Chapter 19: Chapter 19 - Personal Money

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Sigh, yes, yes, yes. Everyone, take a step back. If the family lives in harmony, all affairs will prosper. I’ll definitely make more food for Little Hua later and let her recuperate.”

‘When she heard that there was no need to pay compensation, Madam Li Zhou was overjoyed. Then she said something nice. Mother Zhang smiled and agreed. The two families had finally reconciled.

It was noon. Mother Zhang and Zhang Guihua even had a meal at the Li residence before they returned happily. Zhang Meihua sent them off.

“Mom, should we just let this matter go? Your daughter’s head was hit for nothing?”

Zhang Meihua tugged at her mother’s hand and complained, feeling extremely wronged.

“Sister, it’s not that we don’t want to settle scores with the Li family. You heard it just now. Her husband is going to take the imperial examination in a few months. If he hits the jackpot, he will become a county-level official. We won’t have to become enemies with him, right?”

“That’s right, daughter. If he becomes an official, we will have a backer. When the time comes, we can also hold our heads high and get some benefits…”

“Tch, who knows if he can pass the examination? Is it that easy to become a county official? There weren’t many from our villages who took the examination in more than a decade. Even if they take the examination, how many will pass? That little b*tch is just bluffing!”

“Alright, let’s wait and see. If he doesn’t pass later, we can settle the scores again!”

“That’s right, younger sister. Bear with it a little longer…”

“Bear with what? How long have I been bearing with it? Besides, if he passes in the future, I’ll have to put up with their smug faces. I… The more I think about it, the more uncomfortable it is for me.”

Madam Zhang was depressed to death, but Longyue was feeling very happy.

Li Qingmu was helping Longyue comb her hair that had been messed up by the wind along the way. He said gently, “My wife’s words were incisive. I saw it today. To have such a thoughtful wife as my companion for life, I have no more regrets.”

Longyue smiled faintly and said nothing.

“Meihua’s family is arrogant. Now they’ve stopped, only because they think that I’m going to take the imperial examination soon. If I pass, it will be beneficial to them. But the more this is the case, the more uneasy I am.”

‘As Li Qingmu spoke, his eyes darkened slightly. Such a family was most unacceptable. They would add unnecessary trouble and even ruin things.

His little wife’s plan was not wrong. They could not have in-laws like the Zhang family!

In the next few days, Madam Zhang did not cause any more trouble. Madam Li Zhou cared about her reputation and had previously said that she wanted to treat her well. So these past few days, she cooked an egg for her every day.

Longyue seized the opportunity to do her embroidery work.

“Longyue, the young lady from the Chai family is here.”

Ah Qiu called out from outside. When she turned around, a petite figure appeared at the door. Chai Qiao’er obediently bowed to Longyue and stated her purpose for coming.

“I thought you weren’t coming. Come, come in quickly.”

Longyue welcomed her warmly. Qiao’er held a small basket filled with fabric and threads.

She took an embroidered handkerchief and showed it to Longyue, who nodded. “The workmanship is not bad. It’s very exquisite, but the embroidery technique is a little basic. What a coincidence, I know many embroidery techniques. Just learn well from me.”

“Yes, thank you, Third Auntie!”

Chai Qiao’er was impressed with Longyue’s magnanimity. She had been worried that she would not be taught well, but now that she thought about it, she felt a little ashamed.

Naturally, the matter of Longyue teaching Chai Qiao’er embroidery could not be hidden from the neighboring household and Madam Li Zhou. Madam Wang came to the door and looked around before going into Madam Li Zhou’s room.

“Mom, do you know that a little girl came to our house?”

In the room, Madam Li Zhou was sewing clothes. The weather would turn cold in a few months, and they would need these winter clothes to make up for worn out ones.

‘When she heard her eldest daughter-in-law’s question, she nodded and said, “I saw her. She’s the younger sister of the hunter, Chai Tieniu. He was the one who delivered the snake meat last time. Looks like we have become friends. Why?”

“Mom, Longyue is teaching her embroidery work!” Madam Wang muttered softly. “Look at those who know how to do embroidery work. They all know how to make some embroidery and sell them at the county city’s embroidery workshop for money. Look, didn’t she just come back wearing a new set of

clothes yesterday? How could she have the money to buy clothes? This was definitely money earned from doing embroidery!”

‘When Madam Li Zhou heard this, her eyelids twitched and she almost pricked her finger with the needle in her hand. She said dejectedly, “That Longyue used to be a well-bred young lady. Isn’t it normal for her to know how to embroider?”

“That’s right, but mom, don’t we all hand over the money we earn to you? Now she’s hiding her personal money!”

She could only buy clothes by stashing away money for herself. Li Zhou looked at the old winter coat in her hands and felt upset.

She thought, “Why is this daughter-in-law so insensible? She doesn’t even know how to hand over the money to an elder when she makes money. How can she compare to my son, Ah Qiu, who is so obedient? Sigh!”

Madam Li Zhou sighed inwardly. She wanted to ask Longyue for the money, but she was afraid of her. Then she looked at Madam Wang, who was staring at her with a hopeful expression. She felt that as her mother-in-law, she shouldn’t lose face. She said, “I’ll ask her later.”

“Sigh!”

At dinner, Longyue noticed that her sister-in-law and mother-in-law were staring at her. She knew that they were probably wondering about her new set of clothes.

‘There were so many things that happened yesterday that they did not notice the clothes. Now that they were free, they were looking for trouble again.

“Human nature!” Longyue thought.

Longyue sneered inwardly and put down her chopsticks. “Dad, Mom, I’m done eating.” With that, she stood up and left.

Seeing that the mood was not right, Madam Wang said hastily, “Hey, Longyue, your new clothes look really nice!”

‘With the Wang family taking the lead, Madam Li Zhou quickly added, “That’s right. Look at this color. It’s so proper. This outfit costs quite a bit, right?”

How could Longyue not know that they were targeting her personal stash of money? She smiled and said, “It doesn’t cost that much. Two days ago, I made some embroidery and sold them in the county city. After making some money, I bought two new sets of clothes. Do Mom and Sister-in-law like

them? If you want, I can get two more sets when I go to the county city.”

“Uh…”

Madam Li Zhou and Madam Wang were stumped. “Is the third branch crazy today? She’s actually talking about getting new clothes for us?” they thought.

“Well… are you serious?”

“Yes, really!”

Madam Wang was delighted and beamed with joy. She said, “I want to wear light red clothes!”

“Cough, cough…”

Madam Li Zhou felt that her eldest daughter-in-law was too… so she coughed. Only then did Madam Wang realize that she had made a fool of herself. She stopped smiling and said, “Well, we’ll let Mom speak!”

Madam Li Zhou was torn between wanting to ask Longyue for money or clothes. In the end, she thought that she definitely wouldn’t give her money, so she asked for clothes.

Li Qingmu sat by the side and ate his food silently. He knew that his little wife was planning her next move—to seize power!

If she wanted to have the authority to manage the Li household, she had to give the Li family some benefits first. For example… new clothes.

To be honest, he could not stand the way some of the people in the family did things.. Since his little wife wanted to cause trouble, he would let her!