Chapter Thirty: The Past

  Jiangniang lifted the mosquito net and listened to the faint crying sound carried by the wind.

  "Is someone crying?" The girl asked from behind, following her gaze.

  This courtyard is located at the northernmost part of the Cheng family's compound, slightly elevated, originally used for defense and surveillance, but in times of peace and prosperity, it was no longer needed.

  The two of them listened from their high vantage point and it seemed like the sound was coming from the east.

  "It's at Old Lady's place," said the maid.

  "Is it the old lady of the Cheng family?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "Yes, the old lady doesn't manage household affairs, she's devoted to Buddhism, how could anything go wrong?" The maid said while looking in that direction.

  Whatever happened, she didn't care about her business, and Chang Jiaoniang lowered her head and stepped forward.

  There's still one more lap today and it will be five laps in total.

  But she was wrong, and this matter really had something to do with her.

  Mrs. Cheng looked at her two daughters-in-law in front of her, both of whom were crying, and got a headache.

  "So you're saying that at first it wasn't your fault, but the boss still wants to punish you by making you go to the ancestral hall to reflect?" she asked, feeling a bit perplexed.

  Wasn't it just said that someone was cooking separately for others and now it's brought up again?

  No, no, it seems like someone said something about buying a fan earlier? Or was it a flower?

  What a mess!

  "Shut up, all of you!" Old Lady Cheng slapped her Buddhist beads heavily on the armrest and shouted.

  The two daughters-in-law covered their mouths and fell silent.

  "I understand," said Old Lady Cheng, her face calm but her spirit sharp. Her eyes swept over the two daughters-in-law, "You're harboring resentment because of that fool."

  Think carefully about it, and indeed it is so.

  Because of that fool's wife causing trouble, the Zhou family took advantage of the situation to make a fuss, and Erniang suffered grievances at that time, which made her dissatisfied with herself.

  Madam Cheng nodded.

  In fact, that thing wasn't the earliest. If it weren't for the stupid mother's dowry, the eldest sister of the family would never have mentioned it, and I wouldn't have felt so wronged when the Zhou family was making a fuss.

  But after all, it still has something to do with foolishness.

  Madam Cheng nodded and wiped away her tears.

  "What a shame! For this trivial matter, you people who are older than me combined come to me and make a fuss!" Old Lady Cheng said with a hum, "Elder daughter-in-law, you were wrong. Why didn't you take the initiative to admit your mistake at that time?"

  "Yes, my wife was wrong." said Madame Cheng, bowing her head.

  "Second Aunt, why did your uncle say you were wrong? He didn't know, but the Zhous didn't know either." Old Lady Cheng said, "At that time, can't you just figure out who's at fault among yourselves without making a scene in front of outsiders? You're being so wronged, it's really unjust!"

  "Yes, I was wrong." Madame Cheng II said, wiping away her tears and bowing her head.

  Mrs. Cheng let out a sigh and picked up her tea cup to take a sip.

  "That flower, Lao Er's wife has retired. This kind of flower is pleasing to people's hearts, regardless of whether it's expensive or cheap. If you're happy when you see it, then it's worth a thousand pieces of gold. If you're not happy when you see it, then it's not even worth a penny."

  Madam Cheng II responded accordingly.

  "Each household provides food and snacks, don't be too harsh, old lady. The desire for food is a normal human feeling, as long as it's not extravagant, don't be stingy with food." said Mrs. Cheng.

  Madam Cheng answered.

  "We brothers of the Cheng family have never been separated, and it's not a big deal for us men to be outside. However, you women will have a harder time, especially when there are conflicts between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Women are all narrow-minded and won't say anything even if they're unhappy, but instead keep it in their hearts until a small matter becomes an irreconcilable feud." Old Lady Cheng said with a solemn expression, "I know what you're thinking in your hearts right now, no need to say it out loud."

  She said this and her eyes swept over the two wives who were sitting with their heads bowed.

  "What you think in your heart, others will also know. It's just that if they don't know today, they'll find out eventually. There are no fools in this world, it's just a matter of who finds out sooner or later." she said.

  Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng nodded their heads in unison, bowing slightly as they replied "yes".

  Mrs. Cheng let out a sigh.

  "And besides, get that idiot out of here as soon as possible," she said.

  Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng both stared blankly for a moment before lifting their heads.

  "Mother, but if someone from the Zhou family asks..." said Madame Cheng.

  Mrs. Cheng snorted.

  "They won't ask," she said.

  "But just a few days ago, I made a fuss for that fool, otherwise, I and my brother's wife would not have any discord." said Mrs. Cheng.

  Madam Cheng bowed her head.

  "Do you think they're making a fuss for that fool?" Old Lady Cheng glared.

  What? Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng were puzzled, could it be that they were still making a fuss over that little servant girl?

  "They came over just to stir up trouble, but it so happened that they ran into that fool and handed him a knife. It was all done on purpose for the fool." said Old Lady Cheng.

  Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng exchanged a glance.

  "Why did he take that girl away? Isn't it just to praise this clever girl and make him happy?" said Mrs. Cheng, "You are still so foolish, if you really care about that fool, do you need to leave without even staying for one night? Have you ever asked about the food, clothing, and transportation of that fool?"

  Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng were shocked.

  "You're not confident, you've already lost three points," said Old Lady Cheng. "What's there to be unconfident about? That fool is surnamed Cheng! Not Zhou! Our family's children, do they need outsiders to point things out for them? If they really want to point things out, let them take it away!"

  Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng suddenly sat up straight.

  What's there to be afraid of? This is their family's child!

  "What a foolish thing to happen! Who told you to stay behind in the first place!" Old Lady Cheng grew angrier as she spoke, "You should have been sent to the nunnery from the very beginning!"

  Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng finally realized thoroughly.

  "That year, because of this fool, Old Master was disheartened and passed away, and Old Madam's heart is still filled with hatred." Madame Cheng said in a low voice.

  They have come out from Mrs. Cheng's place, and the two sisters-in-law apologized to each other, their relationship has returned to normal.

  Madam Cheng the Second supported Madam Cheng the Eldest as they walked slowly together.

  "So, Old Lady will absolutely not give in on this matter of fool." Madam Cheng nodded.

  "Then send her away?" asked Madame Cheng, "But if the people of the Zhou family find out and come to question..."

  "Just as the old lady said, they came to interrogate, not necessarily for that fool," said Mrs. Cheng, "In this life, what people are fussing about is nothing more than two things: face and... benefit."

  "Face or benefit?" asked Madame Cheng.

  "The fuss has already been made, and if it's going to be made again, it'll probably be for the sake of profit." Madame Cheng said with a smile, her ivory fan replaced by a bamboo one, which she used to pat Madame Cheng's hand. "For example, the dowry."

  Dowry?

  Madam Cheng was taken aback.

  A maidservant hastily came over and whispered a few words in Madame Chong's ear.

  "Servant girl!" The second wife of Cheng said through gritted teeth, clenching the fan in her hand, forcing a smile as she curtsied to the first wife of Cheng, "Elder sister, I have something to attend to, I'll take my leave first."

  She said and followed the servant woman away quickly.

  Madam Cheng was still somewhat distracted on the spot.

  "Dowry." She repeated, watching the figure of Mrs. Cheng II disappear into the distance, and finally realized thoroughly, "It turns out, it was for dowry!"

  She said with a bitter smile.

  "Half celery, half celery."

  A shout came from somewhere, and Madame Cheng was startled.

  She remembers this name very clearly.

  "Ban Jin?" she asked, "Isn't that the maid who left with the Zhou family?"

  "No, ma'am," a maid servant smiled and said, "It's the new little maid who was sent to wait on Young Mistress, and Young Mistress has given her the name of Ban Qin."

  Madam Cheng was at a loss for what expression to make.

  "What an idiot." she said.

  She lifted her foot and took a step forward, but had only gone a few steps when she heard the sound of crying and shouting coming from somewhere, the voice was very small and short, as if it was immediately suppressed by someone.

  "What's wrong?" asked Madame Cheng with a frown.

  Several maidservants hurried off and returned when Madame Cheng sat back down in her house.

  "The second lady wants to sell one of Second Master's maids." they whispered.

  What's going on? Madame Cheng came over and naturally understood what was happening in her heart. She waved her hand and stopped asking, reaching out to pinch her forehead.

  It was an unprecedented mess, and she felt extremely exhausted.

  It's either face or money with him, his heart is really shallow, how come I didn't see it before?

  It's really thanks to that fool's return after all.

  Who would have thought that such a fool could bring so much trouble?

  Like a drop of oil that falls onto a calm water surface, insoluble and unbreakable, stirring up the entire water surface.

  This fool can't stay at home anymore.

  Read novel. Please go to.