CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: WOULD YOU BE WILLING?

EDITOR: ATLAS STUDIOS

Long Yue finished her meal and returned to her room, intending to take a nap before starting her embroidery work. Just as she was falling asleep, Mrs. Wang came knocking.

"Sister-in-law... my sister-in-law!"

Long Yue knew she would come to find her, but she didn’t expect it to be so soon. She smiled, stretched lazily, and said with a languid expression, "Come in!"

"Sister-in-law, boo hoo!"

Mrs. Wang burst into the room almost crying, though it was unclear if her tears were real or fake. Long Yue assumed they were fake and asked, "What’s the matter, sister-in-law? I was just about to sleep."

"Sister-in-law, you saw it too, right? What kind of attitude is that from mother? It’s like she doesn’t even care about me and my child! People say grandparents are supposed to spoil their grandkids, but her? She’s like an evil stepmother! How are we supposed to live like this? Boo hoo..."

Mrs. Wang started to wail but kept her voice down to avoid being overheard.

Long Yue sighed and consoled her, "Don’t cry, sister-in-law. It won’t be good if mother and second sister-in-law hear us. We just have to endure it and try to be understanding. She is, after all, the head of the family, and everything she says goes."

"Sister-in-law, you have a good relationship with mother. Could you talk to her for me?"

"Sister-in-law, you overestimate me. If it were my own son, I’d definitely argue with her, but considering the situation... you understand, right?"

"I..."

Mrs. Wang was momentarily speechless, feeling frustrated. She noticed Long Yue stifling a yawn, looking sleepy, but she knew this young woman surely had her own plans.

Remembering something Long Yue mentioned offhandedly on their way back, she tentatively asked, "Sister-in-law, if you were in charge of the family, would you let my son study?"

Long Yue blinked and then smiled, "Sister-in-law, what are you saying? I was just speaking casually at the time..."

"Hey, how can you just speak casually like that? You sly girl, aren’t you just teasing me? Tell me, if you were in charge, would you let my son attend school?"

Long Yue yawned again and said, "Well, put it this way, your Bai Chuan and my husband are roughly the same age. When my husband embarks on the official path, having someone to help him would be quite beneficial, wouldn’t it?"

Help?

Long Yue’s words made no explicit promises, but that single word "help" made Mrs. Wang’s eyes redden.

Becoming a helper meant becoming an official, didn’t it? How could an official function well without education? Her son could potentially become an official...

Mrs. Wang felt her breath quicken, even feeling a bit suffocated.

Becoming an official! That truly meant bringing honor to the family. She would then be the mother of an official... Wouldn’t those village gossipers, farmers, water carriers, and hunters have to bow to her?

The thought was exhilarating!

Mrs. Wang’s face reddened slightly. She stared at Long Yue for a long time, then resolutely said, "Sister-in-law, you must remember your words! If you ever become the head of the Li family, you must not let my son suffer!"

Long Yue blinked and said softly, "What is sister-in-law saying? Whether or not I become the head, I will definitely treat sister-in-law well."

Mrs. Wang nodded. Long Yue’s words reassured her. She knew she was being used as a substitute, but what of it? If it meant her son could attend school and make something of himself, everything she did now would be worthwhile!

Besides, her mother-in-law wasn’t kind to her family, so it would be better to let Long Yue lead. After all, she had at least given her a new set of clothes, hadn’t she?

With this thought, her heart settled. She stood up and said, "Don’t worry, sister-in-law. I’ll ensure you become the head of the Li family!"

Long Yue smiled and politely saw her to the door, offering some comforting words before returning inside.

Everything that happened today was within her plan, and she was quite satisfied. As for Mrs. Wang’s assurance... Long Yue didn’t hold much hope. She had other schemes in mind, but if Mrs. Wang could unleash surprising strength, it would be even better.

Never underestimate a mother’s strength!

A couple of days later, Long Yue gathered a batch of new embroidery and went to town with Zhang Meihua, visiting the same Jinxiu Embroidery Workshop.

Similar to Mrs. Wang, Zhang Meihua initially picked out a garment made of brocade but couldn’t afford it due to its high cost. Unlike Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Zhang asked Long Yue to buy it on credit!

Yun Niang outright refused, and Zhang Meihua shouted about visiting other shops. Yun Niang calmly mentioned that no store here sells on credit, but Zhang Meihua could check for herself. Indignantly, Zhang Meihua went to neighboring shops only to find none offered credit. Defeated, she ended up buying a sky-blue outfit for two hundred and fifty cents.

This small incident showed how greedy this second sister-in-law was!

On their way back, Long Yue used the same trick. Since the sister-in-law had approached from the angle of her son, this second sister-in-law was best handled through her own family. However, since Long Yue often expressed dissatisfaction with her family, it was tricky to broach the subject. She could only subtly guide her to bring it up herself.

"Our family only has two daughters. Unlike me, my elder sister was raised as a son, and her children are meant to carry on the Zhang family’s lineage. This requires money for schooling and marriages. As an aunt, I can’t just stand by and do nothing, right?"

"Second sister-in-law does have a point."

"A mere point? It’s entirely logical! But our mother... how do I say it, she’s so stingy. Asking her for money is like pulling teeth, it’s hard!"

"Second sister-in-law, you do quite a bit around the house, don’t you?"

"Exactly. I manage everything inside and out. Even my husband’s land has my share!"

The Li family didn’t own any land. Both the eldest brother Li Qingyuan and the second brother Li Qinghai were tenants, relying on renting and working on a landlord’s land for a living. Previously, Li Qinghai had suffered a severe cold and couldn’t work, so Mrs. Zhang had stepped in for a couple of days. She often brought this up to demand money from Mrs. Li Zhou.

Long Yue frowned slightly. If Mrs. Zhang could work diligently, she should indeed receive some labor wages. However, constantly bringing it up and demanding was distasteful behavior.

At this moment, Long Yue didn’t argue, simply smiling faintly and asking, "Second sister-in-law, if I had a job for you here with wages, would you be interested?"

"What?"

Mrs. Zhang was taken aback, looking at her incredulously, "You would pay me?"

"Not at all, I was just speaking casually. I do have a business offering, but... ahem, I doubt mother would agree, as she’s the decision-maker at home."

Long Yue sighed, wearing an expression of helplessness.

Mrs. Zhang didn’t care whether Mrs. Li Zhou agreed or not. Hearing about money immediately brightened her eyes, "Sister-in-law, don’t worry about mother. Tell me, what kind of job is it?"