They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 29 What if Madam Xu remarries?
Uncle Liang could only force a smile. "Then you go ahead with your work. We'll be going now. We're all family, after all. You're a daughter-in-law of the Liang family, so you should think more about the Liang family's reputation when you speak."

Don't say things you shouldn't say.

Xu Zhichun raised an eyebrow: "Uncle, don't worry, I understand. As a person, you should be aware of your place. Not only should you speak appropriately, but you should also act accordingly."

Uncle Liang's face darkened, and he gave a slight, cold laugh: "You know best."

Their eyes clashed, and Xu Zhichun's gaze was cold: who didn't know and who knew the truth in their hearts.

Uncle Liang stormed off with a dark expression.

Zhang couldn't help but take a couple of steps closer to Aunt Zhu'er, her eyes glued to the bowl of peanuts and pig's feet in her hand. The soup was rich and the pig's feet were tender; it looked delicious.

"Sister-in-law Zhu'er, did you bring this to them specially?"

Aunt Pearl: "Hmm? Ah?"

Zhang reached out to take it, smiling, "They can't eat this much. My little Bao is growing and should eat more. Give it to me. Xu, you're an adult, you wouldn't fight with your own nephew for food, would you?"

Xu Zhichun: "."

Aunt Zhu'er thought to herself that she had come at the wrong time. Xu Zhichun said that stewed pig's feet with peanuts was delicious, and that it would be best to stew the meat for a long time until it was very tender, so she had started stewing it on a low flame a long time ago. Anyway, the two houses were close by, and there was a large piece of firewood burning in the stove that could burn for a long time. She could just go back and check the fire from time to time, which would not affect her peeling and cutting konjac at all.

Sure enough, after stewing for a long time, the pig's trotters and peanuts were tender, soft, and very flavorful. She specially served a large bowl for Xu Zhichun and Liang Mingxuan to try, but unexpectedly, the two families from the first and second branches of the family also came.

Although Aunt Zhu'er was of the same generation as Zhang and Bai, they were much older and rarely interacted. The pig trotters she sent to Xu Zhichun were made with carefully selected good meat and in large quantities, so she was unwilling to let Zhang have them.

Besides, Zhang and Xu Zhichun don't get along, so even for the sake of her good friend, she shouldn't be given the benefit.

Zhang took a step back, gesturing with her hands to the side, and stammered, "No, it wasn't delivered. I, I just suddenly remembered I had something to tell Zhichun, and in my haste, I forgot to put down the bowl before coming. Yes, I have something to discuss with Zhichun."

Zhang didn't believe it, and scoffed, "You really have a bad memory."

Aunt Zhu chuckled.

Xu Zhichun: "Does Auntie have anything else? If not, please leave."

"Humph!"

Zhang glared at Xu Zhichun angrily and left in a huff.

Bai remained silent the whole time, smiled at Xu Zhichun, and then followed her.

Xu Zhichun felt a chill run down her spine from her laughter. She wasn't afraid of someone like Zhang Shi who was loud and brash and openly bad, but this second aunt always gave people a very uncomfortable feeling, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark, ready to pounce and bite someone at any moment.

Zhang grew angrier and angrier, cursing incessantly the whole way. Bai listened for half the journey, then smiled and said when they arrived at the door, "Forget it, sister-in-law, don't be angry. Even if you're angry, Xu won't see it. And even if she did, she wouldn't care. She'd probably just be smug and happy. Why bother?"

Zhang was even angrier: "She dares!" After thinking about it, Xu really did seem to dare, after all, she even dared to take out a knife. "What a misfortune for the family, that idiot who doesn't know how to appreciate kindness."

A ruthless glint flashed in Bai's eyes, and she smiled faintly, "If you ask me, I can't blame Xu. With Minglang gone, she has no one to rely on, and she's still young. Of course, she wants to hold onto everything tightly, since she has a long life ahead of her."

Zhang snorted. She didn't care whether Xu Zhichun lived or died. She had many sons who were growing up, and their small plot of land wasn't enough. If they could acquire the fertile land of the third branch, they would be much better off. It originally belonged to the Liang family. Now that Liang Minglang was gone, it should have belonged to their eldest branch. Xu Zhichun was an outsider; what right did she have?

Madam Bai sighed, "If Madam Xu remarries, she will have someone to rely on for the rest of her life, and naturally she won't insist on clinging to our Liang family's things anymore."

A thought struck Zhang, and she suddenly understood.

Yes, why not let Xu remarry? She's still young and doesn't have any children. I don't believe she wouldn't want to remarry.

Let her remarry and get out of here. Not only will all three houses and land belong to our family, but we'll also get a dowry. We're raising that brat Liang Mingxuan; whether he amount to anything in the future or not, he'll have to repay our family.

Bai added, "Xu is outstanding in appearance and young, but I'm afraid she might not be willing to marry into an ordinary family. We need to find her a good one."

Zhang sneered, "No matter what, she's a second-time bride. It's good enough that someone wants her. How dare she be picky? Dream on! Second sister-in-law, they say the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. I will take care of this for her. Second sister-in-law, don't worry about it."

Bai smiled and lowered her eyes: "Then I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law."

"Humph."

Zhang felt much better and, with a light step, went back to discuss it with her husband.

Bai was also very satisfied; she decided to let her sister-in-law handle the task that might offend people.

Aunt Zhu put down a large bowl of braised pork trotters with peanuts, smiling as she said, "I made it just as you said, and it's really delicious. I brought a bowl over especially for you to try. What are your aunt and uncle doing here again?"

Xu Zhichun, unlike the eldest and second wives, had no sense of family honor. He said with a wry smile, "It's all because of my family's six acres of fertile land. They want it, but I won't give it to them. If they try to take it, I'll threaten them with a knife if they push me too far."

Aunt Zhu'er was startled and quickly said, "The village head will not allow them to act recklessly. Next time you go to see the village head, but don't use a knife. It's too scary. What if you hurt yourself? They've gone too far."

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "I know what I'm doing. I'll go to the village head when it's time to do so."

We can't go to the village head for everything; it's not good to do it too often. Good steel should be used where it's needed most.

Aunt Zhu sighed inwardly, gently comforted her for a few moments, and then smiled and said, "My husband is back. He'll be resting for several days. I told him you want to make something. I have quite a lot of wood at home. I'll call him when I come over tomorrow morning. Just tell him what you want to make, and I'll make sure it's all done perfectly for you."

Xu Zhichun was overjoyed and nodded and smiled, "Okay, okay, then I'll have to trouble Uncle Qitian! It would be best if you had timber, it would save me trouble. Uncle Qitian, just calculate the cost of the timber and labor according to the market price, otherwise I would feel embarrassed to trouble you."

Aunt Zhu chuckled and patted her shoulder affectionately, saying playfully, "What are you saying? You think I'd charge you the market price? Don't embarrass me. I'd be so ashamed if I did. I won't lie to you, the timber was all bought from suppliers at cost price. As for wages—he's just resting at home anyway, so it's just practice for fun. Why bother with wages?"

(End of this chapter)