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Chapter 431: Inheritance

Shen Youfu and Shen Zhang returned to Hebian Village, and their life went on as usual. However, the village was bustling for a while. Every day, people went to the Shen's house to talk to the old couple, asking them what the capital was like. From their words, they thought about what it was like in a place they might never be able to visit in their lifetime. These people came in waves.

Shen Youfu was a man with a bad temper, but that was towards his family members. As for outsiders, as long as they didn't look down on him, he was quite easy to talk to. If they were polite and flattering to him, his attitude could be said to be even more polite than to his own family members. And Shen Zhang was a person who knew how to deal with people.

Although the couple had lost a lot of reputation in the village due to some things before, ever since Shen Ziju went to the capital to be an official, they also saw the world and their reputation rose again.

Shen Youfu was very proud that someone came to chat with him, which showed that he had a good reputation.

Shen Zhang was also very happy that someone came. Ever since that old lady Li told others that she might be the one who killed Shen Zi'an's mother, she rarely interacted with people and no one came to talk to her. Now that she saw that woman coming to chat with her, she thought that if she continued like this, sooner or later people would no longer doubt her and everything would return to the same state as before. Therefore, she was very polite to everyone who came, no matter if they came to see Shen Youfu or her, and always offered them tea and melon seeds. In this way, more people were willing to come.

Seeing that Shen Zhang's tea leaves and melon seeds were always growing, Sun felt a little distressed. She thought that was money too, it would be great if she could give it to her.

Looking at the style of her parents, Sun felt that they must be living a good life as officials in the capital these days. She wondered when they could go to the capital. Even if they were not allowed to go, they could at least be given some benefits.

On the day Shen Youfu and Shen Zhang returned, they distributed the things they brought back to the family, but the adults did not receive any. Each child received something from the capital, jade pendants for the boys, hair ornaments, handkerchiefs for the girls, and even Xiaori and Yueyue from Shen Zian's family received some.

Sun took all the things of Silang, Wulang and Chunhua. She only didn't take Sanlang's things because he was too old and she didn't want to give them to him.

Sun Shi got the benefits, but she became more greedy. She thought that her parents had already given so many things to the children, and she didn't know how many more good things they had. She wanted to get them all.

Shen Zhang naturally saw how attentive Sun was to her, and she felt that letting such a woman go to the capital would definitely have an impact on Shen Ziju's future, so she decided to let them stay in the countryside, which would be a good opportunity for them to look after the house. She was just thinking about how to convince them. Shen Zhang was really a bit of a headache. Shen Ziping and Sun were all greedy, and they wanted more after getting good things. If they were given things, they would think that they would get more by going to the capital.

It would not be impossible to order the third son to stay and look after the house, but the old couple of the Shen family did not want the only son who had not proposed to separate the family to cause trouble again.

Shen Youfu wanted to stay for a while longer, so he had to make arrangements for his three sons and their families.

Shen Zhang also wanted to stay for a while longer. She wanted to go back to the capital. She might meet someone she didn't want to see again. Although so many years had passed and she had changed a lot, she was still worried. If she made a mistake, she would be doomed, and her family would suffer too!

Shen Zhang was thinking about staying in Hebian Village forever, but she had finally raised her son to be an official. She was going to be a lady and enjoy the respect of others, but she was reluctant to give up that kind of ultimate psychological enjoyment. What she wanted most in her life was to be respected and praised by others. She finally achieved it, and she was unwilling to give it up.

Another point is that the children are not married yet. Their weddings are imminent and their parents need to be there to arrange them.

Shen Zhang thought that after she adjusted her mood and recovered her body, she would go back. When she went back, she would be the respected old lady. She tried her best to treat the past as a dream.

"Mom, there's someone outside again."

Sun saw her mother-in-law was distracted while talking to her, and she was very unhappy. She had just tried to get Shen Zhang to agree to take their family to the capital, but Shen Zhang didn't listen. She was wondering if her mother-in-law was pretending and didn't want to take them to the capital. She was very unhappy thinking this. But she heard someone coming outside, so she had to stop there. She didn't dare to anger her mother-in-law. This mother-in-law was usually gentle, but she could also deal with her daughter-in-law gently.

Sun was fearless, but she was a little afraid of her mother-in-law, Shen Zhang.

Shen Zhang came back to her senses from her thoughts and heard the sound of people talking outside, so she asked Sun to make some tea.

Sun went out reluctantly, greeted the women who came, and then asked Chunhua to make tea.

Shen Zhang had always had a good reputation in the village. People in the village were very honest. When they saw how gentle she was to Shen Zian, who was not her biological son, and how she took good care of him and provided him with plenty of food and clothing, they all thought she was a good person. However, when Shen Zian got less when the family property was divided, people either thought it was because he married a sick wife and spent all the family money, or they thought Shen Youfu didn't like this son. Compared with his biological father Shen Youfu, Shen Zhang was a more loving stepmother.

Some people believed what Mrs. Li said, while others did not. Those who came most often in the past few days were those who did not quite believe it. As long as Shen Zhang was kind to them, they did not care too much. They wanted to know whether Shen Zhang had harmed Shen Zian's mother or not, and wait for Shen Zian to find out before making any decision. They would first listen to the excitement in the capital.

A group of women gathered together, and except for Shen Zhang who talked about things in the capital, they talked about things in Hebian Village, gossiping about other people, and eventually they talked about Fuyuan.

Fuyuan is now the most worthwhile topic of discussion in Hebian Village. If the people of Hebian Village don't talk about Fuyuan once a day, it seems like something is missing. Some are envious, some are jealous, and some hate him. But with the Holy Beast around, everyone is honest. In the end, they all behave themselves in order to make money with Fuyuan.

When talking about Fuyuan, besides how beautiful it is, how big it is, how profitable the vermicelli workshop in Fuyuan is, the holy beast and the pond in Fuyuan, and how good the lives of Shen Zian and Su Zhi are, they all say good things, and the listeners nod their heads repeatedly.

Shen Zhang listened and thought to herself that Shen Zian was getting better and better. If she had known that he was living so well, she would not have let them split up the family property. She let him live under her control for the rest of his life. Although it was a bit awkward to think of his mother, she had endured it for so many years. What could she do if she continued to endure it? Besides, they were making so much money now. There were so many houses that if she didn't go to see them on purpose, she probably wouldn't see them once a day.

Shen Zhang sighed inwardly. The more she listened, the more upset she felt. The more she listened, the more she wished that Fuyuan was hers.

"In fact, you only see that Zi'an and his wife are living a good life, but you don't see their unhappiness."

Amidst the envy, a special voice suddenly emerged.

The one who spoke was Mrs. Wang, who lived in the north of the village.

Someone asked: "Zi'an and his family have so much money, they have more houses than they can live in, they have servants and a way to make money, so many people in the village work for them, and even the officials have a good relationship with them. It's just that someone provokes them. As long as the holy beast is there, they can just let it out and take a bite. What else can they be unhappy about?"

The others also agreed. They were all jealous of Shen Zian and his friends. If they had such a life, they would be so happy in their dreams that they would wake up. How could they feel unhappy? People should not be too ungrateful!

Granny Wang said while eating melon seeds, "They have been married for three years, but they don't even have a baby! Even if they have Xiaori and Yueyue, what's the use? They are not their biological children. Who knows, one day they might be taken away by their family like Xing'er was. Then they will just look at each other and there will be no one to talk to."

After Mrs. Wang said this, everyone else reacted and thought that, yes, Shen Zian and his wife have been married for quite some time, but they don't have a child.

"Isn't Zi'an's wife very capable? She cured many women who couldn't have children, like Zigui's wife, Si Niang, and the family of Mr. Zhang in the town. Didn't they get pregnant right away after she saw their health problems? There are also several other families who are now carrying big fat boys."

"Of course she can heal others, but she can't heal herself?"

Mrs. Wang said, "Didn't someone say that the better a doctor treats his own illness, the worse he is at curing his own illness. I think Zi'an's wife is that kind of person!"

When other people heard this, they thought the same thing.

"That makes sense. Isn't it the same for fortune tellers? They can tell fortunes for others, but not for themselves."

"Zi'an's wife is very blessed, but didn't I say that this blessing is too great, there must be some downsides. Maybe this boy Zi'an's wife just can't have a baby."

"Do you think that God is not going to send them any more babies now that they have Xiaori and Yueyue?"

"We have made so much money and such a huge fortune, but we don't have a biological child to inherit it. Instead, it all goes to the adopted child. It's such a loss!"

"Cough, cough!" Someone started to cough dryly. This happened in front of Shen Zhang. The more they talked, the more outrageous it became. Even though the relationship between Shen Zhang and Shen Zian had been strained recently and they had separated, they were still a family.

Several people who were talking excitedly also reacted and felt a little uncomfortable. Some of them drank tea, some started eating melon seeds.

Shen Zhang said: "You can say whatever you want, I heard it, to be honest, I am also worried about this matter. Although Zi'an is not my son, and he has some grudges against me recently, he was just deceived by bad people. It's just a coincidence. I don't blame him. Seeing him so sad, I feel sorry for him. But no matter how much I feel sorry for him, he won't appreciate it. Fortunately, he still has a wife to accompany him."

Shen Zhang's face showed a worried and sad look, which made the other women sympathize with her. They thought, where can you find such a kind stepmother? Shen Zian treated her so well, yet she still missed him.

Shen Zhang continued, "But no matter how good the daughter-in-law is, it would be even better to have a baby. They have been waiting for a long time to get married, but there has been no progress. I am anxious. But I can't tell them. If I tell them, they will say that I am trying to sow discord between them. I pray to God every day to give them a baby. I hope it will come true soon."

Several people praised Shen Zhang.

Mrs. Wang said, "Don't worry, they are still young, there will be more. Look, Mr. Zhang's son is almost 30 years old, and he just had a son. I heard that the concubine also gave birth to a daughter. Then Zi'an and his family may have two children at once, a son and a daughter. Even if they really don't have any, don't they still have Xiaori and Yueyue? If you think they are not your biological children, don't worry, you have so many boys in your Shen family, can't you just adopt one?"

When Mrs. Wang said this, no one agreed with her.

At first, Shen Zigui gave birth to three daughters in succession but no son. Shen Ziping's wife wanted to give their son to the second wife, but it didn't work out in the end. What's more, the second wife split the family, and as soon as the family was split, she gave birth to a son.

Shen Zian and his wife have only been married for a few years. They are not too old to have children, so why would they adopt someone else's child? The first and second wives can forget about it. The third wife has many sons, but Wulang is also old. Besides, the third wife has a bad character. People from the third wife are not allowed to enter Fuyuan Garden now!

Shen Zhang ignored this and suddenly stopped talking. She was moved and thought that this was a solution. She had always regretted separating Shen Zian and his family because they were rich. If she passed a child to them, they would have a connection again. Who knows who would get all the money!

Shen Zhang smiled inwardly. She was able to marry Shen Youfu and rise from a concubine to the main wife, of course she had her own ways. She dared to deal with Shen Zian's mother, so naturally she would also dare to deal with Shen Zian and his wife. By then, wouldn't all their things be hers again?

When Mrs. Wang saw that her words had fallen out of favor, she quickly brought up other matters to liven up the situation again.

After a while, Shen Zhang acted as if she was a little tired. Those people were quite tactful and all stood up and said goodbye.

After these women left, Shen Zhang sat in the house and pondered. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that the method of succession could be used.

After Shen Youfu came back from his escape, Shen Zhang called him over to talk about this matter.

Shen Youfu fell into deep thought when he heard this. To be honest, he was also tempted. He always heard others say that Fuyuan made a lot of money, so how could he not be jealous?

The chapter number has been wrong since chapter 10. Please ignore it and I will revise it when the editor comes back.

(Lishu Literature)