Chapter 48.4

Translated by Aviana

Why did the second branch’s husband and wife conceal the matter of Yang Tiezhu getting crippled from everyone in the family?

It wasn’t only because they feared eliciting everyone’s disdain but also because they were sacred that He-shi might kick them out of the house!

After all, formerly lao’er was good with his hands and a good hunter, earning a lot of silver. However, at present, he is different from that of the past. With his crippled arm, he can neither do farm work nor go into the mountains for hunting.

To put it bluntly, even laosi, who only freeloads on food at home, is better than him! Laosi could still go to the fields to earn a living, but what can a crippled do?

How can her mother-in-law, He-shi, endure such a huge disparity? Wang-shi was acutely aware of her mother-in-law’s ability to create a ruckus, wishing to kick that crippled person out of the family. At that time, even if Yang laoyezi tried to intercede and stop her, it would be of no use; Anyone who came into her way would be purged, whether human or buddha. Furthermore, with Yang Xuezhang’s incident short while ago still afresh, He-shi must be seething with a bellyful of anger with nowhere to vent

Thinking of all these, Wang-shi merrily tittered while lying on the kang. See shall see if that Lin Qingwan could still dare to ignore her from hereon.

Humph, today you might be indifferent to me. But tomorrow, I will make you unable to raise your head!

Once again, she plunged into contemplation to see whether this incident might prove advantageous to their eldest branch….

No matter whichever way she thought, she mused this would surely be an advantage to the eldest branch: First, if the second branch’s husband and wife were kicked out, there would be an additional vacant room. Then her family’s several children wouldn’t have to squeeze with the adults in their room even at this age. Second, their family would not have to raise another two worthless people, saving a lot of food at home. Even if all food is in He-shi’s hands, it wouldn’t be of much matter; at the least, there would be two fewer mouths at the table, and there would be more to eat for the rest of the people. And third, even though, at the moment, there are only two mouths to feed in the second branch, it’s been quite a while since they married. Who knows, soon, the number might increase to three and then four. At that time, it wouldn’t be just raising two worthless people, rather a whole group of trash…

The more Wang-shi thought as such, the more excited she became, and the more she felt that she had a good head over her shoulders.

How can she be this smart?!

Cloaked in the darkness of night, Wang-shi’s pair of eyes gleamed with excitement; at one moment, she was sniggering, while at the other, she was beside herself with complacence, as if she had gone insane….

The next day, Wang-shi woke up early in the morning. Even after a long night, she still seemed to be beside herself with excitement.

Suppressing her glee and excitement to not unveil intrigue and maneuvers to others, Wang-shi waited until the meal was finished before she took He-shi into their east room, when there was no was in sight.

She can’t disclose this matter to Yang laoyezi in advance. If Yang laoyezi comes to know of this matter, mother-in-law won’t have the opportunity to prepare.

He-shi glanced at her eccentric daughter-in-law. Suppressing her itchiness to slam her to the wall, she let her finish.

But after listening, He-shi was no longer in the mood to condemn Wang-shi, for she, too, was left dumbstruck by the news. Only after half a day did she come out of her senses.

He-shi could see through the matter deeper than Wang-shi in a blink of an eye. After repeatedly cautioning her to not talk the drivel over it anywhere else, she went back to the room.

He-shi didn’t return to the main room; Yang laoyezi was still sitting in the room. Instead, she went into Yang Ermei’s room situated at the rear of the main room.

In the room, Yang Ermei was doing needlework. By nature, she was bashful and a person of a few words. She seldom went out of the house too and didn’t have any friends either. As such, usually, she has a whole day at her expense, leaving her with a lot of time to do embroidery. She makes lots of clothes, shoes and the likes for her parents and fourth elder brother.

This was also why He-shi was fond of this daughter of hers. Ever since Yang Ermei could make her own clothes and shoes, Yang laoyezi’s, He-shi’s, and Yang Xuezhang’s, almost all clothes and shoes were made by her.

Perceiving her mothers’ bad mood, wjo was silently sitting there, Yang Ermei didn’t dare to utter a word. Yang Ermei waited for her mother to speak, but realizing that she didn’t intend to speak with her, she immersed herself in sewing.

While sitting in Yang Ermei’s room, He-shi pondered for a good while and slowly released a breath.

Her eyes gleamed with sharpness as she marched towards the second branch’s room.

Seeing He-shi stride here, Lin Qingwan was astonished by her rare visit to their room. But after glancing at He-shi’s complexion, she soon realized that she must have gotten wind of that matter.

When your mother-in-law came to your door, how can you not let her in? Lin Qingwan quickly invited He-shi in.

He-shi remained by the door without stepping in.

He-shi’s dislike towards anyone could be plainly perceived from her actions. In the past, she had never liked Yang Tiezhu; as such, she had never dropped by to see him. This time too, it was the same as in the past.

He-shi stood by the door and peered at confused Yang Tiezhu, who was lying on the kang, before her old eyes turned towards Lin Qingwan.

He-shi was never fond of her second daughter-in-law; she disliked her delicateness and for not being strong enough. She resented her for seducing lao’er to the point that he became disobedient to her. In the past, she had no choice but to tolerate her because Yang Tiezhu was able to earn silver for the family. But now that Yang Tiezhu was crippled, He-shi no longer planned to endure her.

She fiercely shoved Lin Qingwan to the side, wielding a bit of more strength. Lin Qingwan was almost shoved to the ground by her.

Seeing this, Yang Tiezhu was about to get up swiftly when he saw his wife was almost pushed to the ground. But the sudden jerk while trying to stand up tugged Yang Tiezhu’s wound, causing him to grit his teeth in pain.

Lin Qingwan quickly steadied herself before quickly walking towards him to help him sit down on the kang, while completely ignoring He-shi.

“Lao’er, why did you both conceal the matter of your crippled arm from the family?”

Yang Tiezhu was initially burning with ire, wishing to say few words to He-shi, but when he heard his mother’s such words, he was left dumbstruck.

Lin Qingwan, with her back to He-shi, winked at him while squeezing his hand and turned around.

“No…No, from whom did you listen to this drivel from mother…” Lin Qingwan replied, seemingly with a guilty expression.

How could He-shi’s sharp and old eyes not perceive lao’er’s wife’s guilty conscience and not know what was actually going on?

She sneered as her eyes intensely scrutinized Lin Qingwan, her gaze sharp as a knife.

“You must be fully aware of what the truth is. This old lady is clear as well–” Saying so, He -shi turned around and left after giving cold snort.

But before she left, she meaningfully glanced at Lin Qingwan, which seemed to say—

You wait and see how this old lady will fix you up!

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