Hu Weiming found an eloquent caretaker to try and persuade Lin Xianâer. If she married, sheâd be the second lady of the main family, sheâd have servants at her beck and call, and wouldnât have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of her life. Even when Hu Weiming passed away, they could get one-third of the family property. The second young master canât manage it, so itâll all be hers in all but name.
Lin Xianâer had lost her husband when she was young and became a prostitute. Later, she became Mo Zenianâs, but life still wasnât easy. She dreamed of living rich. She heard from Mo Zenian the Hu family had three commercial firms in Yi City only, not to mention their businesses in other locations. If she became the owner of a commercial firm, then she would really have no worries for the rest of her life.
She looked at the idiot next to her. He looked really disgusting, at least he was younger than her previous customers.
Mo Zenian was a bastard who was even willing to sell his own daughter, and wasnât someone she could trust the rest of her life to. She was slightly reluctant to let go of her child, he was also Mo Zenianâs son. He had always liked him very much, and said he was smarter than his eldest son, so he definitely wouldnât mistreat her son.
Besides, she and Mo Zenian had just been living together, and she wasnât even his concubine. They could separate without even needing divorce documents.
After thinking it over, she agreed to stay in the Hu residence and marry the fool. The Hu family held a proper wedding, even having lucky red talismans on the gate, and a wedding orchestra was even brought in.
Mo Zenian staggered away with the child in his arms. Mo Yan said, âLu Junming, letâs go!â
âAlright!â
The two of them got on Lu Junmingâs horse. They didnât have to rush this time, so rode slowly and arrived at noon. As soon as she entered, she saw Mo Ling sitting in the kitchen and lighting a fire, with Zhong Cheng watching over her.
Ms. Liang pulled Mo Yan over to ask about her sister, and she told her about what happened last night. Ms. Liang was livid when she heard it. Finally, when she heard that Mo Zenianâs mistress had married the fool, she even said, âThatâs what he deserves.â
âWho of you rascals thought of this idea?â
Lu Junming said, âMo Yan did.â
âMother, I just wanted to help you vent your anger. Now he has no woman and no job, do you feel better?â
âYes, you did well. Iâll make some good food for you.â
Ms. Liang went into the kitchen to prepare lunch. Mo Yan and Lu Junming stood in the yard, thinking on their own.
Mo Yan was thinking about what would happen to Mo Zenian and his child, and if they would return to the village. Turning around, she saw Lu Junming laughing to himself, âWhat are you laughing for?â
âI was just thinking about last nightâ¦â
Mu Yan pinched his arm again, but this time pinched a larger area so it didnât hurt as much, âDirty-minded!â
After being scolded, Lu Junming not only didnât get angry, but continued to laugh to himself. Mo Yan punched him hard on the arm.
In the kitchen, Ms. Liang was scolding Mo Zenian again, âMo Zenian, you were even willing to sacrifice your own daughter? If you were hurt, Iâd fight him to the death!â
Zhong Cheng said, âAuntie, itâs all over and done with, donât mention it anymore. I want to marry Lingâer as soon as possible, what do you think?â
Ms. Liang fully agreed, but Mo Ling objected, âWhy are you in such a hurry? Youâll make others think something actually happened to me and weâre hurriedly covering it up!â
âItâs our marriage, why should we listen to other peopleâs nonsense?â
âAround here, marriage proposals have always been made in the first month of the year, and they get married at the end of the year. Letâs wait until then!â
Zhong Cheng looked at Ms. Liang, and she said helplessly, âThen, letâs wait for now!â
After eating lunch, he went back home. Mo Yan asked Mo Ling why she didnât want to marry Zhong Cheng, and she replied, âDidnât I agree? Weâre getting married at the end of the year.â
She always said she wanted to leave this place, but she hesitated at the final step.
In the evening, Mo Ling went out to fetch water, and the neighbour Mrs. Liu had gone out to fetch firewood at the same time. Mo Ling ignored her, but the woman had the gall to accost her, âI heard you were going to marry and go to Yi City ?â
Mo Ling didnât even look at her, âWhen did you hear that? When you were eavesdropping? It seems like your hearing is failing, because Iâm marrying to Xiahe Village.â
Since Zhong Cheng often entered and exited the Mo family, she was probably used to seeing him, but never expected him to propose marriage.
After entering her house, Mrs. Liu said to herself, âThat Zhong Cheng mustâve been bewitched. Her parents are divorced, and Mo Ling has ruined her reputation, but heâs still devoted to her.â
When Dagan had just come back from outside, when he heard his mother talking to herself. He replied, âThatâs because Lingâer is a good woman, sheâs worth it!â
âWhatâs so good about her? Sheâs as stubborn as a bull.â
âIf she wasnât good, why would you want me to be close to her before? Youâre saying the grapes are sour because you canât eat them.â
âI just wanted a bargain! If our family was rich, why would we want her? Iâd be ashamed!â
Dagan turned around and entered the house, slamming the door forcefully.
Mo Ling habitually carried the first load of water to the backyard before remembering she no longer had to do that. She was about to turn back when she saw her second grandma coming out of the house with a clay pot, to fetch water from the well.
âSecond grandma, you donât need to carry water, hereâs the water for you.â
Not allowing her to object, Mo Ling took the bucket into her room to refill her water reservoir.
The old woman in the north room heard them, came out of the house and stood at the door. Seeing Mo Ling pick up the empty bucket to leave, she opened her mouth a few times but didnât make a sound.
The three children in the front yard had grown up so much, she hadnât called them properly before. sShe just spoke to them directly without being nice in the slightest.
Mo Ling hasnât fetched water for her in three days. Her water reservoir had bottomed out, and she didnât dare wash her face in the morning. She wanted to save the water for washing her hands a few more times.
Not long after Mo Ling went back, Mo Zenian entered with Mo Zheng in her arms. When the old woman saw him, it was like seeing her saviour, âYouâre back, go and help me carry water. My water tank has bottomed out, and I canât even cook anything.â
Mu Zenian put Mo Zheng down, and said tiredly, âMother, Iâve spent half a day coming here and Iâm exhausted, can you let me rest?â
After that, he dragged Mo Zheng into the house.
The old woman looked at Mo Zheng and asked, âWhose child is this?â
Mo Zenian replied sullenly, âMy son, your grandson, Mo Zheng.â
After entering the house, Mo Zheng said timidly, âFather, Iâm hungry, I want to eat a bun.â
Mu Zenian rummaged through the basket hanging on the rafters. There were only two loaves of bread in it, so he gave half of one to Mo Zheng, âI donât have any buns right now, eat this first.â Then, he said to the old woman, âHurry up and cook! The child is hungry!â
Mo Zenian went into the back room and laid down on the kang, while Mo Zheng sat on a chair in the main room and ate the bread.
The old woman couldnât react and said while her hands shook, âThis, this isâ¦â
She lifted the lid of her wok and wanted to cook, but there was no water in the water reservoir, and there was even a layer of sediment at its bottom. She sighed, and walked towards Mo Yanâs second grandmaâs room with a bucket in hand.
Mo Yanâs second grandma didnât make things difficult for her. Before she could say anything, she took the bucket from her hand and scooped up a bucket of water for her.
Post-translation notes: Well, everyone gets what they deserve, and we hope the old woman gets a redemption arc. As always, thank you for reading!