If none of these things were available, can you imagine what our situation would be like? Your sister-in-law and aunt-in-law aren't just responsible for taking care of their own family of three. Look at this whole family, there are over twenty people. Over twenty people means over twenty mouths to feed. How can a penniless matriarch possibly manage all that?
Put yourselves in her shoes. If you were in her position as the matriarch, how well could you manage? Leaving aside how you would manage in the future, how would you manage lunch and dinner right now?
It's August now, still crisp and clear. Two layers of clothing are enough to keep us warm. In two months, winter will arrive. We'll need new clothes, won't we? Thicker clothes? And better fabric, better styles? Who wouldn't want that? But right now we have nothing. Who will do it? Who has the ability to do it? Who has the skill to earn money and support a family?
Look at you all, none of you strong enough to even kill a chicken. You're all used to being pampered. The boys are too young, and the girls are older, but they're still young ladies, unable to lift a finger. Tell me, who do you plan to rely on to support you? Are you going to rely on our eldest son, Kuang, who's only nine years old, to keep the household afloat?"
After such a long lecture, Old Madam Yun was deafening. Except for the innocent three-year-old Yun Tianjiao, who was still unaware of the ways of the world and stared at this and that with wide eyes, almost everyone buried their heads in their chests.
Madam Yun sighed, "Now is not the time to scold you. Of course, you also need to face reality. From now on, you can no longer be picky. Eat whatever you are given, wear whatever you are given. You should be grateful if you have a piece of rubble to cover yourselves and a thin quilt to keep warm."
Madam Zhou and the others responded in unison, "We will heed your teachings, Madam."
"It is said that every sip and every bite is preordained by Heaven. The fact that my Yun family is in this situation, and that we have been able to save everyone's lives without shedding a single drop of blood, is all thanks to the Emperor's boundless grace. Anyone who complains about the injustice of Heaven, or suspects that the Yun family has been wronged and demands a thorough investigation, should think carefully before acting."
If we anger His Majesty, and he truly pins the charge of treason on us, our entire family will be executed. Those who don't want to live may take the opportunity to jump into a well or hang themselves; I will not stop them. Just don't implicate my Yun family descendants. I'm making this clear today. Anyone who could potentially endanger the lives of my Yun family descendants will not be spared!
Zhou replied solemnly, "Yes!"
The others responded in unison, "Yes!"
Madam Yun glanced at them again and said, “From now on, everyone who is capable must take on the responsibility of supporting their families. All work assignments will be done according to your eldest sister-in-law’s wishes.”
This time, without waiting for Zhou to lead the way, the rest of the group responded in unison, "Yes."
The old lady looked at Yun Tianyi one last time, "Yi-ge'er, you are seven years old now. You are no longer at the age where you can be willful. Your aunt's punishment for you today is correct. If you are still picky about food, you will go hungry for a day and will not have to eat anymore."
Yun Tianyi said, his voice choked with grievance, "Grandmother, your grandson knows he was wrong."
Yun Tianzhi immediately lowered his head, and the old lady said nothing more.
Guo didn't know what mistake her son had just made; she simply went out of her mind to protect him, saying, "Mother, Yi-ge'er is still young, and it's inevitable that he'll make mistakes. He can't go a day without eating."
Madam Yun gave her a cold look. "If you feel sorry for him, why don't you go hungry for a day in his place?"
Guo hesitated again.
The matriarch said sarcastically, "You are her mother, yet you don't want to take the blame for him. Let him learn a lesson so he knows what he should and shouldn't do at seven years old."
Guo lowered her head sheepishly.
Madam Yun stared at her again and said, "And you, it's just a small matter like the child wetting the bed. Is it really worth making such a fuss and waking up the whole family?"
Guo retorted, "My clothes are soaked with urine, shouldn't I change them?"
"If you're going to change, you need something to change into. Look at the clothes you're wearing, what kind of look is that?"
Guo was already feeling uncomfortable from being squeezed in her small, tight clothes, and being publicly criticized by the old lady made her even more upset. "I..."
She bit her lip and said, "Mother, your daughter-in-law would like to go back to her parents' home today."
Madam Yun nodded, "Although we have been demoted to commoners, we are not restricted by the government. You can go wherever you want."
It would also show outsiders that the Yun family is now desperate. What other way out do they have but to reach out to their relatives and family for help?
This idea coincided with Zhou's idea.
Madam Zhou smiled and said, "My third sister-in-law's family is in the capital, which is closer. It's just that my second and fourth sisters-in-law can't go back. We would be extremely grateful if my third sister-in-law's family could lend a helping hand."
Guo was unaware that the Jiang siblings had come to deliver things yesterday.
She didn't know what the Jiang siblings were really thinking, so she didn't think in that direction.
She thought about it all night yesterday, and the first place that came to mind was her family.
Guo's father was the Minister of War. To be honest, he only rose to the position of Minister of War after she married into the Yun family, with the help of Marquis Yun.
Now that she is a daughter-in-law of the Yun family, she believes that her father and brothers will definitely not stand idly by if the Yun family is in trouble.
At least they won't stand idly by while they're in their current situation.
Seeing that no one had any objections, Old Madam Yun wearily waved her hand and said, "Young people, you may all leave. Think carefully about how to get through the rest of the year."
"Yes." Yun Manwan led her younger siblings out the door first.
Li also handed the fourth daughter, whom she was holding, to the third daughter.
Seeing that only four daughters-in-law remained, Old Madam Yun said in a deep voice, "The family is old and young. From now on, the Yun family will have to rely on the four of you to support it."
The four of them responded in unison, "Yes."
At this moment, Li asked, "Mother, we were demoted to commoners. Is there any explanation regarding which household registration we should be registered under?"
Madam Yun nodded and said, "Your sister-in-law and I have already discussed this matter. From now on, our Yun family will be registered as farmers."
"What?" Guo exclaimed in surprise, "Farmer status? Doesn't that mean we've all become farmers?"
Overnight, she went from being the third wife of a noble family to a peasant woman.
She asked urgently, "Why can't it be merchant status?"
She didn't want to consider working as a laborer; it required too much skill and offered little future.
However, if one were to register as a merchant and become the wife of a wealthy merchant family, one could live a life of luxury.
Madam Yun glared at her, "You short-sighted fool! Even for the sake of the Yun family's descendants, you cannot be registered as a merchant!"
Li tugged at Guo's sleeve and said, "Third sister-in-law, merchants are not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations or enter officialdom for three generations. Have you forgotten?"
Guo then fell silent.
Madam Yun continued, "Isn't your Guo family also of peasant origin? How come you look down on farmers?"
Guo was completely speechless. Her grandfather was a peasant, but he joined the army early and made military achievements, which gave her father the opportunity to participate in the military examination and enter the Ministry of War.
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