Chapter 26: Authority

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Hehe, Third Madam is a kind person!”

Chai Tieniu, who was driving the carriage, heard this and laughed in response. Longyue’s expression darkened. Fortunately, this person had made a sound, or she would have almost forgotten about him.

She quickly lowered her voice and muttered, “Wang, I want to treat you guys better.”

Madam Wang was shrewd. She immediately realized that some words should not be heard by others. She also lowered her voice. “That’s good. Why?”

“Look, Xiangxiang is learning embroidery from me. What about your Baichuan? We can’t let him stay idle, right? What future will he have?”

Baichuan was the son of Madam Wang. He was the same age as Li Xiangxiang. At this age, he seemed to be squandering his life idling at home or having fun all day long.

Madam Wang was aware of this. Thinking that her son did not have any future, she could not help but be anxious. “That’s right. I asked Mom several times to let Baichuan go to school, but Mom said that he was not cut out for that. Besides, our family can’t afford tuition for two people…”

As she spoke, tears fell from Madam Wang’s eyes. Longyue looked at her calmly. It didn’t matter if Madam Wang was sincere or not. After all, as a mother, how could she not think of her own children? Especially her son.

“Sigh…” She sighed faintly and said, “Actually, I can think of a way to pool some money to let Baichuan go to school. Regardless of whether he’s cut out for studying, being able to read some words and having some knowledge is better than not knowing anything, right? We’re not expecting him to be full of
wisdom, but we don’t want him to be labeled as a bumpkin in the future, right?”

“Aiyo, Longyue, you really hit the nail on the head! Why are you so nice? If Mom is half as nice as you, I’d call her my biological mom!”
Longyue puckered her lips and smiled without saying anything.
“Longyue, you said that we can pool money for Baichuan to study? Is that true? Don’t lie to me!”

“How could I be lying?” Longyue felt that she had lured her enough, so she started to get straight to the point. “Sister-in-law, saving money for Baichuan to study is possible, but I don’t have the right to do that. If mom finds out later, she’ll definitely be unhappy. She’s the mistress of the household.
Logically speaking, money can only be distributed by her, right?”

“This…” Madam Wang instantly wilted and felt a little resentful. “That’s true, but… But let’s stash away some personal money and…”
“Should we ask Baichuan to study secretly like a thief?”

“This…”

Madam Wang was dumbfounded. That’s right, studying secretly is not right at all!

“Wang, Mom is the one who calls the shots in our family. There are some things that I can help with a little more, but there are some things that I really can’t help even if I want to. Mom should have a lot of savings. If it were me, I’d definitely let everyone have a few more good meals. But our family is not
like that.”

“Hmph, we don’t see much meat every year!” When Madam Wang thought of this, she got angry. She said angrily, “She has to save up that money for No. 4 and No. 5. Moreover, I heard her say last time that she wanted to give Qingxue a dowry of 10 taels! 10 taels! How much meat can we eat with that
money? Didn’t she dig up all this money from us?”

‘The more Madam Wang spoke, the angrier she got. In the end, she hit the door of the cart. “She’s biased!”

Longyue didn’t say anything. She just blinked.

“Longyue!” After venting her anger, Madam Wang turned to Longyue and wailed, “Tell me, why is my life so hard? That child of mine is her grandson. Why doesn’t it hurt her to see him like this?”

“Our ten fingers have unequal lengths, what more the human heart?”

Longyue reached out and carefully examined her slender fingers. She had done some rough work recently, and a callus had formed in her palm. I should take care of it, she thought. Otherwise, itd be difficult to do exquisite embroidery with rough hands.
Her words were like a fire that ignited Madam Wang. She was so angry that she stomped her feet and scolded, “She’s biased. She hadn’t liked my man since he was young. Who she dotes on the most are Second Brother and Fifth Sister!”

Oh, no wonder Madam Zhang could be so arrogant!

Longyue pouted and said faintly, “Isn’t that so? Love the house and its crow. Look at Meihua. Even with that demeanor, Mom didn’t look down on her. Sigh… If I were head of this family, I would definitely treat everyone equally!”

“Yeah, well…”

‘Madam Wang slipped up and paused. Then she looked shocked.

“Well, No. 3’s branch, you—”

“Wang, this is off the cuff. You don’t have to take it seriously.”

As Longyue spoke, she looked around. Seeing that they had already entered the village and were about to reach home, she didn’t say anything more.

She could not rush this matter. She could not be anxious at all. Otherwise, Madam Wang would take the opportunity to make some outrageous requests.

She had plenty of time, but what about Madam Wang? Her son was already 12 years old and would marry a wife in three years. How could she not be anxious?

“When the time comes, we’ll be desperate. Yes…”
Longyue flashed a satisfied smile.

After they returned home, Longyue noticed that Madam Wang seemed unhappy with Madam Li Zhou. All the oppression and grievances Madam Wang had suffered over the years had exploded under her instigation with just a few words. That resentment was not small at all. It would be magnified
infinitely. And once an argument broke out between the two sides, there would be cracks in the relationship between the in-laws, and those cracks would only grow larger.

At lunch, Madam Wang did not disappoint Longyue. She threw down her chopsticks. “Do you want to let us live?

Mom, we’re eating plain food every day. Our Baichuan is about to starve to death. Are you going to let us live?”

Madam Li Zhou was dumbfounded. Since when did this weak and cowardly daughter-in-law dare to talk back to her? Her head was throbbing!

“What are you making a fuss for? Our family doesn’t have the money to eat meat. If you have the ability, earn money and buy some for yourself!”

“Mom, don’t you think you’re biting off more than you can chew? Everyone knows that you have a stash of personal money! Oh, you don’t have the money to pay for my Baichuan’s education, but you have money for other things. You’re really biased. Baichuan is your biological grandson, after all!”
“Eldest branch, how can you talk to Mom like that?”

Zhang Meihua smiled assiduously as she spoke. She enjoyed fanning the flames by the side. She usually fawned over her mother-in-law, so now that she and Madam Wang were actually getting into a fight, she reveled in the showdown!

“I’m talking to Mom. Don’t interfere!”

It was rare for Madam Wang to be so unyielding. She retorted Madam Zhang. Seeing that Longyue was backing her, Madam Zhang did not make a fuss. She only pouted and snorted.

Madam Li Zhou was a little annoyed that Madam Wang would talk to her like this. She said with a cold expression, “Nonsense, which eye of yours sees that Mom is rich?”

“Lheard that you wanted to give Qingxue 10 taels of silver as her dowry! If this is not being partial, then what is it? Mom, I don’t want anything from you. Just send our Baichuan to school. He’s already 12 years old. He can’t possibly remain illiterate, right?”
“Nonsense. How can there be 10 taels of silver?”

‘When Madam Li Zhou was exposed, she immediately felt guilty. So she raised her voice and shouted angrily. She might seem cowardly beside Longyue but she was known to be a hard person. In short, she bullied the weak and feared the strong!

“[heard it with my own ears!”

“Shut up! That’s not true. Stop making a fuss. If you want to eat, eat quickly. If not, go back! As for Baichuan, if he needs to learn how to read, just ask No. 3 to teach him. Why waste money sending him to school?”

“Mom!”

‘When Madam Wang heard that, her heart turned cold!