CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 304: BUYING SERVANTS (PART 3)

The chicken soup she made for her daughter-in-law was snatched up by that shameless in-law, it drove her mad!

If she weren’t worried about her daughter-in-law being stuck in the middle, torn between both sides, she’d have used a broom to chase that shameless woman out.

Sun said, "Mom, didn’t you say you didn’t want to fall out completely with Qi’s mother? Just bring back a tough old lady to discipline her a few times, and that’ll be that."

The old Mrs. Sun sighed, "Better not. Dalian is a good kid; it’s not worth us families arguing over a bit of food and drink!

Our family isn’t lacking this little bit of food now. Let it go!"

Sun disapproved of her mother’s approach, "Mom, Dalian told me herself. Every time her mother comes to sponge meals, she leaves full of anger. You know she’s pregnant, making her swallow anger like that—how can your grandson be okay?"

"What do you suggest then? Dalian’s father died early, her brother studies at the academy in town and only comes back every ten days or half a month, leaving her widowed mother alone at home. I really feel sorry for her!" The old Mrs. Sun was deeply conflicted, hating Qi Dalian’s mother while also feeling sympathy for her.

Sun said, "Mom, you care too much about face, you can’t put it aside.

I’ll get you a tough old lady—no, I’ll get you two. Next time that Xun woman comes knocking, stay inside, don’t go out, and let the old lady tell her you’re not feeling well and can’t entertain guests."

"And if she asks what illness I have, what do I say?" The old Mrs. Sun sighed, telling one lie leads to several others to cover it!

Besides, who would curse themselves with bad health?

Last year in Upper River Bay, she truly felt the presence of death. If it weren’t for her granddaughter giving her a sip of sweet medicine, she wouldn’t have made it through.

Now, the old lady cherishes life very much, not wanting to fall ill at all.

"Oh my, Mom, you can’t even make up a little lie? Just say you feel dizzy, nauseous, like vomiting—any of them will do!" Sun was quite exasperated.

Her mother was known for being extraordinarily honest, never having lied her whole life. Teaching her to be more worldly now gave Sun a strange sense of guilt—what a situation!

The old Mrs. Sun nodded, somewhat blankly, "Understood. Then get me two tall and strong old ladies, the kind where Xun would be too scared to enter at the sight of them!"

If it weren’t for the fact that Xun always fought with Qi Dalian for the good food, the old Mrs. Sun wouldn’t have such a dislike for her.

She had never seen such a mother, with her daughter pregnant, being so heartless and still shamelessly fighting her daughter for the ginseng chicken soup.

Oh, how she ended up with such an in-law?

"Mom, come with me to the backyard, we’ll choose someone!" Sun slid down from the kang, calling out to Sun Erji’s wife to watch the two children.

She might as well use this chance to get to know the newcomers and figure out their names to assign them tasks appropriately.

Sun Erji’s wife responded, leading Yu Yiqian and Yu Zixuan, "Let’s go, I’ll take you to play with your sister Manyi."

The two little ones jumped for joy at the mention of visiting Sun Manyi, enthusiastically following Sun Erji’s wife.

When Sun and the old Mrs. Sun arrived at the backyard, Yu Changhe had already arranged their lodgings and was ready to assign them tasks.

Except for five martial arts protectors who didn’t have to work, everyone else had to work, either in the workshop, in the fields, or chopping wood on the mountain; everyone had their roles and work was mandatory.

Sun pulled Yu Changhe aside to quietly discuss her plan.

Providing two tough old women for her mother-in-law was something Yu Changhe naturally approved, having some people do the work can ensure his mother-in-law enjoys her later years a little more.

Yu Changhe instructed the ten tough old women to come forward and let the old Mrs. Sun choose herself.

The old Mrs. Sun observed that these women were quite robust, some even plump and fair, looking more like a rich man’s wife than her daughter. She thought these people must have worked in wealthy households before.

The old Mrs. Sun picked a plump one and asked, "Where did you work before? Why did your master sell you?"

The plump woman replied, "Back to the old madam, I used to be a cook at the Ma Family in Caozhou. After the old master of the Ma Family passed away, his sons fought fiercely over the estate. Once the old master died, Ma’s descendants fell apart, and many servants were sold off. Quite a few of us here are originally from the Ma Mansion."