Chapter 157: Lively

Grandma Zhang was crying and making a scene outside, while the people inside were eating with great enthusiasm.

Carpenter Zhang frequently glanced toward the door, his eyes full of unbearable pity.

Zhang Dachun said indifferently, "Father, the door isn't locked. If you want to go out and live with her, we won't stop you. But to be clear, once you leave this family, don't come back."

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm just worried that she's getting old and won't be able to handle the shock," Carpenter Zhang said sheepishly.

"Don't worry. Little Uncle has done so many infuriating things, and I haven't seen her suffer any shock. Looking at her, she's full of life; she can easily live another ten years," Zhang Erchun said sarcastically.

Lady Pang picked out some food for her sister-in-law and comforted her, saying, "It's been hard on you all these years."

"Sister-in-law..." Zhou's eyes turned red.

Zhang Dachun invited everyone to eat and then brought up the arrangements for Lady Pang and her son: "Our current living space is a bit crude. There are three rooms and a woodshed that can be used. This is how I've planned it; listen and see if you have any opinions, and we can discuss it if you do. Erchun is getting married soon, so he definitely needs a large room. The biggest room is reserved for him. For the remaining two rooms, I'm afraid you'll have to squeeze in a bit. Father and Mother in one room, Aunt in one room, and cousin and I will temporarily stay in the woodshed. Do you think this is okay?"

Of course, Qin Huiyin and the others would not voice any opinions on the Zhang family's internal affairs. They just focused on eating and drinking well, tossing the bones to 'Momo', who was trotting around them in circles.

"Let me say a few words first," Lady Pang said. "Dachun mentioned that they have separated the family and can now make their own decisions. Recently, they've been getting large orders and can't keep up, and they need literate people to help them with the account books. So, I brazenly brought Mingrong along. Although my sister-in-law and brother-in-law are generous and kind, we, an orphaned mother and son, cannot always take advantage of them. Here is what I am thinking: I still have a little money left, and I'll use it to buy an abandoned house in the village to live in. Once we get used to it, we can properly renovate it. The two of us won't take up your rooms."

"Sister-in-law, your health is not good. I was thinking that living close by would allow me to take care of you," Zhou said.

"Living in the same village is already much closer than before! I am deeply grateful for your kind intentions. But Sister-in-law, we are two separate families after all, and we should live our own lives."

Li Taohua appreciated Lady Pang even more. No wonder she could raise a child like Zhou Mingrong; like mother, like son. A mother with great wisdom would naturally have an exceptional son. What a pity that the man of the house passed away early, leaving no money to fund Zhou Mingrong's studies. Otherwise, this person's future potential would surely extend far beyond this.

"I have a suggestion..." Qin Huiyin pointed in the other direction. "That house over there is currently vacant. Living close by will make it convenient to look out for each other."

"Thank you, little Huiyin," Lady Pang smiled, pressing her lips together.

Perhaps due to years of hardship, her face always wore a look of sorrow. Even when she smiled, one could not feel her joy.

"Alright, we'll listen to Aunt," Zhang Dachun said. "I'll go find the village chief later and buy that abandoned courtyard next door. Once we make money in the future, we'll build a big house covering this entire area."

"Then you'd better hurry and buy this piece of land soon. If someone else strikes first and buys it, it won't be easy for you to snatch it back," Qin Huiyin reminded with a smile.

After returning from the Zhang family, Li Taohua kept praising how Zhang Dachun had become the backbone of the household and had finally grown a spine.

"Tomorrow, I'll have a word with your Big Brother Dachun. The silver they earn must be kept safe and must not fall into your Uncle Zhang's hands. He is too soft-hearted; be careful he doesn't take it to pamper that old lady."

"Let's stay out of their family matters!" Qin Huiyin said.

"I don't want to get involved either, but isn't this related to your dividends? The Zhang family's business was set up by you, and half the money in it is yours. My daughter cannot suffer a loss."

Qin Huiyin smiled and changed the subject: "Go wash your face quickly, and I'll put a face mask on you."

"Right, right. That facial mask you concocted is even better than the expensive face creams I used before. My skin has felt as tender as a young girl's these past few days."

Li Taohua called Tang Luewu over.

Tang Luewu was preoccupied with the homework she hadn't finished yet and said, "Mother, how about I skip the face mask today? I want to practice my calligraphy."

"You can't skip this time. You can just close your eyes and rest while wearing the mask, and you'll have more energy afterward. A young lady cannot afford to look ugly; your face is your appearance."

Tang Luewu obediently walked over.

Tang Yixiao wanted to crowd around as well, but Li Taohua chased him away to do his homework.

"One only knows how to rote memorize all day, and the other is lazy and undisciplined all day without any proper form," Li Taohua complained disdainfully. "If you are this useless, be careful you won't be able to find a wife."

"I don't want to marry a wife at all," Tang Yixiao said with blushing cheeks. "I want to follow Second Sister and live with her."

"Spit, spit, spit. You are not allowed to say such foolish things in the future." Hearing this, Li Taohua grew anxious. "Your Second Sister has no blood relation to you. If you keep saying such foolish things, others will throw dirt on your Second Sister's reputation. Remember this from now on: males and females at age seven do not sit on the same mat. You are all grown up now, and you must observe proper boundaries when you are outside. No, you must observe them even at home."

"Mother, how are our goods prepared? Have they been counted? Tomorrow, Lady Xia's side should send someone to pick up a portion," Qin Huiyin said, pulling away the sensitive Li Taohua.

Tang Yixiao was just an innocent child with no other intentions. Even after Li Taohua scolded him, he still wore a blank expression, completely failing to understand what he had said wrong.

Tang Yixiao returned to his room to do his homework.

Since Tang Yichen was away, he had a room all to himself, and the desk was his alone.

He sat by the window, watching Li Taohua and the two sisters lying in the courtyard wearing face masks. The reclining chairs they used had just been made and delivered by the Zhang family.

The three of them enjoyed a moonbath while wearing their masks, their mouths never resting as they either cracked melon seeds or gossiped about village or city matters. Joyful laughter filled the entire courtyard.

Tang Yixiao suddenly regretted that he couldn't paint. If he could paint, he would definitely capture this scene in time. Such a happy life was something he wouldn't have dared to dream of half a year ago.

"Mother, with Madam Xia operating like this, won't Li Niuniu just have one more concubine to order around?" Qin Huiyin asked curiously.

"Tang Jizu is about to suffer a huge disaster," Li Taohua cracked a melon seed. "A farmhand touching the master's woman—even if it was unavoidable under the mistress's pressure—still won't survive."

Qin Huiyin looked at the moon in the sky: "What about Lady Liu and that child?"

"Lady Liu is already Tang Jizu's concubine, and that child is the concubine-born son of a farmhand. Such a person will never be able to compete with Madam Xia's children for the family property. This truly is cutting off future troubles completely. This Madam Xia is an extraordinary woman, and also a ruthless character. Being enemies with someone like this is very dangerous. Daughter, when dealing with the Xia family, be careful not to provoke this person!"

Otherwise, she would have to bring her own hidden, unsightly methods out of retirement, and she certainly didn't want to frighten her daughter. She hoped to simply remain Li Taohua of this countryside—fiery and bold, but untainted by bloodshed.