A Good Country Wife
Chapter 289 - 283: Refusing to Speak Even in Death_1

Chapter 289: Chapter 283: Refusing to Speak Even in Death_1

Having learned of the Wei Family’s actions, Lin Yue was even less willing to let the people who had schemed against her family off scot-free. She formed a plan in her mind and stopped Zhao Erhu, asking him to keep Li Chang’an around a little longer. She wanted to make use of Li Chang’an before he left to trap the Wei Family and those in the Wei Residence.

Li Chang’an had been feeling rather proud these past few days. Suddenly favored by his master, he was called upon from time to time to help out, puffing out his chest and strutting in front of the other long-term workers. These were tasks that previously only the master’s own people were allowed to handle; the long-term workers were forbidden from getting involved. Now, he was an exception among them. Li Chang’an felt conflicted inside. He had originally accepted the Wei Family’s silver to steal a recipe for them, and this new preferential treatment only made it more convenient. But he worried, could this newfound favor result in a blunder?

After much indecision, Li Chang’an still resolved to help the Wei Family steal the recipe. As long as he kept things covert, no one would discover it. It was a win-win situation and saw no harm in it. Otherwise, if he truly quit, the Wei Family might expose him for his betrayal, causing him to lose the silver he was about to receive, and the master would not spare him either. That would be a true case of coming back empty-handed from a bamboo basket fishing trip.

In addition to plotting against Li Chang’an, Lin Yue also secretly monitored Liu Aniu’s behavior. Previously, Liu Aniu had refused the Wei Family by showing loyalty to her and Zhao Erhu. Logically speaking, if someone was to be promoted, it should have been Liu Aniu. Yet now, she had favored Li Chang’an and left Liu Aniu out. Anyone in his place would feel somewhat disgruntled. However, Liu Aniu showed no signs of discontent, seemingly thinking it a normal occurrence, continuing to work diligently without any resentment or reluctance. It appeared his intentions were indeed pure.

As for Li Chang’an, Lin Yue let him frolic for a few days; he would eventually taste the bitter consequences. If she put her plan into action straightaway, someone as astute and formidable as the old Wei might become suspicious. Therefore, she had to let the Wei Family and Li Chang’an lower their guard, believing they had succeeded, before springing the trap. They would think they had the real recipe in their hands, ready to be delivered to old Master Wei. When things went awry and the blame descended from Master Wei, they would certainly suffer the consequences. She was also contemplating how to maximize Master Wei’s losses; a minor setback wouldn’t serve as an adequate lesson.

While Lin Yue schemed against the Wei Family’s mother, daughter, and old Master Wei, all was certainly not well at the Zhao Family’s old house. The Wei Family was busy running errands and sorting out Zhao Lingxiang’s entrusted tasks, and the household was in upheaval due to issues with the Chen Family. At the root of the issues was Mrs. Chen’s unchangeable habit of stealing things from the house from time to time.

Zhao Dahuo and his wife were less affected, residing at Zhao Erhu’s place, out of Mrs. Chen’s reach to steal. As for the items stored in the old Zhao house, they were all useless, worthless junk. Anything of value Zhao Dahuo and his wife might have had had already been scavenged by the Wei Family, with nothing left for Mrs. Chen to steal.

Yet Zhao Quan and Zhao Cheng and their spouses suffered considerably. It was one thing for items left outside to be stolen due to their carelessness, but Mrs. Chen managed to steal items from their locked rooms. And Mrs. Chen did not simply steal; when they approached Zhao Xing to address the matter, his attitude was very hostile, faulting them at every turn for wrongfully accusing his wife.

The reaction of Zhao Quan and his wife was particularly vehement. They had originally refrained from separating the household due to the Wei Family’s favoritism, hoping to gain extra privileges. Now, they could no longer bear living under the same roof as the unscrupulous Mrs. Chen. That thieving woman had even stolen their privately hidden silver coins. Such a matter could not be outspoken, forcing them to suffer in silence, adding to their frustration.

Not only were they scorned and looked down upon by the villagers, but they also had to endure the actions of the Chen Family. For the first time, Zhao Quan and his wife proposed dividing the household, otherwise they would make Zhao Xing and his wife move out and live on their own.

The Wei Family’s heart ached for their youngest son, how could they bear the thought of letting him move out? There weren’t even any decent places to live outside, and besides, it was the Chen Family’s fault. Zhao Xing was only deceived by the Chen Family, blinded to the true facts of the matter.

Zhao Cheng and his wife had long wanted to split the household but abstained because the Wei Family disagreed. Now that Zhao Quan and his wife also brought it up, they naturally supported the idea wholeheartedly. If the family could really be divided this time, they would be grateful to the Chen Family. Losing some external possessions didn’t matter much to them.

Li Xiaomei didn’t care much about the things the Chen Family had stolen; it was the attitude of Zhao Xing and the Chen Family that was infuriating. In fact, she had already hidden away the silver coins and valuable dowry a long time ago. Her initial intent was not to guard against the Chen Family, but rather the Wei Family. Now it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. What’s more, Lin Yue had agreed that after the division, she and Zhao Cheng could go work for Zhao Erhu’s family. As long as they worked hard and diligently, they need not fear a poor life.

With the family divided, not only would she and Zhao Cheng be more comfortable, able to live their own small life, but the children would also be able to eat better. That biased old hag, the stingy Wei Family matriarch, always reserved the good food for her eldest grandson, Zhao Quan’s child. Li Xiaomei’s children could only look on in envy. Whenever the children came back, parroting how grandma had given their elder brother and sister some delicious food and they wanted some too, Li Xiaomei was unbearably frustrated.

That old thief, the Wei Family matriarch, despite all being her direct grandchildren, played favorites shamelessly. It was one thing to dislike Zhao Cheng, but to also neglect the children was out of the question. It was absolute nonsense. They must divide the family; they must resolve the issue once and for all, rather than dragging it out indefinitely.

Everyone had their own steadfast positions. The Wei Family insisted on not dividing the household nor letting Zhao Xing move out and live separately, while both Zhao Quan and Zhao Cheng’s couples insisted on the need to split, unable to endure the Chen Family any longer. Zhao Jingen was even called out of bed for this matter, but no one really listened to what he had to say nowadays, the main obstacle being the forceful Wei Family matriarch.

Zhao Dahuo and his wife also rushed over, delighted to hear about the division of the household. Although this was not the first time that the family had dealt with such a dispute, Zhao Quan’s involvement meant it could not be taken lightly. Unlike Zhao Cheng, who was honest and easily bullied, and who had each time been suppressed by the Wei Family’s dramatics, this time her antics would be useless. The same tricks that worked on Zhao Cheng would not work on Zhao Quan. The Wei Family understood this, and besides, they were reluctant to scold or beat this eldest son. They were just stubborn to the core, refusing to let go.

Since Zhao Quan had spoken of dividing the family, he was determined to make a scene out of it. Thus, since the Wei Family disagreed, Zhao Quan decided to invite the village head and a few respected elders from the clan to arbitrate. With the Chen Family’s actions as a reason, the village head and the elders would likely agree to the division.

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