Old Mrs. Chen still feels lingering fear when she recalls the last time she went to her eldest son's house and accidentally ate rat poison, which almost killed her.
If we were to tell the eldest son and his wife about Qingya's accident at this time, and they were so anxious that they blamed everything on us and started acting like bastards and trying to kill her, these old bones of ours couldn't take the strain.
She coveted the sugar shop business and the mansion, wishing she could get her hands on them immediately.
However, just to be on the safe side, Old Mrs. Chen patiently advised, "Zhancai, in my opinion, there's no rush. We can go over after Qingya dies."
"How can that be? Don't forget, that little brat is incredibly cunning. If she's released without charge, she won't have such a good opportunity again." Chen Zhancai was so anxious that he started pulling at his hair.
Grandma Chen remained unmoved; she had no desire to cause trouble, and it would be much better to have Qing ready-made.
She smiled, pursing her lips. "A life for a life, a debt for a debt. That brat can't possibly come out alive. Just listen to your mother. Once she's dead, I'll have plenty of ways to get the severance papers and the division of the family property. That vast fortune will be ours sooner or later. There's no need to rush."
"Mother, how foolish you are! Qing'er is as cunning as a ghost. If she manages to clear her name, it will be too late."
"This is a rare opportunity. While Qing'er is away, let's find a way to destroy the severance agreement. Even if she comes back, we're not afraid."
Old Mrs. Chen felt that Chen Zhancai's words made sense. She frowned and asked, "Son, do you mean that there's still a chance that that brat will come back?"
Chen Zhancai stamped his foot in frustration, and said in a coquettish tone, "Mother, it's better to be safe than sorry. If that happens, we won't get anything at all."
"Yes, yes, my son is right, let's go quickly." Old Mrs. Chen was persuaded and quickly got up to call out to Old Mr. Chen, who was still burying his head in his hands, "Stop burying your head in your hands and get moving!"
Old Man Chen had just felt that Chen Zhancai's sudden attempt to curry favor was a bit odd.
Now he understood that this despicable bastard was plotting against the eldest son's family.
What terrible sins did he commit? What immoral behavior did he lack to give birth to such a subhuman creature?
Instead of offering words of comfort, they actually tried to take advantage of the situation and seize his property; they are worse than animals.
What's even more infuriating is that this old hag also went along to cause trouble, not afraid of outsiders gossiping about her behind her back.
Thinking of this, Old Man Chen mustered his courage and advised, "Old woman, Zhan Shan and the others don't know anything yet. If we rush over like this, and they get sick from worry, wouldn't that be adding fuel to the fire?"
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen immediately glared at him, "What do you know! It's better to make them anxious to death, saving us the trouble of arguing!"
Old Chen shook his head and sighed, "The young ones are ignorant, and the old ones are just as ignorant."
If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too; if the middle beam is crooked, the whole structure will collapse. This is all due to the root!
He shook his head helplessly, looking completely unwilling.
“I won’t go. Zhanshan is my flesh and blood. Even a tiger won’t eat its cubs. I can’t do something so unscrupulous for money.”
You can't go either. I used to do everything you asked, and now you've ruined our perfectly good family like this.
Now that Zhanshan has finally managed to get by, I can't just stand by and watch you two ruin the eldest son's family.
Hearing Old Man Chen's words, Old Woman Chen flew into a rage, "You old hag, who's been harming them? Everything I've done was for your Chen family to have a better life!"
Who knew Zhancai would be so unlucky, failing even the lowest level of the imperial examinations? Can you blame me for that?
Chen Zhancai's face immediately darkened.
"Mother, you really know how to bring up the most awkward topics. Taking the imperial examination, taking the imperial examination, do you think I don't want to pass?"
I have studied diligently for so many years, but who knows how much hardship and suffering I have endured?
Now you're trying to pin all the blame on me. Who am I supposed to blame?
Others go to take the imperial examinations with hundreds or even thousands of taels of silver in their pockets, but you only give me a measly fifty taels as travel expenses.
"If you could just give me a few hundred more taels of silver, I'd also bribe the examiner. With my talent, how could I possibly fail to pass the imperial examination?"
Seeing her son's long face, Old Mrs. Chen realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly put on a smiling face.
"Son, don't be angry. That's not what I meant. It's all your father's fault for always provoking me, which made me say what was on my mind."
"Alright, you don't need to explain. What's past is past. Just don't bring it up again." Chen Zhancai's voice was icy as he looked at Old Man Chen. "Dad, are you really not going?"
Old Chen's face darkened, and he was unusually firm in his words and actions. He waved his hand without hesitation and refused, "I won't go. I'd rather starve to death than do such a despicable thing."
"Well, look at you, so capable! You don't even listen to me anymore. I'm really giving you a hard time." Old Mrs. Chen picked up the fire poker by the door, gritted her teeth, glared at Old Mr. Chen, and said, "Say it again, are you going or not?"
"I'm not going, that's it. Go ahead and kill me if you dare." Old Chen said stubbornly, looking like he was ready to risk everything.
Seeing his unusual behavior today, Old Mrs. Chen knew she couldn't be forceful anymore, so she softened her tone, "Old man, be good. When you come back in a little while, I'll buy you a big sesame seed cake, with sesame seeds on both sides."
Old Chen swallowed hard, his mouth watering. "I won't eat it, I'm afraid I'll choke!"
Grandma Chen knew that Grandpa Chen was starving, so she continued to tempt him with food, "How about I fry some eggs for you?"
"Even if you offer me a royal feast, I won't eat it. I'd rather starve to death than do anything immoral with you."
Old Chen felt immense remorse as he recalled his past actions.
If he hadn't allowed his wife to sell their granddaughter, the eldest and second sons wouldn't have been so heartless.
The fact that we've ended up like this is entirely our own fault; we deserve to be eating coarse food and wild vegetables!
He was wrong, but he couldn't continue down that path. He would never again make things difficult for the eldest and second sons' families.
Even if it means starving to death, I won't do such a despicable thing.
Old Mrs. Chen gritted her teeth in anger and pointed at Old Mr. Chen, "You old hag who's never satisfied! If you don't go today, don't come begging to me like a fool once I've got the eldest son under my thumb. I'll make sure you're eating rice bran while I eat meat every meal, making you drool!"
"Eat whatever you want, I don't care."
"Fine, you've got guts." Old Mrs. Chen didn't want to argue with him anymore, so she waved her hand at Chen Zhancai, "Come on, Zhancai, let's ignore this old man."
With that, the two left their house and headed towards the sugar shop...
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