Chapter 1576 - 1565: Honest Fool

Chapter 1576: Chapter 1565: Honest Fool

Originally, Niu Xue Mei planned to make everything herself and have Ye Qiu take it to the dock to sell. However, after seeing Ye Qiu’s craftsmanship, she decided to let him handle it himself. Anyway, she was prepared to lose money. If they didn’t make a profit, they could always go back to farming in the end. Although they sold the land, she could raise more poultry. Once Ye Qiu recovered, he could work outside, and life would slowly get better.

But no sooner had they ordered things at the blacksmith shop and prepared to set up their stall than unexpected visitors arrived at their house.

"Mom, why are you here?" Niu Xue Mei said with a somewhat sullen face.

"Why? Can’t I visit my daughter and son-in-law’s home?" Zhao Xiufen’s eyes gleamed as she inspected their house. "If I hadn’t heard from others, I wouldn’t even know you split from the family. Were you planning to keep it from me forever?"

Seeing her mother heading to rummage through the kitchen cabinet, Niu Xue Mei said with an unpleasant look, "Mom, you were the one who used to say not to come back unless necessary."

"That was because you hadn’t split from the family. I was afraid your mother-in-law would talk about me. Haven’t seen anyone as stubborn as you." Zhao Xiufen glanced at her daughter and then asked, "I heard you sold your land? Sold it for seventy taels of silver?"

"Mom, who told you that?" Niu Xue Mei’s expression worsened. She wondered why her mom was speaking so kindly today, realizing now her mom had a purpose — she was here to ask for money!

From a young age, Niu Xue Mei knew her parents favored her second and third brothers more. Of course, sons were the backbone; it was natural for her parents to prefer them. Working harder didn’t matter much to her. What broke her heart was that ever since she got married, her parents seemed to forget they had a daughter.

Before the family was split, she and Ye Qiu had no money. Whenever they went back to her parents’ home, the things they brought couldn’t please her parents or siblings, so her parents and siblings viewed them as freeloaders. In fact, they didn’t take anything from her parents’ house, and every time, they helped with a lot of work there.

Later, her eldest brother’s wife straight out said if they kept bringing those shabby things over, they shouldn’t come back. She thought her mom would say something comforting, but her mom also showed disdain, saying she was a married daughter and not to bring her husband and kids back for free meals.

That time truly hurt Niu Xue Mei. She and her husband and children eating free meals at her parents’ house? That’s nonsense. Not only would they only eat one meal each time, and there wasn’t anything fancy, but they worked for her parents every year. Did they not deserve at least one meal? Plus, the things they brought back weren’t anything expensive, but each time Ye Qiu ensured they wouldn’t lose face, he would catch a wild rabbit in the mountain or two fish in the river — it was all from their heart!

Even her own parents despised her, so Niu Xue Mei learned firsthand the sorrow of poor couples. Not only did her in-laws dislike her, but even her own parents did as well.

Perhaps only when she became wealthy like her second sister-in-law would her parents treat her kindly, like how her mother-in-law tolerated her second sister-in-law — but that was all because of money. Now Niu Xue Mei clearly realized that apart from her husband and two daughters, no one else was worth genuine affection.

So when she heard her mom mentioning they split from the family and sold the land, Niu Xue Mei knew her mom was here for money.

"Who I heard about your splitting doesn’t matter. What matters is why you didn’t discuss selling the land with us?" Zhao Xiufen glared, "What if you were swindled?"

"How would the village chief swindle me? You’re overthinking, mom. I sold it in haste; two and a half acres of land couldn’t be sold for any higher than he offered."

"Seventy taels mean your village chief has a conscience. But I didn’t come here to talk about that. First, make us some sweet soup; I have serious matters to discuss," Zhao Xiufen said, pulling her two daughters-in-law to sit down, instructing Niu Xue Mei.

"Mother-in-law is here to borrow money, right?" Ye Qiu coughed as he emerged from the inner room, looking at the uneasy Niu Xue Mei and patted the back of her hand. "Mother-in-law, you know our family has always been poor, far worse than the two brothers. I was even thinking of borrowing some money from Xue Feng and Xue Ting!"

"Your family just sold land and got seventy taels. You didn’t spend much on your treatment, so who are you trying to fool?" Zhao Xiufen said, sneering, "I’ve never seen a son-in-law as stingy as you; when your mother-in-law’s family is in distress, shouldn’t you help?"

"Well, previously, when I was sick to the brink of death, I didn’t see my father-in-law, mother-in-law, or siblings come to visit me. One might think Xue Mei’s family was nonexistent!" Ye Qiu coughed again.

Zhao Xiufen’s expression wasn’t good. She argued, "No one notified us, did they?"

"Then how did mother-in-law find out about the family splitting without any notification?"

Seeing Ye Qiu speaking so sarcastically, Zhao Xiufen got angry, "Are you dissatisfied with me? Is this how you act as a junior? I gave birth to Xue Mei and raised her through hard toil; do you think I wouldn’t care for her or her husband?"

"It’s not that I doubt it; just the actions of father-in-law, mother-in-law, and siblings have left me quite cold over the years. But since mother-in-law claims to care for Xue Mei, lend us some money. You’ve seen the house we live in now; it leaks wind and rain. Winter is barely a few months away, just in time for mother-in-law, who cares for Xue Mei, to be happy lending us some silver to build a house, right?" Ye Qiu spoke with righteous composure, making even Niu Xue Mei want to laugh.

Zhao Xiufen and her two daughters-in-law didn’t look pleased; they came to ask for money, not to lend it.

"Build a house? I think this house is quite good. It’s livable, just gather more firewood when winter comes, won’t that suffice?" Zhao Xiufen said, sneering, "But other matters can’t wait."

Ye Qiu smirked, while Niu Xue Mei’s heart sank completely.

"Oh? So what is it, mom?"

Zhao Xiufen cleared her throat, "I learned Scholar Li in the county is opening a school this winter. I plan to enroll your four nephews, but the tuition is slightly short, so I thought to have you lend some for now."

Ye Qiu pondered, "Mother-in-law, I recall Niu Yan is just five years old, right? Plan to send him to school so soon?"

"I heard from people that starting schooling young is better for enlightenment," the third sister-in-law intervened.

Ye Qiu’s expression hardened, "So the Niu family’s grandson’s education is important, but our family’s hardship isn’t? Whether schooling starts a year early or late doesn’t matter much. You also mentioned this is Scholar Li’s first school. Who knows the quality of his teaching? Sending everyone right away — what if he doesn’t teach well?"