A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

After the Liu family scrambled away, an unusual silence fell over the Chen family's courtyard.

Chen Wanxing turned to look at her family, the coldness on her face melting away, revealing a tired but relaxed smile: "It's alright, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law. But, they probably won't dare to come again."

But perhaps they were still frightened by what she had just done. Even Qing Sui, who was usually the most lively, didn't dare to utter a sound. She just stared at Chen Wanxing, who was standing in the middle of the courtyard with a calm expression, and didn't dare to rush over as usual. Uncle Chen kept his head down and didn't even dare to breathe.

Chen Wanxing took in her family’s reactions and felt a pang of helplessness. She didn’t want to frighten them, but some boundaries had to be drawn in the clearest way possible.

She didn't say anything, but silently turned around and went back to her room, leaving her family to process the situation.

Over the next two or three days, although no one did it on purpose, the atmosphere in the Chen family was still somewhat subtle. Everyone spoke and acted with a bit of unconscious caution, especially when facing Chen Wanxing. Chen's third aunt would unconsciously glance at her more when serving rice, as if confirming something.

They only knew in their hearts that Chen Wanxing came from a big city, but apart from the fact that Chen Wanxing was prettier and more elegant in her movements, they didn't feel that there was much distance between them.

Since she came back, she has always been very approachable and kind to them and the children.

So when they suddenly learned that Chen Wanxing might be carrying a huge sum of money, and that her food, possessions, and experiences might be different from theirs, even beyond their wildest imaginations, especially after witnessing her other side yesterday, a sense of distance immediately arose.

Chen Wanxing saw this and was both amused and exasperated, but she didn't know how to break the ice. So she just maintained her usual gentle and calm demeanor and did what she was supposed to do.

On the third day at breakfast, Grandma Chen looked at her children and grandchildren who were still somewhat reserved at the table, especially Uncle Chen, who didn't even dare to reach far with his chopsticks, and finally couldn't hold back anymore.

The old man slammed his chopsticks down on the table with a loud thud, a sound that stopped everyone in their tracks.

"I'm telling you all," Grandma Chen's gaze swept over her son, daughter-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter-in-law, finally settling on her second son, who looked like a quail, her tone filled with exasperation and disappointment, "What are you all thinking? Huh? Who are you trying to impress with this act?"

She pointed at Chen Wanxing and said to everyone, "Wanxing is your own daughter, your own sister, your own niece. She suffered so much outside and learned skills to come back so as to protect herself and not let outsiders bully her."

"You guys are something else. You were protected by your own family once, and now you're all scared? Do you think we're the same as those greedy Liu family scoundrels who want to take advantage of her?"

Grandma Chen became increasingly angry as she spoke: "She's shrewd, that's her skill, she's good at dealing with outsiders. Has she ever been the slightest bit unkind to her own family? She buys you all this and that, always thinking about the younger ones, even her newborn nephew. In the days since she came back, has she ever given anyone a hard time or acted arrogantly?"

"You lot are acting like outsiders, all cowering and behaving like cowards. What kind of behavior is this? Are the Chen family members so spineless?"

This barrage of scolding was like a gust of wind, blowing away the subtle estrangement and invisible pressure that had been hanging over the Chen family for the past few days. Mr. and Mrs. Chen looked embarrassed, Chen Yanche scratched his head, and the children all smiled.

After Grandma Chen finished scolding, she calmed down a bit, picked up her chopsticks again, put a piece of food in Chen Wanxing's bowl, and said in a gentler tone: "Eat, everyone eat properly, just be yourself. We're family, don't do those formalities, it'll make us feel distant."

"Why."

"Yes, Mother."

Everyone readily agreed, and the atmosphere at the dinner table visibly relaxed and became more lively. Chen Wanxing lowered her head, eating the pile of food in her bowl, a subtle smile playing on her lips. This is good.

In the past few days, Liu has almost recovered. She is quite robust, and her body, which has been working hard for many years, is stronger than that of ordinary women. The cold came on fiercely, but it went away quickly.

After the high fever subsided, he was given bitter herbal decoctions for several days in a row, along with nutritious food to nourish him. His complexion improved day by day, and his energy gradually returned.

However, although the person can get out of bed and walk around, the knot in their heart seems to be harder to get rid of than the root of the disease.

Now, whenever she sees Chen Wanxing, whether it's during a meal in the main room or a chance encounter in the courtyard, Liu always subconsciously avoids eye contact, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet.

They either quickly made an excuse to leave, or they lowered their heads, looking even more timid than when facing their mother-in-law, Grandma Chen.

A few days later, seeing that the matter at home had been completely settled, Grandma Chen finally brought up the matter that had been lingering in her heart for a long time on an evening when the whole family was together.

Inside the main room, the flickering oil lamp cast a dim, yellowish light.

Grandma Chen asked her father to invite Uncle Chen's second and third uncles' families over as well. She didn't even let the children go to bed early, creating an unusually solemn atmosphere.

"I've gathered you all here today because there's something important I need to discuss with you." Grandma Chen got straight to the point, her gaze slowly sweeping over her three sons and daughters-in-law before finally settling on Chen Wanxing, who was sitting quietly to the side. "Although the Liu family's matter is over, it has served as a reminder to this old woman, and to all of you."

She sighed softly, a sigh carrying the weight of years and a hint of barely perceptible weariness:

"Mancang, during the most difficult times, every night I wished I could take you three brothers and jump into the river to end it all."

Now, as life goes by, and all these years have passed, seeing you brothers all get married and establish yourselves, your mother has finally made it through.

Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Chen's mother's eyes reddened slightly. She wanted to say something, but Chen's father gently pressed her hand down.

Grandma Chen spoke calmly, yet with a sense of relief, and continued, "But now you three brothers each have your own little families, with things to worry about and plan for. This whole family, a dozen or so people, eating from the same pot and living under the same account book, it's inevitable that your minds won't be entirely aligned."

With so many people around, the worst thing is for you to have ulterior motives while I'm scheming. Over time, even the closest brothers and sisters-in-law will develop suspicions. Constantly bickering over trivial matters and daily necessities will damage harmony and weaken relationships.

Grandma Chen took a deep breath and uttered the word that had been weighing on her heart: "After thinking it over, I feel that... we should separate the family."