"Brother-in-law, my sister-in-law...she's really gone too far. Even I can't stand it anymore. I didn't want to tell you..."
Along the way, Ma Qiumei did a lot of "eye drops" for Liu Yingying, deliberately making her words hesitant and unspoken.
This immediately piqued Zhu Jianqiang's curiosity, and he glanced at her.
What are you trying to say?
Ma Qiumei: "Brother-in-law, don't get upset if I tell you something, okay?"
Zhu Jianqiang's forehead veins throbbed, and he immediately had a bad feeling.
"explain!"
"My sister-in-law is unfaithful. The reason she doesn't respect you is because she's already found a powerful backer!"
"Before, she always had that Xue Ye by her side, the two were practically inseparable. Later, she got entangled with the former county magistrate, Lord Shen... Lord Shen even personally came to the village to intervene on her behalf..."
Ma Qiumei exaggerated the situation and instilled in Zhu Jianqiang the idea that he had been cheated on.
A man can choose not to love or care about a woman.
But he absolutely cannot tolerate this woman having an ambiguous relationship with other men!
In fact, Zhu Jianqiang had already sent someone to investigate after he learned that Liu Yingying had gone to the capital.
How could a country woman have made it to the capital without encountering a few influential people?
At the time, Zhu Jianqiang simply thought she was lucky to be alive.
But he never imagined that Liu Yingying would dare to betray him!
After seeing Liu Yingying's cold attitude towards him today, and hearing Ma Qiumei say this, Zhu Jianqiang was already seven or eight parts convinced!
Hmph, does Lady Liu think that by attaching herself to Shen Shangxu, she can stand up to me?
Zhu Jianqiang first went back to the ancestral home with Zhu Youcai and his wife.
Having witnessed the luxurious life in the Marquis's mansion, how could he possibly tolerate such a terrible environment in the countryside!
Mr. and Mrs. Zhu kindly brought out a small stool for him to sit on.
Zhu Jianqiang, however, felt extremely uneasy.
Even though he has been sitting on this kind of rural-style bench for decades, he feels uncomfortable even if he sits on it for a minute longer!
The dilapidated houses, the messy courtyard, and the broken furniture made it uncomfortable to look at!
He would never have come back if it weren't for dealing with the Liu family's affairs!
Zhu Youcai: "Jiang Jian, I've already talked to your third uncle and the others. We'll take advantage of your return to repair our Zhu family ancestral hall."
The Zhu family hadn't produced a scholar for several generations; Zhu Jianqiang was the first.
Now that he has become a high-ranking official, his first priority is naturally to repair his ancestral graves and ancestral hall.
“These are all things that should be done, Father, you can handle it as you see fit.” Zhu Jianqiang paused after saying this, then corrected himself.
"And my parents, didn't I already tell you in my letter?"
"I've changed my name. My surname is now Zhu, my given name is Shen, and my courtesy name is Ziqian. Please don't call me by my old name anymore!"
He had been called Zhu Jianqiang for thirty years, but he never thought much of it before.
But after arriving in the capital, I realized how disreputable such a name was!
Zhu Youcai objected, "A dog doesn't mind a poor home. Your grandfather gave you this name, how can you complain about it?"
"The title 'Ziqian' was bestowed upon me personally by Empress Yong'an. Does Father expect his son to disobey the Marquis's wishes?"
Marquis Yong'an was Lin Jiaorui's father, and Lin was his second wife.
Zhu Youcai naturally understood the implications of this situation. Although he was still dissatisfied, he just pursed his lips and said nothing more.
Zhu Ziqian sat in the old house for a while. Seeing that his parents were living in hardship, he ordered someone to take out fifty taels of silver and give it to the two elders. Then he took his three children back to his own home.
Ma Qiumei quickly gave Zhu Erqiang a wink, "Erqiang, your older brother just got back, go see him off!"
Not to be outdone, Lü Sufeng quickly urged her husband to follow as well.
As soon as Zhu Ziqian approached the old house, his eyes were stunned by a two-story, bright red building that had sprung up in front of him!
"Whose house is that...?"
Although the building is small in size, its exterior is extremely exquisite and beautiful.
Its existence seems completely out of place in this impoverished and backward little village!
Ma Qiumei: "I forgot to tell you, brother-in-law, that's your sister-in-law's new house. Don't be fooled by its exquisite exterior; the inside is even more opulent. I have no idea where she got the money..."
This was another deliberate attempt to provoke Zhu Ziqian's imagination...
Where else could this money have come from?
It was obtained through improper means!
"snort!"
Zhu Ziqian snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and walked into his old house.
The three children glanced at the new house twice, but finally lowered their heads and followed their father inside…
Upon entering and seeing the scene inside, Zhu Ziqian was slightly taken aback.
"Is this...is this still his old home?"
Although Liu Yingying moved to a new house, she cleaned up the old house thoroughly before moving.
The leaky roof and the beams that were damaged by insects were all replaced.
Although the old house is still bare, it is still much more pleasing to the eye than when Zhu Ziqian lived there.
"Yingying, I told you long ago, you should have had that old house restored to its original dilapidated state. It's such a waste that Zhu guy got off easy!"
While eating sunflower seeds, Zou Xiuzhi felt indignant on Liu Yingying's behalf.
Liu Yingying smiled and shook her head, "Wouldn't that mean I'd still have to spend money on him?"
He doesn't deserve it!
Zou Xiuzhi thought about it and agreed.
Shi Sanmei held back for a long time, but finally couldn't help but speak up, "Yingying, I really feel sorry for you. Everyone has seen how good you are to those three children. Even Cuicui always tells me that she envies Zhaodi for having such a good stepmother like you."
"But what's the use of being good to them? As soon as their father comes back, they still rush over there eagerly!"
Liu Yingying smiled without saying a word; she really didn't care about that.
With a hardened heart, Shi Sanmei continued, "Yingying, you're a good person. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be living such a good life today. Don't worry, if those three kids turn out to be ungrateful, I'll have Cuicui and her brother take care of you in your old age and see you off when you die!"
"Pfft!" Liu Yingying almost spat out the tea she had just drunk, and looked at Shi Sanmei somewhat embarrassed.
"Well, actually I think it's a bit too early to be thinking about funeral arrangements now."
"However, there is something I need to discuss with Master Ye from the county. We want to set up a workshop in Baotian Town to refine alum. Do you have any recommendations?"
Everyone's eyes lit up immediately!
Following Liu Yingying really does bring benefits; not only do they benefit, but their relatives and friends also get to enjoy the benefits!
Late at night, Zhu Ziqian sat alone by the window.
The room was completely empty except for a bed and a chair.
He really wasn't used to living there, but he didn't want to suggest going to a guesthouse in town.
That would make those old fogies in the clan gossip behind his back, saying he's forgotten his ancestors!
It's all Liu's fault!
She lives in a luxurious and clean house, yet she refuses to let me live with her!
Was she deliberately trying to embarrass herself?
But he is her husband, how dare she do this?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
