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

Chapter 372 Solving the White Water Lily Problem

Yang Ming stood there dumbfounded.
"what?"

Everyone else was stunned, especially the fourth aunt and the other elderly women. Their eyes clearly said: "I'm old and my hearing isn't very good. I must have misheard you, right? Right?"

Xu Zhichun and the others were stunned; thunder roared in the sky.
Bai Shuilian pleaded tearfully, "Please, I don't want to leave Xiao An again. I've already missed so many years. Please let me stay by Xiao An's side and keep him company!"

Xu Zhichun's expression remained calm, but her heart clenched unconsciously.

She was almost certain that Bai Shuilian had come prepared. It was a clever plan; by retreating in a pitiful manner while simultaneously appealing to the righteous cause of loving her son, she easily evoked sympathy.

If Yang Mingxin softens and agrees, Xiao Juan's life will be difficult from now on.

Xiao Juan is no match for Bai Shuilian.

Even if Yang Ming was able to be vigilant and wary of Bai Shuilian at first, as the days went by, he couldn't keep up the guard forever. Water dripping wears away stone, and one day Bai Shuilian would succeed.

"no!"

Yang Ming snapped out of his daze, shaking his head vigorously, and resolutely refused, "No, no!"

Xu Zhichun subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Bai Shuilian cried bitterly, "I only want the title of concubine. I'll serve you as a servant, isn't that enough? I really just want to stay and take care of Xiao An. How can you be so heartless! You won't even give me a chance to make amends? Or is it Zeng Shi's idea? I'll go and beg her."

"Don't bother her! This has nothing to do with her. No way, we country folk don't do this kind of thing."

Yang Ming even found it difficult to talk about it; what was so shameful about a concubine?

"I just want a title and I only want to make it up to Xiao An properly. I will absolutely not get in your way."

"no."

No matter how much Bai Shuilian pleaded or begged, Yang Ming simply shook his head and said no.

He couldn't come up with many reasons, and Bai Shuilian's crying made him seem like a heartless person, leaving him in a sorry state.

Seeing this, Xu Zhichun had no choice but to interject: "Aunt Bai, if you become a concubine, wouldn't Xiao An become a concubine who bears children? Wouldn't that be too unfair to Xiao An? Xiao An is all grown up now and can earn money to support the family on her own. She doesn't need anyone to take care of her at all. Aunt Bai, please don't say such things."

Yang Ming's eyes lit up, and he looked at Xu Zhichun gratefully. His tone became much more assertive: "Mrs. Xu is absolutely right. I can't let Xiao An suffer. Please stop talking."

Bai Shuilian was furious. "As the saying goes, it's better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage. Does Madam Shanci deserve the title of Madam Shanci by saying such things?"

Fourth Madam frowned: "Bai Shuilian, you've already divorced, you're no longer a Yang family daughter-in-law, don't talk nonsense. I think Yang Ming is right, it's not appropriate for you to be a concubine."

Liang Lizheng: "That's right."

She wouldn't be a concubine, much less a wife. Bai Shuilian was in despair and burst into tears.

Yang Ming: "Although you haven't fulfilled your responsibilities as a mother, you did give birth to Xiao An and raised him for three or four years. Today, I ask Liang Village Chief, Great-Grandma, and Great-Grandpa to write this agreement as witnesses. From now on, Xiao An will give you one hundred copper coins every month for your old age, every six months. That's all. If you're not satisfied, then you won't get a single coin. When it's time to give it to you, he'll have someone deliver it to you. You're not allowed to appear in Liang Family Village again. If you come once, one month's old age will be deducted; if you come twice, six months' old age will be deducted."

Bai Shuilian was furious: "He earns two taels of silver a month, and he only gives me one hundred coins? What can one hundred coins do!" Yang Ming didn't expect her to know so much, and his gaze turned even colder. "If you don't want it, then forget it."

She is no longer a member of the Yang family, and she abandoned her family when Yang Xiaoan was a child. Even if she doesn't support her, what can she do?
Does she really think she can live a life of luxury by relying on Xiao An? Impossible.

Unable to haggle any longer, Bai Shuilian reluctantly agreed, accepting the three hundred coins on the spot before leaving in a huff.

The turmoil, at least on the surface, has come to an end.

Xu Zhichun hadn't expected Uncle Yang Ming to make such a decision, and he had actually overestimated him. Xiao Juan had finally turned her luck around.
妾啊
Xu Zhichun was so far removed from this type of person in his life that he almost forgot they existed in this era.

She glanced at Liang Minglang quickly, her feelings a mix of emotions. It was hard to imagine what it would be like if he ever mentioned taking a concubine.

"Master Liang," Xu Zhichun teased half-jokingly on the way home, "Have you ever thought about enjoying the blessings of having multiple wives and taking a concubine? Master Liang's family fortune is not much less than that of the wealthy families in the city. I'm afraid the Zeng family is even more impoverished than Master Liang now. Mingxuan is so smart and hardworking, with a bright future ahead of him. Master Liang's status will rise accordingly, and then he will be a true master in name and in fact!"

Liang Minglang looked at her helplessly and smiled bitterly, "Zhichun, the family fortune you've built will always be yours. I can't covet what's yours—"

He suddenly realized that he was basically living off Xu Zhichun, wasn't he? After all, he hadn't brought anything back with him; wasn't he just being supported by Xu Zhichun?
Liang Minglang's mood suddenly became somewhat complicated.

This one
Actually, that's not how it should be calculated.

At the very least, he was selling his labor, wasn't he?
After a moment's thought, Liang Minglang convinced himself and felt at peace.

"All the family property is yours! Also, I will only marry the person I love, and I will not take concubines. If you want to get married in the future, you must keep your eyes open. You must not marry anyone with impure intentions who always wants to have multiple wives. Such people are definitely thinking of taking advantage of your family's wealth and living off you!"

"Yes, definitely, there will be no exceptions!"

Look at him, he won't.
Liang Minglang's heart pounded slightly, and he felt a little guilty, after all, he had smuggled in his own agenda. He'd made it so obvious, surely Zhichun would understand?

Xu Zhichun didn't understand, but he was somewhat amused and exasperated.

She was testing him, but he instead offered her advice.

Xu Zhichun didn't know how to answer, so she just said "Oh".

After all, he meant well.

Liang Minglang didn't know whether he felt relieved or slightly disappointed. In any case, she had listened, right? As long as she listened, he would see her sooner or later.

Two days later, it was time to go into town to check the shop accounts, and Liang Minglang accompanied Xu Zhichun as usual.

Xu Zhichun is now very used to him being with her. With him by her side, she can subconsciously relax a lot, relaxing both her body and mind.

Because she knew that with him by her side, she didn't have to be tense, vigilant, or worried about being looked down upon or having any other thoughts, no matter who she met.

Zhong Changkuan was very good at managing the shop, and the accounts were crystal clear. Xu Zhichun was just going through the motions. After looking at the accounts, he planned to buy some meat and go home.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Lou Er from afar on the street.

Lou Er seemed startled when he saw her and hurriedly shrank into an alley to hide.