CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: ADMITTING DEFEAT

EDITOR: ATLAS STUDIOS

Mother Zhang comfortably sat inside the room, with her sister-in-law Mrs. Wang serving her tea. Mrs. Wang was slightly irritated seeing Mother Zhang lounging so casually, but she didn’t dare to say anything, only grumbling in her heart.

The Li family must have had the worst luck over the past eighteen generations to end up with such relatives!

Lazy and gluttonous, not to mention always coming around to scrounge for benefits, and this person is so arrogant and overbearing. Every time this in-law mother comes, I have to serve her like I’m indebted to her from a past life.

While Mrs. Wang was brooding, Mrs. Li Zhou had already brought Long Yue and the others inside.

"Mother-in-law, well... the younger ones have a bit of a quarrel, please don’t mind too much. I know Huahua has been a bit aggrieved these past few days, we’ll make some good food to nourish her... What do you think about this?"

Mrs. Li Zhou showed a fawning smile to Mother Zhang, this was practically pleading.

Mother Zhang had already heard the commotion outside, but she didn’t go out. What would it look like for her, a senior, to get involved with the younger generation’s squabbles? She sat steadily, then looked towards Long Yue and the couple who had entered.

"Is this your third son’s wife? Ha, just one look and you can tell she’s no good, with that oval face and big apricot eyes, she’s a vixen by nature. No wonder you can’t have peace in the family after bringing someone like this in! Look what they’ve done to my precious daughter? Mother-in-law, are you just going to let this go? That’s impossible, after all..."

"There should be some compensation, shouldn’t there?"

Long Yue was incensed by her words, and with a sneer, brought up the implied suggestion she was about to make. Mother Zhang, having her words snatched away, looked quite embarrassed.

Asking for money from the in-law’s family is already looked down upon in a male-dominated society. If one were to directly ask, it would be considered quite shameless.

Most families wouldn’t even dream of doing such a thing, but the Zhang family had always been considered quite bizarre.

Mother Zhang originally intended to exchange pleasantries and then take some silver; however, Long Yue directly thwarted her plan, leaving her in a dilemma—should she agree or not?

Her eyes darted cunningly before she said, "Well, if your Li family intends to compensate a little, that’s fine too. Just look at my daughter, she’s so injured, and as her mother, I’ll have to send her some food and supplies later. This back-and-forth cart fare and food expenses, don’t you agree?"

"Ah, this..."

Hearing the demand for compensation, Mrs. Li Zhou’s eyes reddened. She thought of the two taels of silver she had just received, not even warmed yet, and now...

"Sister-in-law Zhang, you’ve seen the Li family’s situation, we don’t have much money. The amount you ask for may not be feasible. As for your concern that your daughter is suffering injustice here, no worries, you can take her back, and she can return once she’s healed."

Mrs. Li Zhou was heartbroken over the compensation, but Long Yue’s words cheered her up. Nobody likes to give money, and as the in-law, it was difficult for her to play the bad guy. Now that there’s someone willing to step up, it’s truly wonderful!

Just as she was feeling secretly delighted, she saw Mother Zhang’s face fall, dark and angry, "What’s this about going back to the maiden family? A married daughter is like spilled water; she’s a daughter-in-law of the Li family, so why should she return to her maiden home?"

The expenses of living and eating at the maiden home should use the maiden family’s resources. She came for money, not to add a burden to her own family!

Long Yue immediately laughed, "Since Sister-in-law Zhang speaks of a married daughter as spilled water, what does it mean for your maiden family to come to the Li family causing trouble? She’s a Li family daughter-in-law, and how she should be dealt with should be up to our Li family!"

"I..."

Mother Zhang was rebuffed, feeling a stifling anger in her chest, suffocating her. She glared viciously at Long Yue, internally cursing how sharp-tongued this little wench was!

With every word she said, Long Yue managed to grab hold and wouldn’t let go—is this person part dog?

Seeing Mother Zhang choked up, Long Yue pressed her advantage, "So, Sister-in-law Zhang, what do you really mean? If you treat Second Sister-in-law as a daughter of the Zhang family, then given her current state, wouldn’t it be better to take her back to recuperate? But if you consider her spilled water, then coming to the Li family today is nothing but unreasonable trouble!"

The statement was loud and clear, leaving both Mother Zhang and Zhang Guihua stunned, the two exchanging glances.

"Mrs. Pang, you wretch, how dare you speak to my mother like that, don’t you know she’s a senior?"

Second Sister-in-law Zhang, seeing her family losing ground, was quick to curse.

Long Yue coldly replied, "And how do you think one should speak appropriately? Wagging my tail like a little dog it would suit you? Your mother is your mother, she’s not mine. Do I need to plaster on a smile when talking to her? Do you think your mother is some official bigwig?"

"You!!!"

Zhang Meihua was so enraged she nearly lost balance, wishing bitterly she couldn’t match her in words, otherwise she’d beat her to a pulp!

The little wench!

After speaking, Long Yue ignored Zhang Meihua’s fiery gaze, turning to say, "So Sister-in-law Zhang, what’s your decision? To leave your daughter here, or take her home?"

Mother Zhang saw that Long Yue had given her an ultimatum, knowing that this couldn’t be resolved. She said, "Fine, you’re not leaving room for negotiation? Then we’ll go to the court and let the Lord give us an explanation!"

This was a threat, and she felt proud after saying it. Her Zhang family feared no one’s ridicule, they would happily go to court. But the Li family valued face and would definitely back down!

Indeed, hearing the request to go to court frightened Mrs. Li Zhou, rubbing her clothes nervously she relented, "Mother-in-law, would this be acceptable..."

"Mother, if she wants to go, let her. What are we afraid of? Her daughter almost injured my husband, and I hit her back a bit. At most, the officials would punish both sides equally severely. It’s always said that even an honest judge would find it hard to adjudicate family matters. Unless Second Sister-in-law is no longer a daughter-in-law of our Li family, then it makes sense; otherwise, she’s part of the Li family, and it’s family business, something the County Magistrate won’t interfere with!"

Long Yue confidently spoke, easing the tension. Mrs. Li Zhou relaxed a bit more, then heard her say, "Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention, my husband is a scholar, destined to be an official. Second Sister-in-law laying hands on him, what does that count as? Oh, contempt for an official? Second Sister-in-law, how many strokes do you think this offense deserves?"

"This... that..."

The faces of Mother and Second Sister Zhang grew more sullen. They had forgotten that Li Qingmu was a scholar, set to take the imperial exams this year. If he gained a position, their current actions would be digging their own graves!

Mother Zhang slyly smiled and, for once, managed a smile, "Well... what Third Daughter said is also reasonable, it’s all family matters, wouldn’t all this conflict hurt feelings? Everyone is at fault in this, and shouldn’t we take a step back and resolve this?"