Concubine Chai complained a lot in front of Concubine Qing, all of which were about how the people in the first wife's house were bad and unfair.
But there's no such thing as absolute fairness in this world, and besides, the people from the third house aren't that good. They're not as likable as the people from the fourth house, and they're not as troublesome, and people don't casually criticize the people from the first house.
"It's truly so unfair," Aunt Chai said. "And they say they treat all illegitimate sons the same, that's all a lie."
Aunt Chai thought that what Mother Liu said was all nice words, but they were all empty talk. She didn't consider that Mother Liu said this before the Liu family was confiscated.
"They just left us here like this, thinking they don't have to look at us anymore, thinking we're an eyesore." Aunt Chai asked, "Do they really think we want to go back?"
Of course, Concubine Chai wanted to go back. Since the people from the main house didn't take them back, they could go back on their own. The main reason Concubine Chai didn't go back to the capital was because their property was in the northwest, not in the capital.
If they go back to Beijing on their own, they won't have that much money and might have to return in disgrace.
"It's not like we can't go back on our own, and we don't have to rely on them," Aunt Chai sighed. "They're just taking advantage of us because we don't have enough money, and because we can't go back so soon."
Aunt Chai gnashed her teeth. How could the people from the first house be so cruel? The first house was too ruthless. If the first house was any better, they would have dared to follow them back to the capital.
If they have no money to live on, will they go to the capital?
Concubine Chai didn't dare do that, lest the family be tormented by the first wife. After all, she was still afraid that the first wife would sever ties with them. The first wife had severed ties with the second wife, and they couldn't guarantee that the first wife wouldn't separate from the second wife.
"There's no point in saying this. Stop it and don't let anyone hear it," said Aunt Qing.
"What are you afraid of? They have returned to Beijing." said Aunt Chai.
"Walls have ears." Aunt Qing didn't want to hear any more. She didn't want others to know this. They came to the capital city because they didn't want others to know about their past.
"When did you become so scared?" Aunt Chai was surprised.
"I'm not afraid." Aunt Qing just didn't want to lose face. They couldn't move in vain.
"If it's not fear, then what is it?" asked Aunt Chai.
"The engagement has been severed, what else is there to say?" Aunt Qing said, "Just say a few words."
Aunt Chai looked at Aunt Qing and wondered why she had become like this. Aunt Qing was completely different from before. Perhaps because the relationship had been severed, she was now afraid.
"Okay, if you don't want to listen, then I won't say more." Aunt Chai said.
In Shiyuan Village, Liu Yanqing went to the town. He knew that the eldest wife did not give the house in the town to the third wife, so the eldest wife sold the house directly.
Well done!
Liu Yanqing didn't want to take advantage of others, because not all advantages can be taken.
"They didn't give the house to anyone else." Liu Yanqing said, "They sold the house, hahahaha."
Lin Xiaowan was not puzzled when she heard this. The people in the first house were not fools. They would not give things to others casually. The people in the third house were not that good. Aunt Chai had made such a fuss before. There was no way the first house would give the house to the people in the third house.
"That's all we need." Liu Yanqing felt he had gotten the upper hand and was in a good mood. "They just think too much."
Liu Yanqing thought it would be a good idea for them to think more. If they were all so good, who would set him off?
"Why do you care what they think?" Lin Xiaowan said.
"No matter, we're not rushing over there." Liu Yanqing didn't think of rushing in front of the people from other families, nor did he show off. He just said it at home, "The yard next door is better. Pick a good day and move there."
The people in the big house gave them their houses, so there was no need for them to leave the houses vacant.
There is a well next door, so it is convenient for them to draw water.
Liu Yanqing didn't like to fetch water all the time, even if it was just from the next yard, he would have to walk.
"Tidy it up." Lin Xiaowan also thought that the yard next door was good, but there was no need for them to go directly there, so there was no rush.
"I'll go, I'll go." Liu Yanqing was a little excited. Who knows what's in the yard next door? What if there is some silver there that the people from the main house didn't take away?
Liu Yanqing thought it was better not to let the pregnant Lin Xiaowan clean the house, so he could go there himself. He thought he could take a closer look and perhaps find something, even if it was just a few cents.
Lin Xiaowan didn't think Liu Yanqing was that hardworking. She looked at Liu Yanqing and thought that this guy must have other ideas.
"Do you think there is money over there?" Lin Xiaowan said.
"Who knows." Liu Yanqing said, "It's inevitable that some things will be lost when moving. It's good to have some things, not necessarily silver."
Liu Yanqing thought that the eldest wife had given them a few extra chickens and ducks before. This was because the eldest wife did not take the things back, and the people from the eldest wife did not deliver the things to the farm, so the fourth wife got the things.
"Just go ahead." Lin Xiaowan was too lazy to say anything and let Liu Yanqing sort it out. If there really was something, Liu Yanqing would definitely take it away.
"Then I'll go." Liu Yanqing rubbed his hands, "I'll go."
"Go ahead." Lin Xiaowan waved her hand. She really didn't want to see someone like Liu Yanqing taking advantage of her.
"Okay." Liu Yanqing said.
Widow Zhang and her family are still helping Liu Yulian manage the farm, and Liu Yulian has not removed Widow Zhang.
Widow Zhang did not let the people from the Liu family's main branch leave. She started talking about the people in her family again.
"You all work hard. Don't think that the princess will return to the capital. The sky is high and the princess is far away, so you can stop working."
"If you don't do your job well, it's not like we can't replace you."
"Be more careful and don't have any bad thoughts."
…
Widow Zhang was afraid that these people would become arrogant. If they did, the family would be ruined.
We are not fools, so we should not just think about having fun without doing anything.
If Zhuangzi's products were reduced in production and his income was low, would he think that others didn't know about it? Others could have simply stopped them from doing these things and asked others to do them instead.
Widow Zhang was in a good mood. As long as they did good things, they could continue to manage the farm. The crops also depended on the weather.
If there is bad weather, production may be reduced, but that is not man-made.
"Yes." How could Widow Zhang's children and grandchildren dare to say no?
They underestimated Widow Zhang's desire to please Princess Rongning. No matter where Princess Rongning was, Widow Zhang would only make them work harder.
In fact, what they are doing now is not very tiring. What they did in the past was more tiring.
Some people in the village envied Widow Zhang's family, and they wondered if Princess Rongning would no longer use Widow Zhang's family. Widow Zhang was still working for Princess Rongning, and some people thought that if Princess Rongning returned to the capital, how could Widow Zhang continue to work so hard?
Once Widow Zhang relaxes her composure, perhaps she will no longer be able to work for Liu Yanqing.
Widow Zhang knew what some people in the village were thinking, so she couldn't just relax. Princess Rongning wasn't in the northwest, so the people here might have gone to the capital, or Princess Rongning might have arranged for someone to come over.
"Remember this," Widow Zhang said, "Don't forget how hard life was before just because you have a few good days."
Shi poured Widow Zhang a cup of tea so that she could continue to teach her children and grandchildren.
Widow Zhang glanced at Shi and thought that this granddaughter-in-law was acceptable.
"No more talk." Widow Zhang waved her hand. "Work harder."
In the provincial capital, Su Qiuya saw Aunt Chai staying at home. She used to think that Aunt Chai was okay, but now she doesn't think so.
Su Qiuya's thoughts on Concubine Qing have changed, not to mention her views on Concubine Chai. Su Qiuya used to think that the first wife was not good and they should stick together more.
Now, forget it.
"How's business?" asked Aunt Chai.
"It's okay." Su Qiuya said. They had only been in the capital for a short time, so how could they have such good business?
They are just running the shop now and taking things slow.
As for whether Liu Yanbo could pass the exam, that didn't seem that important. They already knew Liu Yanbo's ability, so why would they think about it anymore?
Perhaps they would return to Beijing after Liu Yanbo passed the examination for a scholar, rather than waiting for him to pass the examination for a juren.
"Speaking of which..." Aunt Chai rolled her eyes, "Your shop is still pretty good, and it will be even better in the future. Without the people from the eldest wife here, your shop will definitely be even better."
How could it be better? The eldest wife has never made things difficult for them before.
Su Qiuya was embarrassed to talk about these things. It would be embarrassing to talk about them, so it was better to keep silent.
"Let's not talk about that." Su Qiuya said, "It's almost enough, just enough to make a living."
"You are not just trying to make a living, you are clearly living a good life." Aunt Chai envied the second wife. The second wife could live a good life even after breaking off relations with the first wife, unlike the third wife.
The third wife was not so capable, and they did not have the courage to sever ties with the first wife. If the first wife severed ties with them, they would definitely not be happy and would make a fuss anyway.
The people of the Second House are different. They cut off ties with the First House when they wanted to, which shows that the people of the Second House are relatively capable. If they were not capable, how could they do this?
Aunt Chai wanted to get along well with the people from the second house, and they would teach them.
Su Qiuya could of course see what Aunt Chai was thinking, and she suddenly felt that these people were ridiculous. The people from the first house had done nothing wrong to these people, but these people were just talking about the first house and didn't know how to please the people from the first house.
Su Qiuya said that the people in the first house were more powerful, and it was better to be on good terms with them. It was a pity that she found out too late, otherwise, she would not have allowed Aunt Qing and Liu Yanbo to go through so much trouble.
"I'm going to get busy." Su Qiuya said.
Seeing that Su Qiuya was unwilling to talk, Aunt Chai stopped talking. She wondered if Su Qiuya was unwilling to talk to her. But it didn't matter, as long as Su Qiuya was willing to teach her skills to the people of the third house.
On the way to the capital, Liu Yulian and the others also met those down-and-out girls. They had no intention of bringing those people back to the capital. There was no need to do so. They had met too many people.
If they brought people back to Beijing at will, they probably wouldn't be able to bring so many people, and they wouldn't be able to support so many people.
Liu Yulian wasn't so kind as to give money and take people back. She didn't have that much power. She was just an ordinary person. How could she have such great power? She wasn't a saint.
"How can the girl be so cruel?" Some people still say this about Liu Yulian.
Liu Yulian didn't care. They just talked nonsense. They didn't know each other. They just met once.
He Xiyuan pulled Liu Yulian aside and said, "Come on, you can be even more cruel."
He Xiyuan didn't think his sweetheart was bad. She gave these people some things, and some even wanted to give their daughters to them. Those people just wanted to sell their daughters and let them climb up the social ladder.
"They're not that nice." He Xiyuan said, "They just have other intentions. If you take them in, they'll dare to climb into your brother's bed."
Liu Yulian tilted her head, "How do you know?"
"that is……"
"Just met before?" Liu Yulian said.
"Not really. I've seen other people do that." He Xiyuan thought that the capital was so big that anything could happen. Some people were just too sympathetic and thought concubines were good.
When those women shed tears, some people feel distressed.
In any case, He Xiyuan could not possibly sympathize with those people. They were concubines and still acted like that. What they said about just having something to eat was all fake.
"It's impossible to take them away." Liu Yulian said, "We don't have that much money."
Liu Yulian couldn't just keep giving away her money. Don't wait until she gets to the capital before her money is gone. Those people still have to rely on themselves, not on others.
"That's the best." He Xiyuan said, those people just like to find those who are soft-hearted.
Liu Yanjing watched He Xiyuan talking to Liu Yulian, and he wanted to go up.
Princess Zhaoyang stopped Liu Yanjing and said, "Don't go. There are so many people here."
With so many people around, there was no need for them to get too close and appear too conscientious. Liu Yulian and He Xiyuan were an engaged couple, so there was no need to stare too closely.
"That's my sister." Liu Yanjing muttered.
"She's also my sister." Princess Zhaoyang rolled her eyes.
"Yes." How could Liu Yanjing say no? He was married to Princess Zhaoyang, so his sister was Princess Zhaoyang's sister.
"Don't go over there." Princess Zhaoyang said, "Don't get in the way."
"..." Liu Yanjing stopped talking. How was he an eyesore?
They are taking a rest on the road now and will set off soon.
Liu Yanjing looked at He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian, and his heart still felt a little sour, as his sister was about to be taken away by the big bad wolf.
"Look at Jiajie," Princess Zhaoyang said, "she didn't make much of a fuss."
Little Liujia was too well-behaved. Princess Zhaoyang thought that the Liu family must have encountered many things when they came to the northwest, which was why little Liujia was so quiet.
Logically speaking, if Xiao Liujia wasn't noisy, they wouldn't have to coax her too much. However, Princess Zhaoyang still felt sorry for her stepdaughter, so she kept an eye on her.
The road back to the capital is still long, not that short.
"It's not so bad this time." Liu Yanjing said, "It was difficult when she came here. She was always feeling unwell."
If the child is not in good health and is sick, they still have to go to the doctor. Seeing a doctor requires money, which is also one of the reasons why those people said to divide the family.
"Are you scared?" Princess Zhaoyang said. Little Liujia might not remember so many things, but she already knew not to make trouble.
"I'm afraid so." Liu Yanjing said.
The mother and daughter on the roadside did not wait for Liu Yulian to take them in, and the other people in the Liu family did not take them in either.
There is no need for them to take in these people and let their own lives be affected.
The mother of the mother and daughter was still cursing at them, saying that the Liu family had no sympathy, that the rich didn't care about their lives at all, and other things.
He Xiyuan didn't say anything more, he just drew his sword.
The mother and daughter were a little scared. They didn't dare to say anything and could only leave. They could feel that He Xiyuan had killed someone before, so they didn't dare to stay any longer.
"That's it." He Xiyuan said.
"Okay." Liu Yulian chuckled, "It's time to leave soon."
"Maybe we'll meet again in the future." He Xiyuan said. Those people thought this was an opportunity, so they wanted to give it a try.
In the capital, Mrs. Huo has been behaving very well in recent days. She clearly dislikes her daughter and wants to see her more.
Whenever Lord Ouyang returned home, Mrs. Huo would talk about her youngest daughter.
"Do you want to let the eldest sister go home?" asked Mrs. Huo.
"No need." Lord Ouyang didn't think so. The Huo family was not a very good person.
When Mrs. Huo heard this, she knew that Lord Ouyang did not believe her.
When Mrs. Huo came, Mrs. Huo also mentioned this matter.
"I've bowed my head so much, but he still has no intention of taking them back." Mrs. Huo was dissatisfied.
"There's no need to bring them back. It will cause too much trouble." How could Mrs. Huo not know what her daughter was thinking? Her daughter just wanted the people from Jingning Marquis' Mansion to come back, and she didn't want them to look down on her.
"But……"
"Even if you bring them back now, there will still be all sorts of problems." Mrs. Huo thought it would be best for her daughter not to make such a fuss. "Even if you bring them back, people will still talk about you, and you may not be able to see them again in the future."
It’s not that Mrs. Huo looks down on her daughter, but that her daughter is just the wife of the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, not the wife of a marquis.
“…” Mrs. Huo looked at her biological mother.
Her father didn't want her to go back more often, but her mother wanted to visit her more often.
Mrs. Huo felt very aggrieved. Her life was so miserable.
Old Madam Ouyang knew about the recent changes in Mrs. Huo. Mrs. Huo was just pretending, and she could feel Mrs. Huo's disgust towards her.
When Mrs. Huo returned, the old lady met Lord Ouyang and said a few words to him.
"Your mother-in-law really cares about your wife and comes over from time to time." Old Madam Ouyang said, "You two can just live like this. Don't take your son and daughter over."
Old Madam Ouyang knew that Mrs. Huo wanted to take the two children back, and she couldn't let her do that. Mrs. Huo would never treat the two children well. Old Madam Ouyang had heard that the people from the Jingning Marquis' Mansion were going back to the capital.
How long can the Huo family pretend?
After the people from the Jingning Marquisate returned to the capital, the Liu family must have lived a good life. Then what would the Huo family think? Old Madam Ouyang had thought about it. Sooner or later, the Huo family would make trouble again.
Old Madam Ouyang heard that Liu Yanjing was very good to Mrs. Huo, and Mrs. Huo still said that sometimes, which made the old lady very unhappy.
"I didn't bring it back." Lord Ouyang is not a fool, he knows what to do.
No matter how long Da Huo pretends, Lord Ouyang will always be there for him. He is just a small official, how can he compare to the Bo Mansion?
"Well, don't listen to her words and take her back." Old Madam Ouyang said, "Don't wait until later to regret it. In some families, the children left behind by the original wife either died or became disabled."
Old Madam Ouyang deliberately told her son that since Mrs. Huo disrespected her and treated her badly, why should she be so nice to Mrs. Huo?
"Don't worry." Lord Ouyang did not arrange anyone to go there casually because he was afraid that someone would do something cruel to the two children, just to guard against the Huo family.
When Mrs. Huo returned to the Earl's Mansion, she saw Mr. Huo standing there with a cold face.
"Going to Ouyang's house again?" asked Uncle Huo.
"This...I just want to go see my daughter. She just gave birth and the child is weak." Mrs. Huo explained, "If you don't care about your granddaughter, I have to."
"Jia Jie'er, where is Yun Ge'er?" asked Uncle Huo.
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