Cui Liu wanted to stay, but she knew very well that staying meant either helping in the kitchen or doing laundry in the laundry room, things she didn't want to do. She had been sold by her family when she was young, and because of her good looks, she had been trained from childhood to be good at pleasing people, as well as learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Cui Liu was unwilling to waste her life here like this.
Li Mama naturally understood Cui Liu's thoughts. Yan Hong was Li Mama's goddaughter, so she would naturally take Yan Hong with her when she went back. As for Cui Liu, Li Mama didn't want to take her with her. She would at least leave her behind so she could explain things when she went back.
Granny Li sighed and said, "I brought you all this way here, hoping you would all have a bright future, but things have come to this, and I can't stay any longer. As for the two of you, what do you both think?"
Yan Hong said nonchalantly, "Granny, of course I'm going back with you. I wasn't really willing to stay here in the first place. My parents are still in the mansion. I'm their only child, and it's not good for us to be too far away."
Granny Li nodded, turned her head, and asked Cuiliu kindly, "Miss Cuiliu, what about you?"
Cui Liu quickly said, "Granny, I should stay here, but you and Sister Yan Hong have both left, leaving me all alone. What can I do? I might as well go back to the capital with you and explain the situation to Madam. Perhaps there will be something I can do later."
After hearing this, Granny Li stared at Cui Liu for a moment without saying anything more. However, Granny Li told the two of them to hurry back and pack their belongings.
After returning to her room, Cui Liu put the few changes of clothes she had brought into her bundle and took out a gold ring from her sleeve pocket. This ring was given to her by her previous master, but unfortunately, that master's wife was a jealous shrew who sold Cui Liu out.
Cui Liu quietly left her room and went to Li Mama's room without anyone noticing. The two of them talked for a long time before Cui Liu quietly returned to her own room.
After lunch, Xu Bai and Chen Yuyuan went home.
After Xu Bai and Chen Yuyuan returned, they went to Chen Zhaoci's courtyard first. Chen Zhaoci was sorting out medicinal herbs. This area is close to Changbai Mountain, and many medicinal herbs from the mountains are harvested, processed simply, and then sold to herb merchants. The herb merchants then process the herbs and sell them to pharmacies. After Chen Zhaoci arrived in Liaodong and settled down, he visited several herb shops in Liaodong City.
Seeing the two children return, Chen Zhaoci put down the medicinal herbs in her hand and asked with a smile, "You're back! Did you have a good lunch?"
Xu Bai pulled Chen Zhaoci back to the room. Bai Wei quickly brought out two plates of pastries and a pot of tea. Xu Bai poured himself two cups of tea and drank them. He then breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Ah, I feel much better now. Mother, the cook at my eldest sister's house makes delicious food, but the flavors are a bit too strong. I ate a few too many, and I kept thinking about drinking tea the whole way here."
Chen Zhaoci said, "The dishes here are a bit heavier than those in Beijing, but you'll get used to it after you stay here for a while."
Xu Bai said, "Mom, you don't know, my eldest sister's mother-in-law is causing trouble again."
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhaoci asked with great interest, "Oh? Really? What kind of trouble has she caused this time?"
Xu Bai then recounted the whole story. After listening, Chen Zhaoci sighed and said, "This Mrs. Cheng has such a narrow mind."
Xu Bai nodded with a sense of sympathy and said, "Mother, do you think so too? I think so too. This Madam Cheng is always focused on small, immediate gains. Is my brother-in-law the kind of person who lives off his family's wealth and does nothing? My brother-in-law is wise and capable. He will surely be able to become a marquis and prime minister through his own merits in the future. Why would he care about the title of earl? If Madam Cheng can get on good terms with my brother-in-law, once he becomes a marquis, she can ask for an imperial decree, and then the title of earl will naturally go to their second master."
Chen Zhaoci nodded and said with a smile, "It's kind of you to think of these things."
Xu Bai pouted and said, "Even if I've never eaten pork, haven't I seen pigs run? If we had a reasonable and understanding elder, we would have to flatter my older sister and coax my brother-in-law. My brother-in-law is doing quite well in Liaodong now. It would be better for the whole family to stick together and move forward together than for us to fight against each other and have internal conflicts like this now, right?"
Chen Zhaoci didn't speak, but just nodded. Xu Bai thought for a moment, then continued, "I also have to talk about my eldest sister. She was clearly marrying down, bringing so much dowry with her, and was still controlled by such a mother-in-law. Even after coming all the way to Liaodong, she was still angered by her mother-in-law's foolish actions. Why didn't she just put aside her pride and fight that wicked mother-in-law to the death? After all, the emperor was far away, and her mother-in-law couldn't possibly come and confront her face to face."
Hearing this, Chen Zhaoci shook her head and said, "Abo, it's not that your eldest sister doesn't want to break ties with her mother-in-law, it's just that she has too many concerns now. Putting aside everything else, just look at her mother-in-law. She's going to send someone to deliver a letter saying that she's sick and that your eldest sister should take the children back to take care of her. Do you think your eldest sister should go back or not? If she goes back, who knows if she'll be able to come back in the future? If she doesn't go back, she and her husband will be labeled as unfilial, and your brother-in-law's future might even be affected."
Xu Bai hadn't expected this, and stared wide-eyed at Chen Zhaoci.
Chen Zhaoci sighed and said, "If you really tear off the mask and fight with your mother-in-law, it's like taking a jade vase and trying to break a porcelain vase. What if you break the jade vase?"
Xu Bai suddenly realized and said, "So that's how it is. Actually, it all comes down to the fact that my older sister's mother-in-law is not kind. Such an evil mother-in-law should find a daughter-in-law who is cunning and willing to confront her directly."
Chen Zhaoci said, "Your eldest sister is so successful because your aunt taught her so well from a young age."
Xu Bai nodded and said, "Mother, my eldest brother and sister-in-law are going to give birth to my little niece. We must not teach her to be too filial. We should take her to the countryside more often so that she can see how those women who can fight to the death argue. If she sees this more often, she will definitely not be bullied if she encounters a wicked mother-in-law or a wicked sister-in-law in the future."
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhaoci remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Your idea is quite unique."
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