Free Web NovelChapter 32: Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Many people aware of what the Mu family had previously done to Mu Heng clapped approvingly at Yueqian’s words, while those who disliked her were left with their mouths agape. Who would have thought that this woman could have such a terrifying way of speaking, capable of stating the truth while slapping others in the face?
The ones blushing now were undoubtedly the Mu family!
"What are you saying? How dare you accuse us?"
"Accuse? What accusation? Isn’t everything written in the official separation documents? The village leader and authorities have acknowledged our household division, even signing off that there will be no further claims of filial piety in exchange for ’just a few acres of land’. You all agreed to it."
"If my husband hadn’t been skilled at hunting and gathering herbs, he and his siblings might have starved to death or been sold into slavery." Yueqian stressed on the phrase ‘just a few acres of land’ with a mocking tone.
People around sighed again; Yueqian’s words were too harsh this time. What did she mean by letting them die? What did she mean by being sold into slavery?
No matter how poor they were, selling oneself into slavery was quite rare. Still, it was a harsh reality that children died from starvation. When no one spoke of it, it was one thing, but once mentioned, it pained their hearts.
Here, there was no one who hadn’t suffered losses. They had all experienced the deaths of brothers, sisters, or even parents each year. Many had to say goodbye simply because they couldn’t afford to survive; some parents starved themselves so their children could eat enough to survive the winter. Uncle Liang himself had nearly become one of those who perished this winter, lucky to have survived. But were others just as fortunate?
Looking at Mu Heng, who had two younger siblings to care for, no one thought they could have survived this long.
After getting married, it seemed he had ended his misfortune. His wife was not only as beautiful as a goddess but also rich. Mu Heng, who separated from his family, had proven his capability in hunting and gathering, managing to survive even with just a few acres.
"You, you dare speak to this extent! This is too much. You know no respect for the elders, daring to talk like this in front of others. It’s indeed fitting that everyone calls you a villainess Qin! You truly deserve to be called a villainess. You are a villainess!" Ji Chuang couldn’t hold back any longer. freewebnøvel.com
Unlike Mu Tian, who still had to maintain her reputation or else no one would marry her, Ji Chuang screamed out like a scalded dog.
"If being a villainess means not being taken advantage of, then call me a villainess. Besides... I hope you don’t think that a villainess like me would do good unto others."
"As for the ginger, I won’t sell it to you anymore. If anyone wants some, they can buy it at the current market price, which is, of course, much higher than usual."
"Actually, out of filial piety, I’ve considered your dignity. If you weren’t trying to take advantage, you could just pay the regular price for the ginger. You could then sell it for a profit. If only you could get to town, you could double your money.”
"However, your thoughts are merely to take advantage of us, and you even slander my good intentions as evil. In that case, you don’t have to accept this goodwill. Consider it as if I never offered you this opportunity to make a substantial amount of money.” Yueqian spoke all at once.
She enlightened them that her harsh words were intended to lead to this very conclusion.
Yueqian already knew these people weren’t smart enough to figure it out. They wouldn’t want to spend a little to make a lot; they only thought about taking advantage without investment, only want to take advantage of others. Even if Yueqian offered a price below the market rate, they still wouldn’t understand how to make a profit from it.
She provoked them to anger so she could withdraw her generosity.
And indeed, this play made the Mu family look foolish!
After Yueqian revealed the truth, the villagers fell silent for a long time as they pondered. Eventually, someone grasped the situation.
"Oh, heavens! If bought at the previous market rate, one ginger root costs around 300 brass coins, but now it’s over 700 brass coins. Isn’t that like making 400 brass coins without doing anything?!!"
"Exactly! Seeing it this way makes it so clear! This Granddaughter-in-law Mu wanted to give money to the Mu family, yet they insulted her by calling her a villainess. No wonder she doesn’t want to give them any rights anymore."
"These Mu women are so foolish. It’s said that previously they tried to steal 600 brass coins, which is why this in-law from the capital got angry and didn’t grant them the land lease. And now, they still haven’t learned their lesson, seeing the granddaughter-in-law’s generosity as an offense, just because they want to steal from her without paying. In the end, they ruined their own benefits with their actions!"
"These people don’t think about paying the granddaughter-in-law at all, they just want to take. That’s why they don’t understand that by investing a little, they could gain much more. If that’s not foolish, what is?"
The crowd clapped and laughed at the misfortune of others, originally not thinking the same. They thought that if the granddaughter-in-law had plenty, she should share with others. After all, their Grandfather Mu was aging, despite how he treated them, it wasn’t right to let him die, was it?
Furthermore, she boldly used it without hesitation, easily saving Uncle Liang who wasn’t even a relative. Doesn’t that mean she must have plenty to spare?
This was all a result of Yueqian’s strategic thinking. From the moment she brought out the ginger, she had to be wary of gossips and thieves in this society that held filial piety so dearly, where both nobles and commoners adhere to this principle. Thus, she was the one to offer the ginger initially.
Did everyone really think a villainess like her would let others take advantage of her so easily? How could anyone take her possessions for free? Would that mean she was foolish—a pit for them to dig up anything at any time?
Ridiculous! If that were true, how could she ever play the role of a villainess?
Now, even if the Mu family desperately wanted it, she could act hurt and aggrieved, married into her husband’s family, doing good as much as she could, yet her husband’s family still saw her as an utterly evil villainess. Thus, if she guarded the ginger out of spite, no one dared to complain.
Moreover, she was an outsider who had just married into the family. How significant could their favor be? She was newly married and already slandered. This was the guarantee that allowed her to rightfully become their adversary.
"Husband, could you please take this villainess home? After this, I hope this villainess never encounters your family again!"
"I’ll tell you straight— even if your grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other relatives were dying right in front of me, I would remain the villainess, watching them pass away without anyone asking for generosity from the villainess like me! I came to this village alone. When I married in, none of your relatives came to welcome me."
"Moreover, since I’ve been here, I’ve been continuously slandered as a villainess even though they don’t even know what kind of person I really am. Well then, let it be. From now on, I’ll consider myself without relatives or friends here. Where your parents’ graves are, that’s all I need to know."
Yueqian pretended to cry heavily, as if deeply hurt, and the villagers watched her performance sympathetically. They had heard of the reputation of this daughter-in-law from the capital, truly labeled as a villainess. Thus, when she was to come to this village, everyone warned to be cautious and stay away from her.
When she married in, the Mu family announced that they had no connection with Mu Heng, hence whatever the villainess granddaughter-in-law was like, they would not be responsible. There was no ceremony honoring the elders on the wedding day, just two spirit tablets in the house. freёwebnovel.com
All of these were known and witnessed facts. This performance, creating from real life’s fact, further degraded the Mu family’s image while Yueqian began to be seen as a more pitiful woman.
"Yueqian, how can you be alone? You have me and your Uncle Liang. This time, you saved our lives, and we consider you one of our own. We will not take advantage of you or demand anything from you, but we will help protect you."
Aunt Liao’s eyes teared up, feeling pity for the young woman who had saved her life, and even today had saved her husband’s.
After this, Aunt Liao vowed to support Yueqian. Whatever the latter would ask, she would do it, as long as it was morally right, without knowing that her choice today would change their lives as a family forever.
Wealth unimaginable, possessions she never thought she’d own in her lifetime.
But all of this would only happen in the future.
"That’s right, Older Sister Zhu Luan, now that my son is better, let’s return home for today. Sister-in-law Fu, please take my sister home first," said the mother of Zhu Liang, Aunt Liao’s husband.
She agreed with Yueqian on every point. She had always disliked her older sister, hence, taking the opportunity today to show her that she could think too.
Zhu Luan was furious. She glared at the cunning granddaughter-in-law and her foolish daughter, angry that at her age she still had no man seeking her hand in marriage. The old woman’s face was flushed red, as if heat was emanating from her ears.
"Let’s go home!!" She no longer had the face to say anything, shouting at the two before leading the way out much faster than when she had arrived. This was what they say about anger giving the strength to slay a bear.
Yueqian watched the old woman leave with Mu Tian and Ji Chuang. The beautiful woman leaned her face into her husband’s chest to hide her own smile. Mu Heng seemed to know that his wife was happy. He also enjoyed touching her small, soft body. Thus, the couple left, showing great affection for each other as if they would swallow each other up.
By the time the young woman realized she was in her husband’s arms, having let him trudge through the snow alone, they were already halfway there. She asked her husband to put her down, but he ignored her, turning a deaf ear and continued to carry her back home.
Upon arriving home, they saw the children happily experimenting with a water scoop. Mu Heng and Yueqian looked on with mixed feelings.
Before they could fully enjoy their own water scoop device, others had already faced this fate, which was incredibly disheartening because not every household had a solution like theirs. Fortunately, Aunt Liao’s house was next to a stream, so in times of water accidents, it was possible to quickly call for help.
But what about those living further away, who had to walk long distances to fetch water from remote areas, or go to places where no one was around? If they were to have such an accident, what chance would they have of surviving?
"Big brother, Sister-in-law, how is Uncle Liang? With Aunt Liao’s stream being so dangerous, will they face difficulties living there now without Uncle Liang to help? How will Aunt Liao’s family manage?" Xiaolong asked worriedly, mistakenly assuming Uncle Liang wouldn’t survive, because previously... anyone who had fallen into the water never did.
