Leaving aside the chaotic scene of Grandma Xiao and Xiao Yan washing up, Widow Liu was in the kitchen cooking bird's nest while plotting how to get Grandpa Xiao to give her a guarantee.
Now that Xiao Yi has become a general outside and has caught the eye of some princess, the Xiao family's wealth and honor are inevitable. If I can't get a share of this immense wealth, wouldn't all her efforts have been in vain?
She couldn't count on Xiao Yi and Xiao Yuanhang, so she could only try to win over Old Man Xiao as soon as possible. Although she was somewhat unwilling, she was willing to accept the prospect of a life of wealth and honor in her later years!
Widow Liu made up her mind. Seeing that no one was outside, she first ladled out half a bowl of bird's nest and drank it. Actually, it wasn't very delicious, but perhaps because it was expensive and something only wealthy women could afford, Widow Liu found it exceptionally sweet. After drinking half a bowl, she felt as if she had become younger, and she became even more determined to rise in status!
After finishing her own drink, she added some water and served four bowls to Old Mrs. Xiao and the others. Xiao Yan and Xie Yujiao had already finished cleaning and returned. The fabrics in the room had also been packed up and taken outside. Widow Liu humbly served them the four bowls of bird's nest soup.
The bird's nest served in two large, dark bowls gave it a look reminiscent of brewing coffee with a large ladle—neither Western nor traditional—but that didn't stop Grandma Xiao and the others from enjoying it.
The mother and her children, holding wooden spoons and delicately sipping bird's nest soup with their fingers curled into orchids, said one of them was sweeter than sugar water, and another said it was even tastier than steamed egg custard.
After finishing his meal, he pushed the bowl towards Liu and gave her some instructions.
"After washing the dishes, I washed the cloth in the box in the yard. I don't know which stray cat pooped in it!"
Widow Liu felt a bit disgusted upon hearing this, but she still agreed, thinking that she would find time to coax Old Man Xiao and give him a piece of cloth as well.
After drinking the bird's nest soup, Xiao Yan and Xie Yujiao started thinking about the one hundred taels of silver again. Xiao Yan spoke first.
“Mother, I am now marrying into a wealthy family. My second brother couldn’t marry into the princess’s family, and we were poor, so I gave you half of my dowry. Now that the princess has given me a hundred taels of silver, I should at least get half of it. Don’t let my in-laws look down on me!”
Xie Yujiao was not to be outdone.
"Mother, there are many places in my family where Yuanhang needs money for his studies!"
"And I'm carrying your precious grandson in my belly! You see, ever since I got pregnant, our family's life has improved dramatically. It's clear this child in my belly is a lucky star, bringing prosperity to our family. I'm thinking of getting a longevity lock for the child, to lock in this good fortune!"
Xie Yujiao was just making things up to get some money, but she didn't expect that Old Man Xiao and Old Mrs. Xiao would actually believe her!
That's right! Come to think of it, her grandson is a lucky star. As soon as he arrived, his second uncle became a general, and the princess also came. Wouldn't that bring good fortune to his father, who would pass the imperial examination and become a top scholar? Then there would be a princess in the capital, and the second son would become a general. Wouldn't that help the fourth son get a high-ranking official position?
He hadn't originally planned to give it to Xie Yujiao, but then readily agreed to make a longevity lock for Xie Yujiao's son later.
I don't know where she got the confidence that Xie Yujiao's baby was a boy or a lucky star!
Having received the promise, Xie Yujiao was quite pleased with herself and was already thinking about how she would outdo Xie Yushu when they got back tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the guards sent by Chu Mingzhu were also hiding in the grove outside Xie Family Village, waiting for nightfall.
Meanwhile, Xie Yushu was comforting Chu Jinyu, who was crying uncontrollably.
As Chu Jinyu followed Huya to Xie Yushu's house, as soon as she saw Xie Yushu, she pounced on her like a little red-eyed rabbit, hugging her leg and bursting into tears.
"Waaaaah, Mom, you don't want me anymore, I miss you so much!"
"My father is wicked. He just dumped me in a big courtyard and left. There's an aunt in that courtyard who's mean to me every day. Waaah! Mom, look, she's hitting my hands and whipping me with a stick! And she won't let me see you!"
While complaining, Chu Jinyu, who was crying her eyes out, rolled up her sleeves to show Xie Yushu what she was doing.
Although more than ten days had passed, Chu Jinyu still had some faint bruises on his body, and his palms were covered with welts. Xie Yushu looked at the thin, bony figure, her eyes reddening with heartache, and angrily scolded him.
"What on earth is that bastard Xiao Yi doing?!"
Although she already knew about the events in the capital from Han Zhongyu, and that Chu Jinyu had been sent back to Chu Mingzhu and even become the Marquis of Anle, she never expected that this madwoman, Chu Mingzhu, would treat her own nephew like this…
She wanted to say "ruthless," but considering that Chu Jinyu was still young and Chu Mingzhu was his aunt, she didn't say it!
She didn't want to instill hatred and negative ideas in Chu Jinyu at such a young age.
So after comforting Xiao Jinyu for a while and seeing that he gradually stopped crying, she said...
"Alright, you're a man, don't cry."
Let me tell you, your father entrusted you to your aunt because he hoped you would return to your family. His intention was for your own good, but he was just too stupid and didn't know that your aunt couldn't take care of children!
As for your aunt, perhaps she placed all her hopes on you in an effort to revive the Chu family, and her methods were too extreme.
That's wrong. It's good that she has the intention, but she should work hard herself and not impose the responsibility on you. You're still young, so let's not talk about these things now. When you grow up and have the ability, you can decide for yourself how you want to walk the path of your life, okay?
"Okay, I'll listen to you, Mother. I don't want to leave you!"
"Alright, if you want to stay with your mother, then stay here."
Chu Jinyu herself didn't take the title of Marquis Anle seriously, and neither did Xie Yushu. The mother and daughter acted as usual.
Chu Jinyu thought for a moment, still feeling wronged, and spoke again.
"Mom, Auntie said you're not my mom. I hate Auntie, and I hate both my eldest and youngest aunts. My eldest aunt even took our house!"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
