Chapter 34.1

Huiniang wasted no time and went over to the courtyard door.

There was a black carriage with green curtains outside the door. From the looks of it, the carriage did not belong to an ordinary family.

Behind the shaft of the carriage, sat a young man with dark skin and tall stature. From his face, one could tell that he was an honest man, and when he smiled, rows of big white teeth came into view.

“This little brother, who are you?”

“I'm from Jin Wang Mansion. I'm here to deliver something for Nanny Su. Besides, she asked me to convey a message. Are you Nanny Su’s elder sister?”

Huiniang quickly nodded and said, “I am Yaoyao's elder sister. Please come inside and sit down, it’s really troubling you. How is my sister?”

Zhou Sheng thought she had such a pleasant name to hear; Yaoyao, and repeated the name several times in his heart. He followed Huiniang inside while answering her question with a distracted mind.

Zhou Sheng was guided to the hall. After drinking nearly a pot of tea, Huiniang figured out Yaoniang’s situation.

Huiniang learned that her sister had become a nanny of the princess. She was doing very well in the residence and was not bullied. It was said that she also received the favour of the master. After hearing the news, Huiniang was unable to suppress her tears.

Zhou Sheng didn't understand why Huiniang suddenly cried, his eyes were a bit surprised.

Huiniang reacted and wiped her tears, saying, "My sister is timid and introverted. This is the first time she has been away from home, so it’s hard for me to not worry."

Zhou Sheng nodded to express his understanding.

After that, Zhou Sheng gave the cloth-wrapped bundle to Huiniang and specifically handed the silver in front of her eyes. He then told her, "Nanny Su said that she is doing well in the Wang Mansion, so you don’t have to worry. Nanny Su also said to let her elder sister use the silver to purchase a maid or hire someone to help with work, lest she overworks herself."

The latter sentence was actually what Yaoniang really wanted to convey. Mrs. Li was a lazy person. How could Huiniang manage to look after her three children by herself? One could imagine how tiring it would be. This was what troubled Yaoniang day and night when staying in Jin Wang Mansion.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou, I'll think about it. Can you help me pass her a message? Just tell her to work hard in Jin Wang Mansion, don't worry about us at home. Xiaobao is very well-behaved, these days he learned how to turn over and he also eats very well…"

Huiniang talked a lot before she was willing to send Zhou Sheng out. She asked Zhou Sheng to stay for a meal, but Zhou Sheng was in a hurry to go back. He said that there would be opportunities in the future. Huiniang reckoned that this young man was really kind-hearted, so she thanked him again and again. Her eyes followed Zhou Sheng as he drove the carriage away.

She stood at the entrance for a while before returning to the house. As soon as she entered the house, she saw her mother-in-law checking out the wrapped bundle sent by Yaoniang.

Mrs. Li was holding a red set of clothes. Her chicken feet-like hands were rubbing the smooth fabric back and forth.

Huiniang's eyebrows twitched as she had the feeling that Mrs. Li was about to rub a hole through the fabric. At the same time, she was relieved that Zhou Sheng gave her the silver directly, otherwise, it would surely not come back if it fell into Mrs. Li’s hands.

"Tsk, Su Yaoniang really made a fortune, using such nice material to make clothes. This old lady has lived for so many years and hasn’t seen this kind of high-quality fabric," Mrs. Li repeatedly clicked her tongue. She held up the set of clothes, comparing them to her body, and said to Huiniang, "I think this dress suits me very well. I’ll consider it as Su Yaoniang's filial piety towards me."

Huiniang looked at the bright red flowers on the clothes, then at Mrs. Li’s old face. She couldn’t understand how Mrs. Li could conclude that the clothes suited her well.

When Mrs. Li was talking, the jealous Yan'er standing by the door interjected, "Mother, I'm going to marry soon. Give me this dress."

These two shameless women! Huiniang’s lips were trembling with anger. When she was about to say something, suddenly there was a loud noise outside. Seemed that someone was banging on the door.

Before the three of them could react, they heard a cry outside the door.

“Yao Yan'er, you unlucky woman, you have to compensate my son—"

This voice belongs to Widow Feng.

Huiniang had a premonition and rushed out. Mrs. Li also hurriedly followed out and saw Widow Feng standing in front of the gate throwing a fit, with a lot of people watching the excitement behind her.

Widow Feng was not someone to be trifled with. Since she could bring up a son as a widow, it certainly wasn't a smart move to make trouble with her.

Mrs. Li’s unwillingness to be in-laws with Widow Feng was not due to the Feng Family’s poor status only, but also because Widow Feng was rude and unreasonable. She had suffered numerous losses in Widow Feng’s hands before. Therefore, when Widow Feng came to her door to propose marriage, how could she not put up a front? She was aching to return what she had suffered in her early years.

Mrs. Li was a fierce and tough person. Seeing Widow Feng attacking her baby daughter like this, how could she let her go easily? She leaped up then started biting back.

"You poisonous widow, you killed your own family! Are you seeking death?! You brainless trash, you are the unlucky one! All your family members carry bad luck!"

Widow Feng plopped down on the ground, smashing her thighs and bawling out, “My God! Open your eyes and see what kind of people are in this family! My son likes her daughter, yet she doesn't treat him as a human being and played him to death! They despised my poor family and this poor widow's life! This undesirable life, am I the one who decides? I, Widow Feng, have been preserving my chastity after my husband’s death! Everyone praises me, only this family is utterly devoid of conscience! Frequently saying that I killed my own family…”

This was probably not the first time Widow Feng did this. She spoke in a high and low tone, tossing about this and that, then made a long-drawn-out ending. Her tears streamed down, making the listeners heartbroken. Although the current dynasty didn't allow widows to remarry, people would still regard them with great respect if there was an upright widow in one’s family.

The onlookers were already in turmoil. Considering that Mrs. Li's usual behaviour was not admirable either, it was inevitable that someone would speak up for Widow Feng.

"We are all neighbours, no need to harm each other. Just make amends and end this." Some people advised.

Hearing this, Widow Feng became more aggressive, “It's not that my family doesn't want to compromise! Before, I went to their house with a good intention to propose marriage. Blame the Yao Family who forced my son to go out to earn money, causing my son to commit a crime and be arrested by an official! I don’t care, you Yao Family, must compensate my son! Yao Yan'er, if something bad happens to my son, I, Widow Feng, won't let you off even as a ghost!”