CHAPTER 51

Mrs. Wang was stunned. She had always felt that Su Wan didn’t need to tell anyone that she liked Luosheng.

Luosheng is so outstanding. When Su Wan was at home before, she always thought about Luosheng. Wasn’t her heart full of Luosheng?

At this moment, Mrs. Wang suddenly realized that all of this, to some extent, was just her own assumption.

In her heart, she thought that it was natural for Su Wan to like Luosheng, but the fact was, even when Su Wan was in the Wang family before, Su Wan and Luosheng rarely appeared in everyone’s sight.

Everyone in the Wang family knew how attentive Su Wan was to Luosheng, but these were all things that happened behind closed doors, and no one saw how Su Wan treated Luosheng.

Besides, at that time, she repeatedly reminded Su Wan that Luosheng was a man who wanted to pass the imperial examinations and asked Su Wan not to have any wishful thinking about Luosheng. Su Wan had never expressed her love for Luosheng in front of others.

Su Wan felt a little aggrieved, “Aunt Wang, you can’t say nonsense like I like Brother Luosheng.”

Mrs. Wang was filled with shame. Su Wan’s words proved that she had been bragging in front of these women just now. How could she put her face down? Besides, Su Wan’s words that she did not like Wang Luosheng also deeply hurt Mrs. Wang. Su Wan actually dared to publicly say that she did not like Luosheng.

Mrs. Wang said, “Su Wan, it’s wrong for you to say that. You obviously like Luosheng so much; how can you not admit it? Have you forgotten how carefully you took care of Luosheng at that time, no matter how big or small?”

Mrs. Wang’s words would make it impossible for Su Wan to get rid of her relationship with the Wang family. As long as Su Wan and Wang Luosheng were involved in a love relationship, no one else would marry Su Wan. Su Wan could only stay in the Wang family and see what kind of status the Wang family could give her afterwards.

Su Wan didn’t buy it, “Aunt Wang, you can’t say that. I did work for Wang Luosheng, but I only treated him as a brother. Besides, it was Luoxue who took care of Brother Luosheng.”

Mrs. Wang was eager to link Su Wan and Wang Luosheng together, “Why is it all Luoxue’s doing? Luosheng’s work is all yours…”

Su Wan interrupted Mrs. Wang, “Aunt Wang, didn’t you say before that Sister Luoxue is very caring and takes care of all of Wang Luosheng’s affairs, while I only do the rough work? How come now I did those detailed works too?”

The women were just muttering, and Wang always told people that Su Wan could only do rough work.

In the past, everyone often saw Su Wan tidying the Wang family’s vegetable garden, cleaning the yard, washing clothes by the river, and helping out at the Wang family’s mill. Everyone felt that Wang’s treatment of Su Wan was too harsh, and they often talked about it.

Later, these words reached Mrs. Wang’s ears, and Mrs. Wang clarified that the reason why Su Wan was asked to do the rough work was because Su Wan was clumsy, and the delicate chores at home, such as cleaning the house, taking care of Wang Luosheng, and cooking, were all done by Wang Luoxue.

Though Su Wan did rough work, she didn’t do other work, so everyone thought it was understandable. After all, Su Wan couldn’t do delicate work, but she had to do the rough work. She couldn’t just eat and drink for free at the Wang family.

But then again, Su Wan did a lot of hard work for the Wang family, and these jobs were more than enough to cover Su Wan’s food and lodging.

Su Wan reminded Mrs. Wang of this, and Mrs. Wang remembered that this method could not be used to link Su Wan and Wang Luosheng. Wang Luoxue’s reputation depended on this. If it were exposed now, everyone would doubt whether Luoxue was as kind and elegant as she was said to be.

Now, the house is in a mess every day, and some people have begun to doubt Luoxue’s reputation. At this juncture, she has no choice but to confess.

Several women also understood that Mrs. Wang had just boasted and insisted that Su Wan liked Wang Luosheng, but now she couldn’t find the right person to make up for it.

Mrs. Sun said, “Sister Wang, you must not say anything careless about Su Wan and Luosheng, lest you ruin Su Wan’s reputation and make yourself look dishonest.”

Mrs. Li also said, “That’s right, Sister Wang, since Su Wan doesn’t want to go back, you can’t force her to go back.”

Mrs. Wang was furious. Originally, Su Wan should have begged her to come back, then she had to take Su Wan back, and now she was the one forcing Su Wan to go back.

Her status in Su Wan’s eyes fell from heaven to earth.

Mrs. Wang didn’t know what to say for a moment, so Su Wan took advantage of this opportunity to speak, “Aunt Wang, all the aunts, please go back. I was just sending Yaya to deliver food to the Yang family. It has been delayed for so long that the food has gone cold. Yaya and I deliver it now, then heat it up for them when we get there.”

Shen Yaya raised her chin and said, “Aunts, it was Aunt Wang who misunderstood. Let’s all go.”

Su Wan took the pot of spicy hotpot from Shen Yaya. Undoubtedly, the dish was already cold.

Shen Yaya quickly locked the door and followed Su Wan to the Yang family.

When the women looked at the sun, they realized it was past time for cooking, so they had to hurry back home to cook.

Everyone couldn’t help but hurriedly leave a few words to Mrs. Wang, saying that it was Mrs. Wang’s misunderstanding,  Mrs. Wang should go back to work, and Mrs. Wang should not disturb Su Wan’s life in the future, and then hurried home to cook.

Mrs. Wang was alone, disheveled in the cold wind.

She gave Su Wan a chance to return to the Wang family. Shouldn’t Su Wan cherish it? Why did she let me lose such a fave?

Mrs. Wang didn’t believe at all that Su Wan didn’t like Wang Luosheng. Indeed, Su Wan had always taken care of Wang Luosheng according to etiquette and without overstepping the mark, but the look in Su Wan’s eyes when she looked at Luosheng couldn’t deceive anyone.

Then why is Su Wan like this? Since she likes Luosheng, how dare she offend me?

Mrs. Wang thought carefully, could it be that she had hurt Su Wan’s heart by cutting off her relationship with her at that time? This was the only explanation. It seemed that she had hurt Su Wan’s heart.

But Su Wan must come back to work for the Wang family. In this case, let Luosheng come forward. Luosheng never said anything to sever ties with her at the beginning. Luosheng’s words must be effective.

When the time comes, I will trick Su Wan back and give her a good beating. It’s her fault for embarrassing me so much today. I wonder how those women will laugh at me when they go back.

Normally, she was the most glorious among these women, but today she was so embarrassed.

Su Wan and Shen Yaya brought the spicy hot pot to the Yang family. Old Man Yang and Old Woman Yang lived not far away. There were a few children in the yard. Su Wan asked them to call the brothers and their wives of the Yang family, and the children ran away.

Old Woman Yang had just heated up the pot, so Su Wan put the prepared spicy hot pot into the pot and fried it again, and it became hot. Fortunately, Su Wan thought that this dish would most likely need to be heated up again, so it was not fried very thoroughly at the beginning, so frying it again at this time would not affect the taste much.

Su Wan didn’t wait for the Yang family to come back. After heating up the dishes, she took Shen Yaya back home.

Several branches of the Yang family came to Old Man Yang and Old Woman Yang’s house to eat the meal sent by Su Wan, and they all praised it highly.

When Su Wan brought Shen Yaya back to the Shen family, they heard shouting and cursing coming from the yard. These were the voices of Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen.

Sure enough, Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen had already received the news that Shen Lin and Mrs. Shen had returned from Qingzhou Prefecture.

Shen Lin’s grandparents can’t escape this. This will happen sooner or later.

Su Wan entered the yard and saw Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen standing there with a menacing look on their faces.

Old man Shen was cursing, “Shen Lin, you unfilial son, where is the money you earned from the autumn harvest, the money you earned from selling corn; you didn’t even use it to honor me and your grandmother; where is your conscience?”

Su Wan frowned. Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen were lingering around.

Shen Lin was also standing in the yard. He answered calmly, “Grandfather, did uncle’s family give you and grandmother money as a tribute? Uncle’s family sold corn earlier than I did. I heard that grandparents didn’t ask Uncle’s family for money and even gave them a small amount of money as a tribute.”

It has always been no secret that Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen’s subsidize Eldest Shen’s family. Old Man Shen’s eldest daughter-in-law often brags about her family’s good life to others, saying that her two sons are studying and will have a bright future. Although they have to support two scholars, their family’s life is not difficult. The two old people love their grandsons and give some money every year.

Old Woman Shen was very reasonable, “How can you compare with your uncle’s family? Your uncle’s family has two scholars to support them and bring honor to our Shen family. What about you? Can you bring honor to our Shen family?”

Shen Lin had already felt disappointed with his grandparents, and now after hearing what they said, clearly favoring his uncle’s family while plundering himself, he became even more determined not to act like a fool anymore. No matter what he did, the mountain of unfilial piety would fall on him.

Su Wan stepped forward and said, “Grandpa Shen and Grandma Shen, when Shen Lin was studying, I didn’t see you guys giving him any money. Shen Lin was the top student in the college entrance exam at that time, so he had a better chance of bringing honor to the family. But you just watched him unable to afford to study and did nothing about it, didn’t you?”

Old Man Shen always had a headache with Su Wan. When he saw Su Wan interrupting, he interrupted her harshly, “This is none of your business. This is our Shen family’s business. You are an outsider, so don’t meddle in other people’s business.”

Su Wan thought to herself, I am not an outsider, but there is no need to tell this to Old Man Shen and Mrs. Shen now. I will use this Trump card when they make excessive demands.

Shen Lin said, “Grandpa and grandma, my uncle’s family has a scholar who can be honored, but my family has a patient. Everyone knows that my mother needs medical treatment and medicine. This trip to Qingzhou Prefecture to treat my mother, I spent all my harvest and savings money, and I really have no money to honor grandpa and grandma.”

Old Man Shen was so angry that he almost fainted. What he worried about happened exactly. He was originally worried that Shen Lin would spend all the money on Mrs. Shen’s medical treatment. Sure enough, what he feared came true.

Old Woman Shen said viciously, “Your mother is useless. Why are you treating her? Isn’t it a waste of money to treat her? Isn’t it better to use this harvest to honor your grandparents than to treat your mother?”

Shen Lin’s originally calm face was filled with anger.

Old Woman Shen was still mumbling, “Your mother’s illness cannot be cured. You are just wasting money by treating your mother. After so many years, your mother is still a useless person.”

Shen Lin, “My mother is not…”

Before Shen Lin could finish, Old Man Shen interrupted him rudely, “Don’t say anything. Since you have no money, you should give me your house deed and land deed . You can’t give us nothing after a year.”

Old Man Shen and Old Woman Shen have been coveting Shen Lin’s family’s property for a long time.

However, not to mention that Shen Lin would not give it; even if Shen Lin wanted to give it, he would not have a single house or piece of land under his name.