Chapter 111 – The Widow’s Adopted Daughter (part 11)

In fact, everyone was smart. At that time, they were immersed in the story and had no time to think about it. After thinking about it, Wang Si Qin probably understood the purpose of Li Su’s story.

During this period of time, the men were nothing more than men. The female spouses led by Princess Qing Shan knew the character of Si Qin. Si Qin was a clever and witty child who was good at observing words and feelings. She was good at being considerate. In just a few days, it was obvious that the old madam had affection for her.

It was just that they weren’t sure if this intelligence was a good or bad thing for this child.

Princess Qing Shan and the others thought that it wouldn’t be a bad thing to wait longer and slowly guide and educate her.

Now, it seemed that Su Su was long aware of this issue and had begun to act on it. The method Su Su used was entertaining, which was very good.

“What is the princess thinking?” After washing, Yong An Mansion’s Xiao Qi Zhi came in.

Princess Qing Shan smiled. “I was just thinking that Su Su is a clever child. Qin’er’s intelligence takes after Su Su.”

“Of course. Su Su was literate at the age of two and could recite the entire Book of Songs at the age of three. Zhen Yuan is no better than her in this respect. It is a pity, alas! Good luck!” Xiao Qi Zhi sighed.

“The hard times are over and the good times are just beginning!1” Princess Qing Shan persuaded.

“I asked you to pay attention to things. Were there signs of a positive outcome?” Xiao Qi Zhi asked.

Princess Qing Shan sighed. “I have been paying attention. However, I heard Su Su’s intentions to not marry again.”

“She doesn’t plan on marrying again? How can this be? She is still so young!” Xiao Qi Zhi frowned. She was his only niece!

“Who knows? I guess it is because she is afraid that a future husband would treat Qin’er badly,” said Princess Qing Shan.

“Who would dare?!” Xiao Qi Zhi said angrily. Then, he thought of something. “The second one has not been married before, so it was fine letting him marry Su Su. If she marries to her uncle’s house, then is she still afraid someone will treat Qin’er badly?!”

Princess Qing Shan frowned. She didn’t dislike the idea of Li Su remarrying. Father emperor wanted to marry the second one to his daughter, An Yi. The second one didn’t like how An Yi was arrogant and domineering, so he pretended to be ashamed and insisted on refusing to let her get married.

Princess Qing Shan was sure that the second one’s relationship with Su Su was just a sibling relationship and nothing more, or she would have been happy to match them.

“I hope you’ll do well in this matter. When the second one comes back and asks, it is better to ask for Su Su’s opinion. I think that my niece is not a traditional woman,” said Princess Qing Shan.

Xiao Qi Zhi still trusted and respected Princess Qing Shan a lot. He just casually said that the second one’s temper was out of control and feared that he wouldn’t be a good match for Su Su. It wasn’t a good thing to force them to be related if they did not get along. “I just said it casually. I know that the second one is just a brother to Su Su. Alas, if Su Su is really unwilling to get married, then there is no need to get married. Also, if she gets married, then she would be subject to many traditional constraints. In short, if Su Su remains in Yong An Mansion for an extra day, then she can be sheltered for an extra day.”

When this was mentioned, Xiao Qi Zhi became angry. The Wang family dared to abuse Su Su like this! It was too much! Fortunately, Zhen Ting had already taken action, otherwise…

Princess Qing Shan laughed when she heard this. They had no daughters and neither did second younger brother. Only Ling’er had a daughter. The two brothers and brother-in-laws got drunk and cried. They said that they were distressed that Su Su would marry out in the future. What if her in-laws were no good?

Everyone thought it was a joke at the time. They never expected it to come true.

“Okay, if Su Su refuses to marry, then she shouldn’t marry! Anyway, she has a career, a family, and Qin’er.” Princess Qing Shan smiled.

“The princess is enlightened! The princess is the best!” said Xiao Qi Zhi as he held Princess Qing Shan’s hand.

Princess Qing Shan blushed.

The couple went to sleep.

In Peaceful Courtyard, Xiao Zhen Ting laughed when he heard Mrs. Wan’s recollection of the story told by his cousin today. “It is weird! You aren’t worrying about it now?”

Xiao Zhen Ting leaned on the couch and touched Mrs. Wan’s stomach, which was not yet pregnant, and smiled.

Mrs. Wan said, “Don’t worry. If I have a daughter, then I also want her to be like the characters in the story my cousin told. Why should women only stay in the house and teach each other? Women can also make contributions.”

“Yes, yes, you are right.” Xiao Zhen Ting smiled. “It’s late. Go to bed! Don’t you want to get up early to listen to the story?”

Mrs. Wan nodded. “You’re right. It’s time to go to bed!”

“You go to bed first. I still have some official duties so I will come back when I finish.” Xiao Zhen Ting smiled.

After Mrs. Wan fell asleep, Xiao Zhen Ting exited the house.

Back in the study, he took out a letter from the drawer. It was sent by his second older brother, Xiao Zhen Shu. When he was on the way to find his cousin, Xiao Zhen Shu received the news that his cousin had been found and was overjoyed. He heard that his cousin had fallen into the water and lost her memory. She was then rescued by a farmer and later married that farmer and had a daughter. But, she was abused by her husband’s family.

Xiao Zhen Shu was furious. He originally wanted to return to the capital and take a detour to Shang Lin Village. The Wang family received the punishment they deserved and he sent a letter informing his family of the good news. He then returned to the capital.

Xiao Zhen Shu didn’t do anything really. He just dropped the purse containing hundreds of silver taels on the road where the Wang family’s previous grandson, Da Ge Er, was passing by. Then, he watched Da Ge Er take the silver to use it to eat, drink, have fun, and even hook up with a young widow.

Not long after, the young widow said she was pregnant.

Da Ge Er returned home and wanted to break off the engagement. The Fang family’s cousin couldn’t bear the humiliation. She threw a tantrum and accidentally hung herself. The Fang family and the Wang family turned against each other. Mrs. Wang Fang and Mrs. Xiao Fang were in an awkward predicament. The Wang family was a mess.

Later, in order to avenge their daughter/younger sister, Mrs. Xiao Fang’s brothers and nephews found Da Ge Er and the young widow, and beat them up badly. Da Ge Er naturally did not let himself be beaten and resisted. In the chaos, Da Ge Er was stabbed with a knife by someone and fell into a pool of blood. The young widow was injured and lost her child.

After the Wang family heard that Da Ge Er had died, they went crazy. Wang Da Shan and Wang Da Lang took their sickles and pickaxes and went to the Fang family to avenge him. The Fang family’s father and son had a background of killing pigs. Wang Da Shan and Wang Da Lang were beaten to the ground and Wang Da Lang had a broken leg. Mrs. Wang Fang and Mrs. Xiao Fang fainted when they heard the news. After they woke up, they ran to the Fang family’s house. When Mrs. Xiao Fang saw this scene, she hit her head and died at the door of the Fang manor.

The Fang family killed someone, so they would naturally go to prison.

But the Wang Family was broken. People had died and it didn’t stop there. After Wang Da Shan and Mrs. Wang Fang returned, they discovered that their home had been looted and their belongings had disappeared. Da Ya, an idle bastard in the village, was conscientious. He eloped and took his younger sister with him.

The Wang Family yelled at him but they couldn’t do anything.

After that, Xiao Zhen Shu didn’t continue watching. He just knew that the Wang family would not have a good ending. On the way back, Xiao Zhen Shu heard that the Wang family was planning on letting Wang Da Lang marry someone else so he could have a son earlier. But, the Wang family was now worth nothing. Wang Da Lang was now lame, so who would be willing to marry their daughter to him?

After Xiao Zhen Ting read the letter, he was very happy. Great!

Xiao Zhen Shu said that everything in Shang Lin Village were things of the past for Li Su and Wang Si Qin. Now that they were in the past, they should not be mentioned to the two of them.

Xiao Zhen Ting disagreed. The child was thoughtful. If she did not know, then he was afraid that she would still have ideas in her heart.

Xiao Zhen Ting thought this way. On the second day when he went to Auspicious Purple Hall, he quietly found Li Su and Wang Si Qin, and explained to them what happened to the Wang family.

It didn’t mean anything to Li Su. Wang Si Qin felt happy inwardly. The Wang family having such a fate made her really happy!

“Thank you, second older brother and fourth older brother,” said Li Su.

Xiao Zhen Ting was paying attention to Li Su’s expression. When he saw this, he asked, “Cousin doesn’t seem to be surprised by this result?”

Li Su smiled. “If second and fourth older brother didn’t take action, the Wang family would have found itself in such a state sooner or later. It was just a matter of time. Nobody knows those people better than I do. They are selfish and greedy. Their easy life was obtained by exploiting us. Er Lang is dead. We are gone. That family is bound to be destroyed sooner or later.”

Xiao Zhen Ting smiled. “Cousin is still thorough.”

This matter did not need to be mentioned.

Just after breakfast, the old madam, Princess Qing Shan, and Mrs. Liu waited for Li Su to start her story.

Li Su continued with her story.

The good times didn’t last long. Perhaps it was because there was too much to talk about, but on the third day, Li Su’s throat started to become sore. In the end, she couldn’t speak.

The old madam was upset and distressed again, so she hurriedly asked the doctor to come over to treat Li Su.

Li Su didn’t think it was a problem. She was the one who suggested storytelling. In addition to pleasing the old madam, it was also to educate Si Qin. She was just not thoughtful enough, so it turned out like this.

The imperial doctor said that Li Su had used her voice too much.

Since the old madam couldn’t listen to the story anymore, she felt that her life was dull once more. When Li Su saw this, she thought of something. She wrote down these stories and then showed them to the other women in the house so they could make them into books and tell them to the old madam. In order to relieve the old madam’s boredom, there were several storytellers. The old madam didn’t like reading, so this made everyone happy.

The biggest dissatisfaction Li Su had about the system was that the skills she learned in each world could not be brought to the next world. The only skills she could bring with her were the skills she originally knew. Every time she entered a new world and her host had no idea how to do something, Li Su had to learn it again.

Such as writing.

Fortunately, although the original owner had lost her memory, some of her memories recovered when she held the brush. After Li Su and Si Qin studied together for a few days, they could write some commonly used words. So, Li Su started the daily routine of writing a storybook while she studied.

1.(苦盡甘來了) idiom: when the bitterness ends, the sweetness begins