all made of blue bricks and tiles, while mine is just a half-brick house.
Your family must have made a lot of money. Tell your aunt how your family makes money.
Tell me about your family's ways of making money. We're all from the same village, and we're practically relatives. You can't keep anything from us; you have to be generous.
Even though Madam Ge was slow to react, she understood Madam Huang's attitude and immediately changed her expression.
"Auntie, if you don't want to tell me how your family makes money, then don't. Why make fun of me like this?"
Huang said sternly, "You know it's just for fun, huh? You won't even tell me your family's money-making methods."
How dare you ask about my family's ways of making money? We're all relatives within five degrees of kinship, so I can't keep anything from you.
How can it be okay for you to criticize others but not for others to criticize you? What kind of talk is that?
Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. I don't blame you for not understanding this principle, but one day I'll have your Uncle Qianci go and have a good talk with your husband.
When Madam Ge heard this, she was furious. If her husband found out that she had come here and offended someone, he would definitely make her pay.
"Auntie, I'm sorry, I'm not good with words. Please don't take it to heart, adults are magnanimous. I have things to do at home, so I'll be leaving now."
With that, he quickly jogged away, no longer thinking about other people's ways of making money.
Huang felt really annoyed; they were all from the same village, and she really couldn't be bothered to pay them any attention.
Upon exiting the door, I saw that the nursery grounds were almost ready, so I called out to Tian Xiaolan.
"Second son's wife, if any shameless women come to our house again, don't hold back, kick them all out."
Your sister-in-law is shy and clumsy with words; she doesn't know how to swear. You, on the other hand, are very eloquent; this matter can definitely be handled by you.
Tian Xiaolan was bewildered. "Does Mother mean I'm good at swearing? I'm very polite, okay?"
Whether it was Huang, Wang Caixia, or anyone else, they all burst into laughter.
Mrs. Huang was too embarrassed to continue criticizing her daughter-in-law.
"Your sister-in-law is the eldest daughter-in-law in our family, so there are some things that can't be said too bluntly."
Moreover, she really wasn't good at talking; her mouth was as if it were locked.
You're different; you're quick-witted and have a fast reaction time.
You're the best person to step in if anyone tries to take advantage of our family. Every family needs someone to play the "good cop" and someone to play the "bad cop."
"Your mother has high hopes for you. Our family's future depends on you. When I go to town later, I'll buy you a couple more nice outfits."
Despite Huang's promise and her praise, Tian Xiaolan still felt something was off.
Finally, unable to hold back any longer, she pointed her finger at her own nose and said, "Mom, am I suited to be a shrew?"
After saying that, he couldn't help but laugh.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com