How did such immense wealth fall into my family?

Chapter 8 is truly unexpected.

Everyone was so frightened that they fell silent. Even Madam Tang couldn't help but tremble.

Everyone turned to look behind them.

Zhang was standing beside a broken vat, holding an axe. Zhang was the wife of Qian Dajiang, the second son of Qian Laifu.

Seeing that everyone in the courtyard had fallen silent, Zhang said loudly, "Stop arguing. Since Madam Tang is here, let me tell you how to resolve this matter. Madam Tang, considering that Chunhua threw a basin at your daughter, could you let my family repay the money over several generations? Don't worry, I'll have the men in my family write you IOUs. I'll have them write on the IOUs that if they can't repay the debt, their son will continue to repay it; if their son can't repay it, their grandson will continue to repay it; and if their grandson can't repay it, their great-grandson will continue to repay it. What do you think?"

Before Madam Tang could speak, Madam Zhao objected. "Madam Zhang, what do you mean? Do you want Madam Tang to break off the engagement?"

Zhang cursed inwardly. "Shut up. What else can you do after this happens besides chasing after your third son's wife and beating her?"

"Why...why should I listen to you?"

Zhang didn't want to pay any attention to Zhao. She said this for three reasons: first, to let Madam Tang know that her family wouldn't renege on their debt; second, to hope that Madam Tang wouldn't break off the engagement, considering Chunhua had once saved her daughter and their family's sincerity; and third, because she didn't think her father-in-law was that kind of person. Perhaps he would return in a few days.

Zhang glanced at Zhao. "Do you have any other ideas?"

Zhao was stumped by the question. "Mother, look at her."

Granny Tian ruffled her hair. The second son's wife was truly unexpected. Usually, she was always unnoticed, sandwiched between the eldest and third sons' wives, but when it mattered most, she stepped up and took responsibility. "Do you have any other ideas?"

Zhao felt like vomiting blood. If she had any other way, she would have said so already. Zhao looked at the three brothers, Qian Dashan, Qian Dajiang, and Qian Dahe.

The three brothers are still reeling from the fact that their father not only abandoned them but also took away their savings.

Seeing them still standing there in a daze, Zhao got angry and kicked them a few times. "Are you all mute? Zhang is going to make you and your children and grandchildren pay off that old geezer's debts, and you're still standing here in a daze!"

Qian Dashan wiped his face. "What's wrong with the second son's wife?"

Zhao repeated Zhang's words.

Qian Dashan thought for a moment. "Let's do as the second son's wife says."

"What?! Are you crazy?!" Zhao couldn't believe her ears. "If Da Niu has so much debt, how can he still get married?"

Qian Dashan didn't want to either. But what could he do, having such a father? "Why can't I get married? At worst, I'll marry a widow."

Zhao: "..." Why are her son and daughter so unlucky? "Second son, third son, are you two happy about this too?"

What can I do if I'm not willing?

I really want to find his father and ask him why he treated them this way. What did they do to offend his father?
Qian Dajiang and Qian Dahe nodded dejectedly.

"You...you...why is my life so miserable?" Zhao cried sadly.

bump!
Zhang tapped the broken water vat beside her again. "Don't cry. Madam Tang, is this alright?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Chunhua came out of the house with red eyes. "Second Aunt, I don't want to drag my brothers down with me. I'm going to become a concubine for the old master of a wealthy family."

Upon hearing this, Zhao became agitated. "What did you say? Are you crazy? Madam Tang didn't say she wanted to break off the engagement."

Zhang felt sorry for Chunhua. Such a good marriage had turned out like this. "What are you saying, child? How is it your fault? It's clearly your grandfather who's confused. Your grandfather has so many children and grandchildren, how could he let a little girl like you shoulder this burden? Xiahua, Qiuhua, come out and help your eldest sister back home."

Summer Flower and Autumn Flower responded and came out of the house, pulling Spring Flower back inside.

Chunhua wanted to speak again, but Zhang knocked on the water jar once more. "Go back. With so many elders in the family, it's not your place to take on these responsibilities." Madam Tang's eyes darkened. She hadn't expected Qian's second daughter-in-law to be so capable. "Ya'er, what are you standing there for?"

"Ah? Oh." Tang Xiaoya remembered; she had come to comfort Qian Chunhua. She hadn't expected the country folk to react this way when faced with a difficult situation.

After Tang Xiaoya entered the house, Madam Tang looked at the people in the courtyard and said, "I'm not here to break off the engagement. I'm here to see if I can help in any way. Chunhua is such a good person, I can't bear to break it off."

Zhao's eyes widened immediately. "Really? That's wonderful. Chunhua, Chunhua, you don't have to go and become the old man's concubine anymore."

bump!
Zhang knocked on the jar again. "Sister-in-law, calm down."

Madam Xu wanted Madam Tang to help her find Gou Sheng. However, Madam Tang only said she wouldn't break off the engagement, but didn't say she wouldn't hold the betrothal money against them.

Granny Tian was a little disappointed. If the Tang family had simply broken off the engagement, her husband and granddaughter wouldn't have had to suffer.

Granny Tian wiped away her tears and looked at Madam Tang with a face full of guilt, saying, "You are such a good person. Even after such a thing happened to your family, you are still willing to become in-laws with us. I...I...I don't know what to say. Please come in, please come in."

"Alright. Don't worry too much about the dowry. Just consider it my second son's way of showing respect to the old man."

"That won't do. You talk to the county magistrate and ask him to bring that old bastard back. That old bastard has gone too far. I've followed him for so many years and he treats me like this. I must bring him back."

"This……"

"Please talk to the county magistrate, I'm begging you."

"This……"

"I'm begging you, Auntie. You must bring that old bastard back. I can't swallow this insult."

"Alright. I'll speak to the magistrate for you. Let's not mention the betrothal gift again; we're in-laws."

Granny Tian waved her hand and said, "No, no. We'll be very grateful if you don't break off the engagement."

Madam Tang smiled and said, "If you insist on bringing up the matter of the betrothal gift, then I will break off the engagement."

Granny Tian really wanted to say, "Then you can return it." However, Madam Tang was clearly joking. "This..."

Madam Tang, holding Granny Tian's hand, said with a smile, "Auntie, if you mention it again, I really won't be your in-laws anymore."

"Fine. If Chunhua is ever unfilial to you, I'll break her legs."

The Qian family members all breathed a sigh of relief. Especially the men of the Qian family; if the Tang family had asked them to repay the money, they would have had to pay it back for several lifetimes.

Mrs. Tang had lunch at the Qian family's house before leaving. She left quite a few things for the Qian family when she departed.

The villagers envied Qian Chunhua even more because they saw that Madam Tang had no intention of breaking off the engagement.

After Madam Tang left, Granny Tian was just about to lie down and rest when Madam Zhang came in. As soon as Madam Zhang came in, she looked at Granny Tian and said, "Mother, where are my father and Gousheng hiding? I'll bring them some food; they must be hungry."

Meanwhile, as soon as Madam Tang's carriage left Qianjia Village, she looked at her wet nurse and asked in a low voice, "Do you think the Qian family is putting on an act with us?"

The wet nurse replied softly, "This old servant doesn't think so. However, just to be on the safe side, let's send someone to observe secretly, lest we capsize in a small ditch."

Madam Tang nodded. "That's what I think too. Especially that Zhang woman."

(End of this chapter)