Madame Xia happily arrived at the third great uncle’s house, but what she did not expect was a glowering face that greeted her.
“Did you tell anyone about what we had planned tomorrow?” He demanded.
Madame Xia was startled, “No, I didn’t! Greatuncle, how could I not understand the gravity of that matter? This is not something to be taken lightly, how could I simply tell everyone about it?”
“That’s good,” he sighed slightly in relief and nodded, “Then, there’s no need to bring it up to anyone. Let’s just act as we had never talked about it before!”
“Huh?” She gaped with her eyes wide as she stammered, “No, no need to bring it up? What, what do you mean by this?”
“What do I mean? It means that you should drop the idea and give up! Understand?” Her third uncle snapped coldly.
She was shocked and nervous, her face blanched as she asked, “Greatuncle, why? It would be a good thing for Cui Lan, she’s so pitiful—”
“That’s enough!” He spatted, “You don’t even understand your husband’s wishes and yet you dare to tell me what to do? Madame Xia, where exactly are you planning?” He scoffed and briefly told her what had happened just then before he scolded her, “Your late husband had already visited her and told her so in her dreams. What else do you want to do? If we actually had her acknowledge the ancestors, aren’t afraid that your late husband might come back to seek revenge on you? Go home quickly, burn three joss sticks for him and kowtow to seek forgiveness!”
Madame Xia was stunned momentarily and she mumbled, “How could this be?” More words almost left her lips but she held them back. It seemed like that must be true as only their third greatuncle and her alone knew about this. It was impossible for Miao Cui Lan to find out about it, but she coincidentally had the dream.
Madame Xia involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat and her face became pale. She hastily added, “Yes, I understand!” No one could afford to offend the spirits! Even if it was her late husband, she was afraid.
Nonetheless, she was unsatisfied with the result. Since her late husband had already made it clear, it was impossible for her to bring this up again next time. It meant that Miao Cui Lan could do and say whatever she wanted without taking Madame Xia seriously forever. As for Madame Xia, she could only watch without telling Miao Cui Lan off for being disrespectful. This angered Madame Xia greatly.
Suddenly, Madame Xia’s heart skipped a beat as she wondered out loud, “Greatuncle, have you ever told Cui Lan about this beforehand?”
“Huh?” He replied without even looking at her.
She got her nerves together and explained, “Don’t you think that there is a possibility that Miao Cui Lan made that up? She’s literally—”
“Insolence! Shut your mouth!” Their third greatuncle’s expression darkened as he snapped, “What are you implying? Are you saying that Cui Lan isn’t willing to acknowledge her ancestors? Have you ever hesitated when you decided to ask such a big nonsensical question? There are only people who have been disowned by their ancestors, never anyone who is unwilling to return to their family! What kind of evil-hearted woman are you?”
He was so pissed that he raised his voice at her. He was angry at Madame Xia’s assumption and angrier that what she said had hurt his pride. He was one of the most respected elders in the Miao Family. If Miao Cui Lan did not want to acknowledge the ancestors, it meant that she looked down on their clan. As one of the elders, how would he be okay to hear something so hurtful?
Madame Xia became very frightened. She immediately kowtowed and asked for his forgiveness. She had never imagined his reaction to be so extreme.
After he finished scolding, he had a sudden realization as he fixed an eye at her, “No wonder I kept having a weird feeling in my guts! I couldn’t place it but you just made me think of it. You have always been mean to Chu He and Cui Lan. Don’t even try to deny it! Do you think I don’t know what you’re trying to do? Why would you be so kind as to offer Cui Lan to return? Madame Xia, what were you planning exactly? Ah, I remember now. You’re busy matchmaking for Tian Bao. If you want Cui Lan to return now, I’m worried that it might not be a kind motive. You don’t have to tell me how virtuous you are! You must be eyeing the Lu Family’s money, aren’t you?”
Her third greatuncle was very angry and he pointed a finger at her as he spatted, “You wretched woman! How dare you trick me? I was almost fooled by you!” He was shaking with anger at that moment. She had no respect for her elders. The thought of that wench trying to trick him and use him as a tool gave him a throbbing headache as he scolded her with all that he got.
Madame Xia dropped to her knees with her face pale. She was shivering in fear as she kowtowed nonstop, begging for forgiveness until her throat was dry.
Her third greatuncle’s eldest son was the current clan leader while he was the previous clan leader. She had offended her third greatuncle, her son was a disappointment and there were no men at home. Madame Xia regretted her actions that she felt like dying.
After her third greatuncle had enough of scolding her, he calmed down a little and coldly said, “Get out of my sight! Let me say this: from now on, you better be honest and fair. If you dare to cause another problem, I would be the first one to punish you! Chu He is the eldest son, being the head of the family, more than half of what his father had left behind belongs to him. Now that he’s studying at the academy, his expenses are quite a lot. So, from this month onwards, you’ll be giving him five silvers every month. Also, you’ll be giving him the money that his wife earns as well, it’s not yours to spend. Do you hear me?”
Madame Xia felt a sharp pang of pain internally, but with her third greatuncle fuming with anger, how would she dare to disagree? She had no choice but to hold her tears back and nodded in submission. After that, she got up and left in a mess.
Because of this, Madame Xia was so mad that it was probably bad for her liver and she did not have an appetite for dinner. At first, she thought that they would forget about it. She did not dare to ask for Tong Yu Er’s two silvers anymore. However, she did not send them the extra money for Chu He and she acted as if their third greatuncle had never said it.
Unexpectedly, their third greatuncle’s youngest daughter-in-law came asking for the money, saying that someone was coincidentally going to town and that they could pass the money to Chu He. She said that they would send him more after half a year.
Madame Xia was very angry, yet she did not dare to refuse. So, she unwillingly brought out the money. That young woman noticed her uneasiness. Knowing Madame Xia’s attitude, how could she not understand why Madame Xia was acting that way? She smiled and teased, “Don’t worry, auntie. Once Chu He succeeds, three hundred silvers or whatsoever would be nothing in comparison to what he would fetch! You’re not losing anything here with these few silvers.” As she spoke, she laughed and left the house, leaving Madame Xia in a worse mood.
No one said anything about acknowledging the ancestors, so Miao Cui Lan was finally at peace. Her family’s daily life continued happily.
In a blink of an eye, a new month had arrived and three days passed but Madame Xia did not come to collect her money. Miao Cui Lan was understandably shocked. She joked to Lu Zhong and Tong Yu Er, “Did she forget? This must be a miracle!”
If Madame Xia did not come to collect the money, Miao Cui Lan naturally would not send it to her. It was better if she did not come! After that, they heard what their third greatuncle did when someone came over to run an errand. Miao Cui Lan was very grateful when she found out about what happened.
In May, Miao Tian Bao was marrying a wife. As the eldest son, Miao Chu He had to attend the marriage, so he and Tong Yu Er brought Lu Xiao Shu along with them like before and went back for three to four days.
With their third greatuncle’s watchful eyes, Miao Chu He had a lot fewer worries. Madame Xia was also a lot less arrogant as she did not dare to simply criticize the couple. Instead, when she saw them with Lu Xiao Shu, she thought that they were an eyesore and wished that they did not attend the wedding.
On the next day during the tea ceremony with the bride, Madame Zhao, Miao Chu He gave a red packet with two coins while Tong Yu Er gave them a silver head ornament that was inexpensive. That angered Madame Xia even more. If this happened back then, she would have sarcastically criticized them, but she did not have the guts to do that now. Eventually, she could not hold back her anger and she complained.
Miao Chu He merely smiled bleakly, “I’m still studying at the academy, why do you think I’m rich? These two coins were from me saving up the allowance that was given by you! Yu Er’s silver ornament is the same as well.” Madame Xia immediately choked on his words.
This was simply poking at Madame Xia’s wounds. It was as if he was stabbing her with a knife when he brought it up. She grew angrier and more frustrated at the thought of it that she refused to look at the couple. So, she asked them to leave on that day.
Miao Chu He and Tong Yu Er could not ask for more as they happily wanted to use the situation to their advantage to leave. Unexpectedly, Lu Xiao Shu carefully asked, “I don’t think we can leave yet. I thought we have to wait until the bride’s homecoming before we leave?”
Both of them were startled, a sheen of cold sweat covered their skin. If it was not for Lu Xiao Shu, they would have gone against the rules of customs.
As the eldest brother and sister-in-law, how could they leave when their younger brother and sister-in-law had not returned, especially since their father had passed away? If they did that, they would be gossiped about! Perhaps Madame Xia was using this as an excuse to put them in a difficult situation!
“Good thing you reminded us! This means that we would have to stay for another three days. Since we’re not in a rush, let’s take our time here.” Miao Chu He smiled with gratitude at Lu Xiao Shu and told Madame Xia.
Madame Xia shot Lu Xiao Shu with an angry glare as she scoffed. Apparently, Miao Chu He was right, she had purposely asked them to leave. Once they left, she would be able to announce to everyone about their act of defiance. Luckily, Xiao Shu was very bright even at her young age, and she reminded the adults about it when they had forgotten. Moreover, she said it right then and there, in front of Madame Xia, without saving her any grace.
“Don’t mention it!” Lu Xiao Shu grinned sweetly and added, “It was my mother who told me to remind you if you had forgotten.”
“How thoughtful of my sister!” Miao Chu He and Tong Yu Er both smiled.
Madame Xia grew more frustrated and huffed coldly, “Sister? How is her mother your sister? You only have one brother who had just gotten married! Don’t get too cosy with someone who’s unrelated to you. That woman is a disrespectful daughter that your late father disowned!”
A burst of rage sparked in Miao Chu He’s eyes, but he said bleakly, “There’s no need for you to remind me. To be human is to be kind. She has supported my studies financially and she’s older than me. How is it wrong to address her as my sister as a form of gratitude?”
Meanwhile, Lu Xiao Shu was fuming at Madame Xia for badmouthing her mother. She cursed to herself and hopped down from her seat, asking Miao Chu He and Tong Yu Er to play with her.
Since Miao Chu He was upset with Madame Xia, he held her hand and left the house with his wife. They left Madame Xia frustrated and swearing alone.
