Jun Jiuli felt utterly speechless, these old folks' obsessions ran too deep.
If they weren't separating, it meant a special arrangement. After all, as long as Xu Dahua and her two daughters were protected, that was all that mattered.
The next day, Old Man Zhao and Old Woman Zhao looked at Xu Dahua with even more kindness. Xu Dahua carefully opened her mouth.
"Dad, Mom, I want to split the family."
The members of the second and third branches looked at her with great surprise. Their eldest sister-in-law was still as timid as ever.
How did she suddenly grow a spine and say something so shocking today? Madam Li and Madam Zhang watched with glee, as if waiting for a good show. Jun Jiuli was also very surprised by how much Xu Dahua had changed.
Old Man Zhao was so angry he slammed his wooden bowl down and turned to look at Old Woman Zhao. Old Woman Zhao sighed and asked earnestly,
"What's gotten into you? Isn't it good to live like this? It was my folly before, and I promise I'll never have such thoughts again."
Xu Dahua was suddenly speechless. Not separating did seem like they were being generous and taking advantage. But thinking about the past few years, she felt that separating would be much better.
Her mind was a bit muddled, and she turned to look at Jun Jiuli. She was hesitant now and wanted Jun Jiuli to make the decision.
Old Man Zhao: "Dahua, we only have three mu of land. If we give your family one mu, do you want us and Jiaojiao to starve to death?"
Xu Dahua hurriedly explained, "I don't mean that. We definitely won't abandon Dad and Mom."
"Sigh, your mother did something wrong. She must regret it now, and you're afraid something like this will happen again. Dad guarantees that our Zhao family will never have the thought of harming our granddaughter again."
Old Woman Zhao: "Yes, yes, just like your father said. If your two sisters-in-law are lazy in the future, you tell me. They will do all the housework and cooking, and you just take care of the children and the farm work."
Jun Jiuli: "Let's listen to Grandpa and Grandma."
Xu Dahua: "Alright then."
Madam Li and Madam Zhang were a bit displeased but didn't dare to say more. Their husbands handed over more than half of their earnings to Old Woman Zhao over the years, and the rest of the money they saved as their private savings.
The daughters-in-law of other families didn't have such treatment. If they weren't separating, then they weren't separating. They had someone to watch the children, and cooking wasn't difficult. The farm work wasn't much either, so life would just muddle along.
Zhao Xiaochun, hearing her grandparents' promises, felt less frightened. Her mother wouldn't have to work so hard anymore, and not separating didn't seem to have any disadvantages.
After dinner, she followed Jun Jiuli up the mountain, her eyes constantly scanning left and right, afraid of missing a ginseng. Jun Jiuli also caught another wild chicken.
The sisters were beaming with joy. This time, they ate very little. They had eaten everything in a moment of uncontrollable desire yesterday, and today they planned to save some to take back.
The three siblings only ate half. The rest was wrapped in leaves several times over, lest anyone smell a clue.
That evening, after Xu Dahua finished her dinner, the sisters quickly pulled her back into the room. Xiao Hong eagerly took out the still-warm wild chicken.
"Mom, this is the wild chicken Brother caught. It's delicious."
Xu Dahua patted Jun Jiuli's head. "Xiao Wei is really capable. You eat it; Mom doesn't like to eat it."
Xiaochun: "Mom, you're lying. I saw you swallowing your saliva. Hurry up and eat; we've all eaten."
Xu Dahua blushed deeply. After eating a few bites, she wanted to share the rest with them. The sisters quickly got into bed and pulled up their blankets. Jun Jiuli also walked into the outer room.
"Mom, you eat it all. Otherwise, it'll spoil if we leave it until tomorrow."
"Okay, Mom will eat. You are all good children. This chicken is really delicious."
...
Jun Jiuli learned that the landlord in the plot was not a good person. He had forcibly taken civilian girls, and their number was too many to count on both hands.
That night, she gave him a dose of medicine and emptied his private treasury. The landlord's selfish relatives became suspicious and engaged in infighting. Those pitiful girls guarded their money well, each with their own plans.
By this time, the landlord's family could no longer concern themselves with them and wished they would leave sooner rather than later.
Otherwise, they would have to spend money, and if anyone happened to be pregnant, they would have to share a portion of the family's assets.
Jun Jiuli gave them all good luck talismans, hoping their remaining lives would be smoother and more peaceful.
Shen Yici was already fifteen this year, the age when marriage proposals should be considered. Jun Jiuli sent a dream to all the noble young ladies in the capital. In their dreams, Shen Yici appeared as a hateful person, who cruelly treated his legal wife, kept a mistress, and was not a good match.
They all had close sisters among them, and when they gathered, they discussed this strange occurrence. Upon learning that it wasn't just their own dream, they all believed what they had seen in their dreams.
They speculated that heaven had taken pity and sent them a warning. For a time, the young ladies of the capital avoided Xuanping Marquis Manor.
The Madam of Xuanping Marquis was unconvinced. She invited matchmakers to several families that she had previously considered suitable, but none of the arrangements worked out.
She felt her son was divinely handsome and refused to lower her standards, believing that minor families were not worthy of her son. Thus, Shen Yici's marriage was delayed.
Shen Yici's age grew day by day, and he was bound to have needs in that regard. Before long, a concubine in his courtyard became pregnant. She managed the situation very tightly.
When the Marchioness knew, the pregnancy was already advanced. If they were to abort it, it would be a case of two lives lost. Shen Yici, a first-time father, naturally refused, which greatly angered the Marchioness.
For some unknown reason, no young lady was willing to marry her son. If this were a concubine's daughter, it would be acceptable. But if it were the eldest son of a concubine, even fewer would be willing to marry.
Seeing that several concubines' sons had already gotten married, and although their wives were not from prominent families, the Marchioness was still angry and couldn't stand to see any good come to her concubine-born sons.
After some thought, she visited her maternal family. Her elder brother's legitimate daughter had not yet been betrothed. She swallowed her pride and went to ask for her hand in marriage, believing her brother would agree.
"Elder brother, what a wonderful thing it is to strengthen ties through marriage."
"You don't need to say anything more. Fei'er has no interest in her cousin."
"Marriage is a major event in life, decided by parents and arranged by matchmakers. What does a young girl like her know? I am her aunt. If she marries into our family, how could she be wronged in the future? Ci'er is also a distinguished talent..."
"Enough, you don't need to say any more. I already have a prospective son-in-law in mind, so don't set your sights on Fei'er."
"Brother, what do you mean by 'set my sights'! You can't say it like that. Marrying someone else would not be as reassuring as marrying Ci'er."
Her elder brother glared at her unhappily. "You still have the nerve to say such things? Aren't you asking me to push Fei'er into a fiery pit? Shen Yici already has girls in his courtyard, and you still want to deceive me!"
He said this and slammed the table beside him forcefully. The Marchioness was startled by him. She stood up, speechless for a long time, then flicked her sleeves and left.