A long-awaited rain after a drought, a raging fire meeting dry tinder.
Since returning to Nanshan Village, Liu Fengjiao had not been touched by a man for several months. A feeling she had never experienced before made her feel blissful and unable to resist...
After the storm had passed, she nestled contentedly in Wang Qichang's arms, her hand teasing him gently.
"My love, I have nowhere to go now, and I will have to rely on you from now on."
"Alright, don't worry. As long as you behave, I'll give you two taels of silver every month to feed and care for you. To outsiders, you'll be my hired servant, but inside, you'll be my precious little darling." Wang Qichang teased, reaching out to give her a hard pinch on the chest.
"Don't worry, Wang Lang, I will never let Chen Zhancai get involved again. Everything will be left to you."
Liu Fengjiao spoke with heartfelt sincerity. She had already made up her mind: if Chen Zhancai passed the imperial examination and achieved the highest rank, she would return to be the wife of a successful candidate.
If he fails the exam, Chen Zhancai will be as lazy as a salted fish and won't be able to earn a single penny.
Given the Chen family's current situation, it's estimated that the whole family will have to beg for food this winter.
At least she had a place to stay with Wang Qizhang, and her son could study at the school. Why not?
Wang Qichang smiled slightly. "Alright, everything you have from now on is mine. Chen Zhancai, that selfish, heartless bastard, has such a good wife like you but instead married a prostitute at Chunfeng Tower and treats her like a precious gem. I really don't know how he passed the imperial examination."
"Him?" Liu Fengjiao looked at him with disdain and recounted how Chen Zhancai secretly studied and memorized Chen Han's articles, until he discovered in the exam that the questions were about valuing commerce and agriculture.
Wang Qizhang was overjoyed after hearing this, as he had initially been somewhat worried.
If Chen Zhancai were to pass the imperial examination and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations), he would become the official in Anyang County, Chen Zhancai's superior.
Giving an official a cuckold's horns is a serious matter. If someone finds out they've made him a cuckold, they'll be skinned alive, if not dead.
Now it seems he was overthinking things. Chen Zhancai was just a good-for-nothing with no substance, and not worth fearing at all.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel much better, and my artistic mood returned.
"My darling, I want it again."
Liu Fengjiao blushed slightly. Wang Qichang pinched her cheek, smiled gently, and leaned forward...
Sugar mill.
The raw materials delivered last time were originally intended to be used up by tomorrow, but everyone worked hard and finished the scheduled tasks well in advance.
The day to deliver the beetroot dumplings is in two days.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chen Zhanshan and Chen Zhanliang were preparing fodder for the donkey.
He placed handfuls of straw into the appropriate positions on the chaff cutter, while Chen Zhanliang pressed down on the cutter repeatedly.
Each chop cuts the straw into one-inch pieces, making it easier to feed the donkeys...
At this moment, Lin and her sister-in-law Sun returned from the City God Temple.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, Sun couldn't wait to tell the story of Chen Zhancai making a wish at the City God Temple.
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhanliang chuckled and said to Chen Zhanshan,
"Big brother, that third brother is a real scoundrel. He has no ambition whatsoever and only knows how to daydream. I think if our parents follow him, they'll starve sooner or later."
Chen Zhanshan remained expressionless and smiled faintly, "Zhanliang, their family's affairs are beyond our control. You should know what kind of people their parents are. They have to work hard for themselves, they can't blame anyone else. Even if they starve, they deserve it."
Chen Zhanliang nodded in agreement, "Brother, you're right. This is like lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot; one reaps what one sows."
Hearing them say this, Madam Sun shook her head and sighed, "Don't speak too soon. Everyone with eyes can see what's going on with the old house. Only Father and Mother are still blinded by the promises made by the third son. We must think this through carefully. If that day really comes, are we really going to have to beg for food?"
Lin chimed in, "What else can we do if we don't beg for food? Do you expect us to support us? I don't care!"
"Alright, let's not worry unnecessarily. Maybe the third son can pass the imperial examination and become a scholar. Besides, his parents love him the most. If he really doesn't care, I think his conscience won't allow it." Chen Zhanshan finished speaking and sighed silently.
Chen Zhanliang said, "What my brother said makes sense. If he dares to ignore it, I'll break his legs."
"Zhanliang, don't do anything rashly. Hitting a scholar is a crime. If you go to jail, how will our family survive?" Madam Sun hurriedly reminded him.
Before Chen Zhanliang could speak, Chen Zhanshan said, "Alright, second wife, Zhanliang was just saying that in anger. He wouldn't be so reckless. Let's talk about it later!"
“That’s right. Anyway, we’ve cut ties with the old house. Even if you two take care of it from now on, you’ll have to teach them a lesson and make them suffer. Otherwise, with your heartless in-laws, you won’t get any credit for taking care of them.”
Lin deliberately brought up severing ties, implying that she was distancing herself from the eldest son's family. It wasn't that she was heartless, but rather that she was deeply disheartened. She couldn't sell her daughter, so she tried to sell his son, and even wanted her husband to become a eunuch. How could she possibly forgive that wicked old woman?
The Chen Zhanliang couple knew perfectly well what was going on, but these words were also true, and it seemed that their second wife would have no shortage of trouble in the future.
Sun couldn't help but admonish Chen Zhanliang, "Zhanliang, remember this: if that day ever comes, think of Erbao who was almost sold, and you must not be soft-hearted."
"I've got it." Chen Zhanliang nodded in agreement, then looked at Chen Zhanshan, "Brother, we've chopped enough fodder. Cuiqin and I will head back now. You two should get some rest too."
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