Chapter 98 - 97: Life Over Money

Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Life Over Money

Mrs. Zhou, upon hearing this, felt her heart grow cold, and tears welled up in her eyes instantly, "All I’ve done, what was it for? Outsiders don’t know, but you are my husband, don’t you understand? If it weren’t for Shunzi, I..."

Father Wen interrupted her, "For the sake of your son, you are willing to teach him to steal others’ belongings to sell, and to learn bad habits?"

"Those things were dug out from our own home, how did they become someone else’s?" Mrs. Zhou gritted her teeth, "I asked him to sell them just to add a bit of silver to ease your burdens. Besides, that thirty taels of silver, didn’t you end up returning it all? After all this fussing, what did I gain but a beating for me and my son?"

"So now you finally admit that you instigated Shunzi to sell the bracelet?"

"I..."

Mrs. Zhou was lacking confidence. On the day she went to see Wen Wan early in the morning, she didn’t claim it like this; she said she knew nothing, it was all Shunzi’s own idea.

Father Wen sat down again, his voice indescribably heavy, "Since we’ve spoken openly today, I won’t dwell on the issue of selling the bracelet. I’ll just ask you one question: do you choose your parents’ family, or your husband’s family? It’s up to you. If you choose your parents’ family, pack your things immediately and leave with them. If you choose your husband’s family, no matter what trouble they cause in the future, you should not be involved. Every year, I will not short you on filial piety money for your mother, but if you secretly help them without my knowledge, I won’t allow it!"

"My dear, how can you say this? I’ve married into the Wen Family for so many years; can I still go with my parents?"

"So you choose not to involve yourself in your family’s affairs anymore?"

Mrs. Zhou was hesitant again, "But my family was just excommunicated from the clan. If they don’t have any silver, where can they settle down for now?"

"Are your two brothers dead? Do they rely on their married sister for everything, and without you, they can’t survive?"

Mrs. Zhou rubbed her hands, unable to answer.

Father Wen continued, "If you don’t believe it, go back and try. As long as you give in, they’ll dare to bring the whole family to our house and squat here, eating and living all off of you."

"No way, right?" Mrs. Zhou thought her family wasn’t so shameless; maybe it was just her husband overthinking.

"The dowry you leaked, your two brothers were so tempted by your words that they went to steal and were caught by the Song Family, trouble ensuing. Now they can’t stay in the village, who else to blame but you?"

Mrs. Zhou fell completely silent.

She thought of the scene she had just witnessed at her parents’ home and dared not go there again, only staying at home, cooking for Father Wen in the kitchen.

Just as the meal was placed on the table, Zhou Da arrived with his wife, daughter, and son.

Seeing Father Wen sitting in the main room, Zhou Da went straight into the kitchen, pulled Mrs. Zhou aside, and reached out for money, "Sis, this time you’ve really gotten us brothers into trouble. What now, shouldn’t you at least give some token compensation?"

Mrs. Zhou put down the spoon in her hand, wiped her hands, "Brother, what are you doing? Where would I get money from?"

"Don’t fool me," Zhou Da snorted, "How could Song Sanlang have given little as a bride price for engagement? Your family is now as wealthy as can be, hand over some money quickly. If you don’t, fine, our whole family will just stay here and not leave. Help yourself make a decision!"

"Brother, have you gone mad? When did I owe you money?"

Mrs. Zhou suddenly recalled what her husband had said earlier, and realized how quickly it had come true!

"Save your breath!" Zhou Da was at a dead end, with no choice but to burden his own sister.

"Oh, is it the esteemed brother-in-law?" Father Wen’s voice came from outside the doorway, "Song Sanlang just sent me a message, saying if you’re feeling you have nowhere to go, I could take you to the Song Family, they still have several empty rooms, moving in as a family poses no problem at all."

Zhou Da’s wife was overjoyed, "Did Song Sanlang really say so?"

Zhou Da glared at her fiercely, his face turning deathly pale.

He knew his wife had a pig-headed brain; Song Wei was aiming to completely destroy them, wanting them to end up in jail.

Not daring to ask for money anymore, Zhou Da dragged his wife and two children, fleeing like fugitives from the Wen Family.