After returning home, Li Zhiyuan went to the bathroom and washed himself five times to get rid of the odor.
As soon as Li Zhiyuan returned to his room, he saw Granny Li rushing towards him like a cannonball:
"Is what they said true? You spent two hundred taels of silver to buy a piece of broken jade? Or was it that cheap piece that slut Ye brought?"
Li Zhiyuan's face turned pale. How could the news have spread so quickly?
In just one hour, the news had reached her mother's ears.
At this moment, Li Jiaojiao and Li Ziming rushed over upon hearing the noise. Li Jiaojiao sighed softly and said gently:
"Grandma, don't get upset. The jade wasn't bought by Dad, it was bought by me. I have my own uses for it, so don't be sad."
Granny Li was stunned, her eyes widening:
"What did you say? Is there a difference? We both spent two hundred taels to buy a piece of broken jade!"
"Furthermore, I heard that the money was taken from you. So you've been keeping those two hundred taels of silver all along? What kind of nonsense is this?"
"Our Li family's wealth has actually been taken by a worthless brat! This is outrageous!"
The reason why Granny Li accepted Zhang Shui Niang and the other two so quickly was that Zhang Shui Niang was the daughter of Zhang Fu Hu.
Zhang Fuhu was the wealthiest family in their Lijia Village, the kind that everyone in the village tried to curry favor with.
More than a decade ago, Granny Li had hoped that Zhang Shui Niang would become her daughter-in-law, but she was rejected without hesitation, leaving her with regret.
So even though Zhang Shuiniang was a second-time bride, Granny Li didn't mind. She was happy to accept it, feeling that she had finally married the daughter of the wealthy Zhang family, which was something to be proud of.
Secondly, Li Zhiyuan had secretly told her that Li Ziming and Li Jiaojiao were his children, and that the man surnamed Sun had been cuckolded by him.
When Granny Li heard this, how could she not be happy? Especially when she saw her grandson Li Ziming, she was absolutely delighted.
Because of her affection for Li Jiaojiao, even though she was just a maid, she was also very fond of her.
Moreover, Li Jiaojiao not only has a sweet tongue, but she also dug up ginseng and bought her cloth and shoes. Yesterday, she even said she would buy her a silver hairpin. How could Granny Li not like her?
Even if she liked Zhang Shuiniang and her son very much, she couldn't accept that Li Jiaojiao was holding the money!
And it's such a large sum of money!
The family's finances had always been under Li Zhiyuan's control. So when Li Jiaojiao dug up the ginseng and sold it for two hundred taels of silver, she naturally assumed that the money had been handed over to Li Zhiyuan.
It now seems that not only was the money not handed over, but the mother and her two sons may have taken control of all of the Li family's assets.
Granny Li realized the truth: although Li Jiaojiao only cared about her own money, all the Li family's money had been handed over to Zhang Shuiniang by Li Zhiyuan.
"Zhiyuan, tell me clearly, has that two hundred taels been kept by this money-loser all along? And what about the money at home? Has it all been given to her?"
Li Zhiyuan's face darkened.
Li Jiaojiao was shocked that her usually kind-hearted Granny Li would say such a thing, and her face turned cold.
“I’m the one who earns the money, so of course I’ll keep it. My mother keeps all of Dad’s money. What’s wrong with that? She’s the matriarch of the household, so it’s only natural for her to manage the money.”
Old Lady Li suddenly felt dizzy:
"This is outrageous! Whose money isn't managed by the elders? I let Zhiyuan manage it because he spends a lot and needs it for all his expenses. What young woman moves in and starts managing the money?"
"And what's more, you're wasting money! That was two hundred taels of silver, and you actually bought a piece of broken jade? You even gave me some cloth last time, so you're using our Li family's money all along? You spendthrift good-for-nothing!"
He raised his hand as he spoke.
Li Jiaojiao's eyes flashed with anger, and she shoved her away.
"Ouch!" Granny Li fell to the ground with a thud, pointing at her: "You..."
"Jiaojiao, are you alright?"
"Jiaojiao!"
Two shouts rang out simultaneously, and Li Ziming and Li Zhiyuan rushed over, looking at Li Jiaojiao with concern: "Are you hurt?"
Granny Li: "..."
Granny Li was nearly driven to despair. She let out a scream, sat down on the ground, slapped her thigh, and cried, "This is outrageous! My granddaughter hit her grandmother, and then she's protected! That unfilial daughter—"
"Mother!!!" Li Zhiyuan roared.
Granny Li's cries and curses caught in her throat. Looking up, she saw Li Zhiyuan staring down at her with a sinister gaze.
"I'm annoyed enough already, can you please stop messing around?"
"Let me make this clear! Shui Niang is the person I love most, and Jiao Jiao and Zi Mo are my most beloved children. Anyone who dares to bully them will face my wrath!!!"
Granny Li was stunned for a moment, her lips trembled, she wanted to say something, but she couldn't say anything.
"And another thing," Li Zhiyuan continued, "from now on, all the money in the house will be managed by Shui Niang. If you don't like it, our whole family will move out. If you're still not satisfied, I'll marry into the Zhang family, and from then on, we'll have nothing to do with each other."
“Father…” Li Jiaojiao and Li Ziming looked at him with deep emotion.
She always knew that her father would not let them suffer.
Little did they expect that he would not only protect them from being wronged, but also safeguard them so well.
Granny Li's mind was reeling. She couldn't believe he would say such a thing. She felt both angry and heartbroken.
Her own precious son, whom she cherished dearly, had treated her like this...
Granny Li sobbed and ran out.
What kind of nonsense is this? In the past, Madam Ye wouldn't dare to say a word back, and even those two maids were at her mercy in being beaten and scolded.
Li Zhiyuan looked at Li Jiaojiao: "You weren't hit by her just now, were you?"
"No, boohoo... Dad loves me the most!" Li Jiaojiao said, then threw herself into his arms and started crying.
Since birth, no one has ever been as kind to her as her mother and brother.
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