Madam Yao found it strange and said, "It's just some local food from Jingzhou, and some pickled vegetables that I made myself. I heard you say they were delicious, so I brought you a jar. Didn't Man'er send it to you?"
Madam Yao had no ill intentions in sending her daughter to deliver gifts to He Jiuniang. She simply chose things that He Jiuniang would like, thinking that since they had become godparents, they should get along well.
Of course, it was also to let Hu Sheng know that although the Yao family had fallen on hard times, they still had the Lu family as their godparents, hoping that Hu Sheng would treat her daughter better out of respect for the Lu family.
But she didn't expect that her daughter hadn't brought those things with her. That was more than a month ago, so they shouldn't have arrived yet. Something must have delayed them.
After figuring things out, Madam Yao smiled and said, "There must have been something that delayed you. Man'er will definitely be able to deliver it to your residence when she has time. You two are about the same age, so you should be able to get along well!"
Seeing Madam Yao's cheerful expression, He Jiuniang knew that she was truly unaware of her daughter's situation. Without further ado, she took her to a private room and explained the matter clearly.
“Auntie, Man’er has never been favored. The reason why Hu Sheng suddenly treated her well and accompanied her to Jingzhou to pick up Su Su is because he knows that Su Su has become my godparent and wants to use Su Su to control me.”
"The reason Hu Sheng knows these things is because your two family members contacted him and got him to promise them benefits."
"After Susu was taken away, she was taken to Hu Sheng's wife for a month of training. She was beaten several times a day, and if she didn't listen, she was pricked with needles. When she saw me, she was like a completely different person."
“Man’er has been in Hu Sheng’s house for years. Although she is a concubine, she lives worse than a lowly maid. She is younger than me, but she looks much older. She even has to wash clothes to get enough to eat. So what good will happen to a child as young as Su Su?”
He Jiuniang finished explaining everything in one breath and successfully saw Madam Yao's expression gradually change. Then, she looked at He Jiuniang nervously and asked, "How are Man'er and Susu now? How could this happen? When Hu Sheng brought Man'er here, he was clearly very good to her. I thought my Man'er had finally made it through. How could she be living worse than a lowly maid!"
"I knew Hu Sheng would offer to take Su Su to the capital! So that's what he was up to! And those two good-for-nothings at home, they can't even scheme against others, all they do is bully my Man'er! How did their personalities turn out so twisted!"
Madam Yao was furious, tears welling in her eyes, but she held them back. He Jiu Niang sighed and answered her question: "Hu Sheng has already given Man'er the judgment letter. Man'er has no relationship with the Hu family anymore. She and Su Su are living with me now, and they are both doing well."
"Jiu Niang, I really don't know how to thank you enough!"
Madam Yao took her hand and slowly knelt down before her. He Jiu Niang reached out to help her up, but she insisted on kneeling.
"Jiu Niang, you have done so much for my Yao family. If it weren't for you, I don't know if my Man'er and Su Su would still be alive. Let me kowtow to you, otherwise I won't be at peace!"
As he spoke, he kowtowed three times to He Jiuniang.
He Jiuniang accepted her thanks, reached out to help her up, and asked directly, "Auntie, what are you planning to do? Are you going to continue letting those two in the house run wild?"
She didn't even bother with roundabout ways and went straight to asking Madam Yao's opinion.
This incident is enough to show the character of Yao's two sons. Such people would betray even their own relatives; they are inherently selfish. Don't expect anything else from them.
Madam Yao said, “This is not the first or second time they have treated Man’er this way. My husband and I used to think that as long as we taught them a good lesson, they would change. But we never expected that they would have no remorse at all and would even go so far as to harm Man’er and Su Su. Since that’s the case, I have no hope left. Let them fend for themselves.”
She patted He Jiuniang's hand and said, "I'll take a day off today and go back to deal with these troublesome matters."
He Jiuniang didn't ask her how to deal with it, knowing she would find out eventually, but seeing her injured appearance, she knew she must be in great pain.
They were all flesh and blood of hers, so why did they have to kill each other?
Man'er is just a woman and poses no threat to them, so why won't they let her go?
Mrs. Yao cried the whole way back. She really didn't expect things to turn out this way. She had been very happy during this time and felt that things were developing in a good direction. Her two sons were not very capable, but they hadn't caused any trouble either. Her daughter was also able to gain a foothold in her husband's family. She had also taken Susu with her to raise, so that Susu could grow up with her mother and wouldn't have to envy other children.
The old man's health has improved a lot under He Jiu Niang's treatment, and he has regained his energy. She also works at the Lu family's clubhouse and earns a considerable monthly salary to supplement the family income. Her son and daughter-in-law are also more welcoming to her.
She thought that this kind of life could continue forever, but she never expected that while they were living a good life, her daughter and granddaughter were suffering, and the source of that suffering was their two heartless sons.
The repeated forgiveness and compromises she had made were like slaps to the face.
When she returned to her own residence, the servants found it strange, thinking she had forgotten something. But when they saw her hurrying towards the inner courtyard with red eyes, they guessed that something might have happened and dared not speak loudly.
"Summon everyone to the main hall, I have something to say."
Before going in, Madam Yao gave an instruction and then hurried inside.
Master Yao is practicing Tai Chi, at He Jiu Niang's request. It's not very tiring, but it still provides exercise.
"Why are you back? Why are you crying? What happened?"
Upon seeing this, Master Yao abandoned his practice and stepped forward to inquire about Madam Yao's well-being.
Madam Yao sighed, briefly explained the situation, and then looked at Mr. Yao and said, "Sir, as parents, we have done our best. I have no intention of caring about how they live their lives from now on. On the contrary, I feel I owe my daughter a lot. At this age, I have no intention of wasting my time with them. Let this family fall apart."
After hearing what she said, Master Yao almost lost his footing and asked incredulously, "Are you saying that Man'er and Susu are living worse than even the lowest-ranking maids in the capital?"
Madam Yao nodded: "Yes, it was caused by those two brothers working together."
Mr. Yao almost couldn't take it anymore, but Mrs. Yao supported him from the side, patted his chest to calm him down, and advised, "Old man, think positively. We still have our daughter and Susu. It's not worth ruining your health over these people!"
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