Chapter Seventy-Three: Aftermath

  (Seeking pink votes!)

  "This... I advised her a few words, and she scolded me. Ya-Wen's words were the first to trigger my anger, so I said some excessive things." Liu Shi avoided Zheng Pengju's eyes and spoke hesitantly.

  Zheng Pengju let out a long sigh and walked around Liu's house into his own.

  "Dad, why don't we go bring Aunt back?" Zheng Fangjing also thought his mother had gone too far in this matter, but there are no parents who are completely faultless, so he didn't say anything and just hoped to make up for his mother's mistake.

  Zheng Peng waved his hand and went to the bedroom without saying a word. When he arrived at the bedroom, he rolled up his bedding and moved it to Zheng Fangjing's room.

  Liu saw her husband's appearance and immediately panicked, following him into the house, crying "Woo woo woo" and saying that all these years she had followed Zheng Pengju through thick and thin, suffering hardships and poverty, so seeing such a large debt made her panic; if Zheng Pengju thought she was no good, he could just give her a divorce paper.

  In the past, whenever the two had a dispute, as long as Liu made this move, Zheng Pengju would be moved and then forgive her, even going so far as to coax her back into harmony. But this time, Zheng seemed not to have heard, putting down the bedding on the bed and going out again. He didn't return until nightfall, when he took some silver from his body, counted it repeatedly, and let out a deep sigh.

  "Father, what's going on..." Yesterday, he had just encountered a great calamity, and today another thing happened at home. Zheng Fangjing felt extremely uneasy in his heart. At this time, seeing his father's unusual behavior, he hurriedly followed him into the house to ask.

  Zheng Pengju let out a deep sigh, rubbed his forehead: "Why is Old Man Ye so kind as to lend us money? Isn't it because of Zhuo'er's sake? But your mother did such a thing. How can Old Man Ye think of us now? I reckon he's deeply regretting lending us the money. That's why I've been running around borrowing money today, wanting to return the Ye family's money. After visiting all our relatives and friends, I only managed to borrow over 40 taels of silver."

  "It's all useless. Bringing such a great calamity to our family." Zheng Fangjing lowered his head.

  "At first, we didn't have any ulterior motives and agreed to Old Man Ye's request, doing our best at the Jade Workshop. Who would have thought that such a disaster would occur? It's all because of being disloyal and unfaithful, which led to this outcome. Alas, in this world, you reap what you sow, every action has consequences." Zheng Pengju sighed. He turned his head and looked at Zheng Fangjing: "What do you think is the best way to make up for today's events?"

  Zheng Fangjing thought for a moment, opened his mouth wanting to speak, but then lowered his head to look at the ground in front of him. That gesture was a sign that he had made up his mind not to say anything more.

  The best way to make amends would be for his mother, Liu, to apologize to his aunt. But he thought about his mother's temperament and knew she wouldn't go, and might even cause a big scene at home, leading his father to completely lose hope in her. Although his mother's attitude towards his aunt was over the top, she was still very good to him and his siblings, as well as their father. She would rather sacrifice herself than let them suffer, always leaving the best for the children and her husband. As a son, even if he knew his mother had handled things poorly with his aunt, he couldn't abandon his mother to care for his aunt's feelings.

  So he simply didn't speak.

  Zheng Pengju saw that he didn't speak, his eyes were somewhat complicated. He didn't force him, but just said: "You go and persuade your mother, after all, you have to go to the Ye family for a visit. Apologize and make amends."

  Zheng Fangjing remained silent for a while before responding, "Yes." He turned and went to Liu's room. After a long time, he returned to his own room and said to Zheng Fangjing, "Mother is unwilling."

  Zheng Peng nodded slightly, didn't eat or wash up, took off his outer clothes and spread out the bedding, then lay down on the bed.

  "Dad, let's eat first and then sleep." Zheng Fangjing said hastily. Today's meal was cooked by Zheng Fangzi, but because Zheng Pengju didn't come home, Liu Shi locked herself in her room doing needlework, sewing shoes while silently crying. The atmosphere at home was extremely oppressive, no one had the mood to eat, they were all waiting for their father to return and make up with their mother, then have dinner together. But unexpectedly, Zheng Pengju came back, didn't even greet Liu Shi, didn't eat dinner either, and went straight to sleep.

  "I'm not hungry." Zheng Peng raised his hand and closed his eyes.

  Looking at his father, who looked older and more tired than people of the same age, Zheng Fangjing stood in front of the bed for a long time before quietly turning around and closing the door to leave. When he went outside, he didn't go to the kitchen but instead went to Liu's room again, where he talked with Liu until midnight.

  Yue Zhuo followed Zheng Shi onto the carriage and instructed the coachman to drive forward. Turning his head, he said to Zheng Shi, "Mother, why don't you come back with me to my grandfather's house first?"

  Zheng's family looked out the window, not speaking. If Ye Zhuo hadn't come today, she would have left the Zheng family too. But after leaving the Zheng family, where to go, her heart was very confused. She didn't want to go to the Ye family's main house, the Ye family was a wound in her heart, although she didn't have any attachment to the Ye family either, and wouldn't be resentful about that place, but according to her personality, once she left there, she would never be willing to set foot in the Ye family's territory again, even if it was the main house instead of the second house. That day she went to eat, only because motherly love overpowered everything, wanting to see her daughter's living environment.

  Zheng's feelings, Ye Zhuo understood very well. But Zheng left the Zheng family too suddenly, leaving her unprepared. At this time, not going to the Ye family's main house, wouldn't it be letting Zheng live in an inn? That place is full of all sorts of people coming and going. With Zheng's appearance, living there is really unsafe. And in a hurry, where can you find a suitable place? Helpless, she could only go to the Ye family's main house for a few days first, then slowly search, either buying or renting a small courtyard, and buying some servants to accompany her - but these, Ye Zhuo didn't think were safe either, it was just a temporary measure.

  At this time, Zheng's family did not make a sound, and Ye Zhuo had to analyze these situations for her to listen. He also said: "Mother, I know you don't want to meet the people of the second house, so as not to suffer from gossip and cause trouble. But you also know that the first house and the second house have nothing to do with each other. You live there, as long as you don't go out and walk around, even if you live for half a year, you won't see anyone from the second house. So don't worry at all."

  Zheng sighed and nodded: "Okay, I'll stay for a few days first, and when I find a house, I'll move out."

  Ye Zhuo was overjoyed and hastily instructed the coachman to head towards the alley where Ye's family resided. Upon arriving at the entrance, Ye Zhuo told Qiu Yue: "You go down first and inform Grandmother and Aunt about the situation. I'll come with my mother later." He then turned to Zheng Shi and explained, "Mother, don't worry, Qiu Yue knows what to say and what not to say." This was also a way of saving face for everyone. Otherwise, if they had to explain the reason behind the events, they would inevitably have to mention the wrongdoings of the Zheng family members. Zheng Shi felt embarrassed upon hearing this, and Guan Shi and Zhao Shi would also feel awkward - as for Ye Yuqi, he should not be at home at this time, having gone to the workshop.

  This autumn moon, Zheng herself helped Ye Zhuo choose the maid, naturally also knew that she was a very steady person, and nodded, letting Autumn Moon go in to report.

  In a little while, Guan and Zhao came out of the courtyard. Ye Zhuo saw them and hastily got down from his carriage.

  "Miss, come down quickly. If you continue to be so stubborn, Aunt will get angry. When Aunt gets angry, she might scold Zhu'er severely. At that time, don't say I didn't warn you." Guan Shi said with a smile, as she walked to the front of the carriage and stretched out her hand to help Zheng Shi down from the carriage.

  "Aunt..." Hearing Gu's words that were not the least bit foreign, and seeing her face full of kindness, Zheng suddenly felt a pang in her nose, and the tears that had not fallen in the Zheng household flowed out here.

  She got off the carriage, supporting Madame Guan's hand. She bowed her head and curtsied to Madame Guan and Zhao: "Aunt, sister-in-law, Manwen will be bothering you for a few days."

  "Don't say such polite words, what's troubling or not troubling. You are Zhu'er's mother, and you're my own daughter-in-law. Now that you've arrived here, it's just like coming home." said Guan Shi.

  Even Zhao, who was usually cold and taciturn, smiled warmly at Zheng and said, "Don't be polite, please come in quickly."

  To avoid embarrassing Zheng, Guan didn't bring her to the main hall to sit and chat, but instead led her to a room and said with a smile: "You also know that we have only one courtyard, on the other side of the main house, I live in one room with your uncle, and Zhuo'er lives next door. This side is where your sister-in-law and Qiu Yue live. There's only this room left, so you'll just have to make do. Although it's a bit simple, it's extremely clean. The room next door is your sister-in-law's, so you two can chat and keep each other company, it's quite lively."

  Just as they were talking, Qiujie had already brought over clean bedding and curtains, and was spreading them out with Qiuyue.

  "Besides, I said earlier that I regard you as my own daughter. You should be living here. You also know that our family has few people and is usually quiet and empty, so I like it lively the most. If you can live here, Auntie will be happy, don't mention moving out again."

  Zheng didn't want to argue with Guan at this time, so he just responded casually, but his mind remained unchanged.

  Yè Zhuó was worried that Zheng would not be at ease, so she intervened and made some small talk to bring Zheng closer to Guān and Zhào. After Guān and Zhào left, Yè brought Zheng around the courtyard again, introducing her to various places. Seeing that Zheng was interested in Zhào's embroidery skills, she accompanied her to Zhào's room to watch her work and chat. Only then did she go to Guān's room alone and ask: "Grandmother, do you know if anyone nearby is selling or renting out a courtyard?" She knew that Zheng didn't want to live near the Yè estate, but living too far away made her uneasy. Unable to think of a solution that would satisfy both concerns, she prioritized safety above all else.

  Guan's eyes widened as if she was about to scold her for saying that, Ye Zhuang hastily said: "You know my mother's temper. She can only stay here because I half-forced and half-persuaded her to agree. It's impossible for her to live here permanently. Moreover, if the people in the second house find out, they'll say strange things, and my mother will really be ashamed to death. So, it's better to find a suitable place as soon as possible."

  Miss Guan sighed and swallowed the words that were on her lips, thinking for a moment before saying: "The Wang old woman next door is the most well-informed, I'll go ask her." After finishing speaking, she went out the door. Half a while later, she returned and said: "There are two places renting houses, and there's also a courtyard for sale on the other side of Qingyun Alley."

  *Sigh* I'm already busy, and now the computer is malfunctioning, so it's late. Thank you stillia for the sachet and Flowing_Ting for the peace amulet, thank you... GuDiaoXianYin for the pink ticket!