Chapter Seventy-two Departure

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  "Zheng Manwen, watch your words." Liu said sternly, "Those dowries of yours are all from the Zheng family..."

  "Enough, don't drag those things in. That dowry was given to me by my father, it's mine, and has nothing to do with my brother or you. I gave it to you out of kindness; if I didn't give it to you, what could you do to me? Now you've got the benefit but won't even acknowledge it, not a shred of gratitude in your heart. You really think that money was yours all along? If you're not concerned about losing face, let's go out on the street and ask people to judge who should get the money!"

  She paused, then said: "Originally, the Zheng family only had me and my brother left. I helped you because of my brother's face, and I don't need your gratitude. But you can't be too excessive, thinking that this is what should happen. If it weren't for you, would I have made things so bad with the Ye family? Would I have been forced to divorce and come back? And now, not only do you treat me poorly every day, but you also want to squeeze money out of me. When there's no money, you mock me; now, because of 200 taels of silver, you even want to sell me off. Tell me, which one of these things doesn't make your heart cold?"

  "Daughter." Ye Zhuo heard this and stepped into the main room, "You shouldn't stay here either, come with me." After finishing speaking, she coldly swept a glance at Liu Shi.

  Zheng scolded Liu, and she had no intention of staying here any longer. With her temperament, she would rather be left on the streets than stay in the Zheng family again. So when she saw Ye Zhuo coming, it was just right, and she didn't bother to say more to Liu. She turned around and went into the room to pack her things.

  Liu saw Ye Zhuo and immediately shouted towards Zheng's back: "When did I sell you for 200 taels of silver? You'd better be clear about this. It was Old Master Niu who sent someone to propose the marriage, and I thought it was a good match, so I advised you a couple of times. And yet you slander me like this! Sister, don't you have any sense of reason?"

  She said this in order to clear herself up in front of Ye Zhuo. She was worried that Ye Zhuo would get angry and ask them to return the money immediately.

  After saying that sentence, she went to pull Ye Zhuo: "Zhuo'er, you come and listen to what Hong Meipo said to your mother about this marriage. See if I'm advising her for her own good?"

  She didn't dare let Zheng Shi leave the Zheng family, otherwise Zheng Pengju would really get furious when he came back. But she was unwilling to swallow her pride and apologize to Zheng Shi. So after seeing Ye Zhuo, if she could persuade Zheng Shi to agree to that marriage, it would be even better - not only could they get the 200 taels of silver as betrothal gift, but also gain a connection with the Niu family in the future.

  "I've been standing outside, Auntie. I heard everything you said." Ye Zhuo shook off her hand and said calmly.

  Liu's face suddenly turned red with shame. Seeing Ye Zhuo following Zheng into the house, she thought for a moment, handed some money to Hong Meipo and instructed her not to spread the word about today's conversation, then turned around and followed Zheng into the room.

  Zheng didn't have much to pack either, just a few clothes and some daily necessities like combs and mirrors that she could easily stuff into the trunk. She also didn't want to chat with her daughter here, so as soon as she picked up the trunk and was about to leave, she ran into Liu at the door.

  Liu saw Zheng like this and panicked. Without regard for face, he hastily said: "Sister, don't be angry, the words I advised you were truly for your sake, not for money. Since you're unwilling, I'll just refuse Old Woman Hong's proposal. Come on, give the things to sister-in-law, don't be angry anymore!"

  Zheng didn't say a word, pushed Liu aside and pulled Ye Zhuo up to leave.

  Because Zheng Pengjie is always out during the day, and he respects Liu's family for sharing hardships with him, so Liu's status at home is also extremely high, usually saying one not two. At this time, seeing himself coming to beg Zheng like this in a low voice, Zheng didn't give her any face, and the smile on her face immediately sank down.

  Ye Zhuo had seen Liu's face before and had long wanted to let Zheng move out, but didn't know where to let her move, so she delayed. At this time, Zheng had already torn her face with Liu, and there was no way to persuade her to turn back. She took the box from Zheng's hand and followed her out.

  But unexpectedly, just as the mother and daughter had walked into the courtyard, Zheng Pengju pushed open the door and came in, followed by Zheng Fangjing and Zheng Fanghui. At first, Zheng Pengju didn't notice anything unusual and smiled, saying "Xiao Yu has arrived?" Then he saw Ye Zhuo and Qiu Yue's gloomy faces, as well as the box in Ye Zhuo's hand. His expression changed, and his eyes turned to Liu Shi, who had come out at the sound of their voices, and seeing that her face didn't look good either, asked: "What is going on? Why are you holding your mother's box?"

  Ye Zhuo saw Zheng Shi's gloomy face and her not saying a word, so he spoke up: "That 150 taels of silver, my grandfather lent it to you, so he won't rush you to pay it back. You don't need to sell my mother to repay the debt. Aunt said that if my mother didn't agree to the marriage, she would have to live in the woodshed, I'll take my mother away now." After finishing speaking, he pulled Zheng Shi's arm, "Mother, let's go."

  To prevent them from leaving, Liu's family distorted the truth, and she naturally had to apply the eye ointment.

  "Wait." Zheng Peng raised his voice, "How could you let your sister go like that?" He blocked Ye Zhuo and Zheng Shi, asking, "What do you mean by 'selling your mother'? What about the woodshed? Zhuo'er, tell your uncle clearly."

  Ye Zhuo hadn't even spoken, when Liu suddenly rushed over and shouted at Zheng Peng: "That Old Master Niu sent someone to propose a marriage, wanting to take your sister as a concubine, with a betrothal gift of 200 taels of silver. I thought this was a good match, she would have a good life, and we could use that 200 taels of silver to pay off our debts, what did I do wrong? I've been working hard for the Zheng family, but now I'm suddenly a criminal? You scold me with a few words and then turn your face away from me, what do I owe the Zheng family? The whole family is doing well, just me being stingy, calculating, not knowing how to be human. If you think I'm no good, I'll leave, so as not to be in the way here." After speaking, she wiped away her tears and rushed out.

  "Mother, what are you doing?" Zheng Fangjing pulled Liu back.

  Liu held her son's hand and burst into tears, feeling wronged.

  Ye Zhuo just wanted to gaze at the sky.

  What is called a villain making the first move, what is called advancing by retreating, she finally got to experience it.

  Zheng Pengju felt that his wife had borne him sons and daughters, managed the household chores, and was very hardworking. Moreover, her habit of pinching pennies was also his own fault, letting her become poor, so he had always been more tolerant towards Liu Shi. His younger sister, in order to help him, had sold her dowry, suffered many hardships at Ye Fu, and finally was divorced and sent back home, he felt even more guilty towards this younger sister. At this time, his younger sister stormed off in anger, his wife was extremely wronged, and both sides seemed to have their own reasons, he suddenly became flustered and didn't know what to do.

  Apart from Ye Zhuo, Zheng Pengju is the closest relative of the Zheng family; and before marriage, the brother and sister had a very good relationship. Just like this, when the Zheng family was in trouble and Zheng Pengju was poor, Zheng would take out her own dowry without hesitation to help her brother settle down, without leaving any way for herself. Although she didn't care about her brother just now and wanted to move out of the Zheng house with all her heart, she hoped that her brother could protect herself and scold her sister-in-law a few words. But unexpectedly, Zheng Pengju had a difficult and entangled face, while Zheng Fangjing and Zheng Fanghui only comforted their mother in a low voice. She couldn't help but smile sadly, and walked out without looking back after passing by Zheng Pengju.

  "Sister, sister..." Zheng Peng hurriedly stepped forward to stop Zheng Shi, "You know your sister-in-law's temper. If she did something wrong to you, please don't take it seriously for my sake. If you're not satisfied with the marriage arrangement, just say no. Don't mind what your sister-in-law said."

  Ye Zhuo couldn't help but laugh at this. It turned out that after all the commotion, Zheng Shi was just narrow-minded and petty, without any magnanimity; while Liu Shi was simply hot-tempered, with good intentions but poor execution.

  Zheng stopped in her tracks, slowly turned around, and looked at Zheng Pengju. "Brother, don't say anything else," she said. "I've paid so much for the Zheng family over the years, I think you understand. Now, sister-in-law is willing to sell me to someone as a concubine for 150 taels of silver; if I don't marry, she says that in the future, she won't be able to give us money and will make me live in the woodshed. She said that from now on, no matter if I'm sick or old, she won't care about me anymore. Such words, how can they not chill one's heart? What kind of home is this, where I can stay? Was I born owing your family a debt? Now, apart from this body, I have nothing else to bring benefits to you. Since I'm not willing to squeeze out the last bit of flesh and blood to repay my debt, then I'll just leave here. From now on, when I get sick, old, or die and turn into ashes, I will no longer have anything to do with the Zheng family." After finishing speaking, she turned around and left, as if not wanting to stay for another moment.

  Zheng said this with a expressionless face, no tears in her eyes, and a calm tone as if chatting about everyday things. However, each word and sentence was like a sharp dagger with blood and tears that pierced the heart, making people feel heart-wrenching pain that couldn't be suppressed. Zheng Pengju stared blankly at Zheng and Ye getting on the carriage, staring blankly as it drove away until it turned a corner at the street intersection and disappeared from sight. Only then did he turn around to look at Liu, his eyes showing no sadness or joy, his voice so soft that one had to listen carefully to hear: "What exactly did you do to my sister?"

  Liu was not afraid of Zheng Pengju's loud scolding, nor was she afraid of his physical abuse. After twenty years of marriage, she knew that Zheng Pengju both respected and loved her, and was extremely tolerant. As long as she pretended to be wronged, cried and made a scene, Zheng Pengju would back down, and in the end, he would even try to coax her and apologize. But unexpectedly, Zheng Pengju's expression at this moment was strange. She finally became somewhat afraid, tears streaming down her face: "Auntie Hong wasn't invited by me, and apart from being a concubine, Old Master Niu is actually not bad. I only advised my sister a couple of times, but she suddenly turned against me, saying that I wanted to sell her out. Waaah... even if I had some selfish motives, wanting the two hundred taels of silver as betrothal gifts for this family, I wouldn't push my sister into a fire pit, would I? Husband, I really don't have such an evil heart..."

  "What's going on with you living in a thatched cottage?" Zheng Pengju asked again, as if he couldn't see the tears on Liu's face.

  Thank you...... and ~ oh dear ~ blessed reward!