Chapter 423: Chapter 219: Daughter-in-law’s Rest_1
"Quite good, everyone praises it," Wu Jiayu said with a smile, "Sister-in-law Xiu E makes the best pig’s head meat, even better than what’s served in the town’s restaurants."
Lian Manman also laughed. The town and the village were merely two or three miles apart. Without paying attention, one could ignore it, but if one deliberately inquired, there was almost nothing that couldn’t be uncovered. On the third day of the Chinese New Year, Zhao Wencai’s family had guests over, and Erlang claimed that Zhao Xiu E was accompanied by her mother. Later, Lady Chiang pointed out that Erlang had come from the feast, and Lian Manman started to have her doubts.
On the fourth day, Lian Shouxin went to Zhao the Butcher’s house for a feast, and among the attendees were a few who had been to the Zhao family’s feast. Without even trying to inquire, it became known that that day Zhao Xiu E did not come to Thirty Mile Camp, but instead returned to her maternal home to help with the feast preparations.
Afterwards, Lian Shouxin mentioned this to Lady Zhang, and they both felt that Zhao Xiu E’s actions were inappropriate, and that the Zhao family was not a respectable household. If they were, they would never allow a married daughter to behave in such a manner.
"We know about it, that’s enough. Don’t tell the Upper Room, or it will just stir up idle chatter," Lian Shouxin advised at the time.
Lian Manman disagreed; even if they didn’t talk about it, did that mean the other members of the Lian Family wouldn’t know? Lady Chiang had already taken action; how could it be that she would so easily let Zhao Xiu E off the hook without any fuss?
Lady Zhou treated her daughter-in-law and her grandson’s wife differently, but she couldn’t possibly tolerate Zhao Xiu E disregarding her in-laws so blatantly. It just remained unknown how she would react when the time came.
Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi were chatting with Wu Jiayu, while at the same time, Lady Zhang and Lady Wang were having an even busier and closer gossip session.
"...You aren’t the first to be taken advantage of. They just love to embarrass people. Knowing that you are honest folks and won’t take things without paying, they still shamelessly aim to make a profit off you," said Lady Wang after listening to Lady Zhang’s story of buying sweets at Fuda Grocery Store, "Let me tell you something really funny."
Lady Wang started to laugh even before she finished speaking; Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi also turned their heads, eager to hear what was so amusing.
Seeing everyone’s interest, Lady Wang became even more enthusiastic.
"...Over in the west of the town, there used to be the Liu Family that ran a steamed bun shop. They’re distant relatives of Old Zhao Family, and they moved to town the year before last. They also shopped at Old Zhao’s store, which similarly took advantage of people; but as the saying goes, the hunter was blinded by the bird he aimed at, and this time they misjudged their mark. The Liu Family daughter-in-law loved a bargain; when they were told there was no charge, she really had the gall not to pay."
"Oh my, the Old Zhao family must have taken a loss," Lady Zhang said.
"How could they take such a loss? The next day, they went to the Liu Family’s steamed bun shop, took some buns, and claimed they’d forgotten their money, saying they’d pay next time," Lady Wang laughed, "That same day, the Liu Family went back to Old Zhao’s grocery store. This time, the Zhao Family didn’t dare let them take more or say anything was free. But the Liu Family was even bolder; they took items without paying, claiming it was to offset the Zhao’s debt for the buns."
Lady Zhang was almost dumbstruck upon hearing this.
"Can they even do that?... I just couldn’t do such a thing," Lady Zhang sighed, "What happened in the end?"
"Caught in a fix, the Zhao Family didn’t want to lose the money for the goods, so they shamelessly went to the Liu’s demanding payment. The Liu’s refused, and both families had a fallout. The Zhao Family roped in some people and sabotaged the Liu Family’s steamed bun shop. In the end, the Liu Family didn’t pay the Zhao Family and moved back to Liu Family Village. Both families became enemies and cut off their relations," Lady Wang explained.
"There are such people, such stories," Lady Zhang didn’t know what else to say.
Lian Manman was secretly astounded as well.
At this moment, Wu Lang, Wu Jiaxing, and Xiao Qi came back from outside, and Lady Wang prepared to say her goodbyes and head home.
Lady Zhang got along well with Lady Wang and insisted on keeping her and her son for dinner.
"Your family will definitely not be coming home to eat tonight. Our child’s father has also gone to someone else’s feast today. It’ll just be us mothers, and we won’t make any extra dishes; let’s just eat something warm together like a normal family meal, as I’d like to chat with you a bit more," Lady Zhang said.
Lady Wang initially declined, but eventually agreed to stay. Lady Zhang then took Lian Zhizhi to prepare the meal, and Lady Wang, refusing to just sit on the kang bed, followed out to help.
"Brother, did you go out to play?" Lian Manman looked Wu Lang and Xiao Qi up and down before grabbing Xiao Qi’s cold hand and immediately guessed that they had been out playing, "Did you go ice sliding? Why didn’t you call me along?"
