Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 69 Ulterior Motives_1

Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Ulterior Motives_1

At this time, the Mo Family’s originally not very spacious main room was filled with people, a full complement of sixteen members of Old Man Mo’s family, all present without a single absence.

Having toured every nook and cranny of the Mo Family’s property with her four children, Mrs. Niu finally sat down in the main room with a face full of envy and resentment, stuffing her five-year-old son’s mouth with pastries with one hand and her own with the other, all the while urging her other three children to eat quickly.

Mo Yongxi had always been lazy and gluttonous, seeing his sister-in-law’s family devouring food like bandits, fearing he would get less, he hurriedly reached out both hands and, without caring whether they were clean, kept stuffing his pockets non-stop.

Standing in a corner, Mo Wu could only watch her own children swallowing saliva non-stop, feeling filled with guilt towards the Mo Family, she didn’t let her children join in.

Watching her scheming in-laws chatting warmly with Uncle Tang, she bitterly regretted not being assertive enough, leading her to impulsively bring her whole family to Uncle Tang’s House. Remembering the kindness they had shown her son and daughter before, her heart felt even more distressed.

"Qingze, we are all family, and after all, this is our Mo Family’s business. Your cousins are strong, isn’t it better for them to help than for you to hire outsiders?"

Old Man Mo looked kindly at Mo Qingze, who was frowning silently, to the uninitiated, the two might have seemed like a close father and son.

"Exactly! Qingze, your aunt was just too anxious before, worried you’d be taken advantage of, which led to all these misunderstandings. But your uncle and I truly have your family’s best interests at heart!"

Mo Hong’s family followed with an explanation, her face even carried an expression of ’misunderstood’ grievance.

Such an expression, if on a beautiful and young woman, would indeed arouse pity and belief, but seeing it on the wrinkled old face of Mrs. Hong, just felt indescribably nauseating.

Standing behind her father, Xin Er’s eyes twitched as she witnessed the harmonious performance of the husband and wife duo, puzzled beyond measure.

Her second grandfather was understandable, he had always been this way, but her second grandmother had never before spoken to them with such gentleness as now. Was it that the sun had risen from the west, or had she changed her nature?

Hmph, she didn’t believe this cruel old woman would turn over a new leaf. Her sister said, "Courtesy without reason hides evil intentions." These people must be plotting to take advantage of their family again. She must watch closely and not let her father agree to anything foolishly.

Apart from the downcast Mrs. Mo Wu and the honest and simple couple, Mo Yongfu and his wife, brothers Mo Yonglu and Mo Yongshou were all looking at their cousin Mo Qingze full of hope, Mrs. Niu, her mouth stuffed with pastries, was nodding vigorously, whimpering as if she wished she could agree on behalf of Mo Qingze.

They had long heard that the people helping the Mo Family sell vegetables made nearly one or two pieces of silver a month, and the work was easy. If they could snag the job of selling or delivering vegetables, not to mention wages, they might even be able to skim a little off the top – wouldn’t they be able to make a fortune this way?

If their parents pushed a little harder, and their cousin was more generous, they might even get ten or eight mu of the greenhouse vegetables divided between them – that would be even better!

Mo Qingze was silent for a moment, his hands clenched within his sleeves, and eventually, he refused gently, "We already have enough people, there is no need to hire more at the moment, but if we get too busy in the future..."

"How can that be enough?"

Mo Qingze hadn’t finished his sentence when Mrs. Hong’s shriek cut him off, ready to make a scene before she remembered the warning from the old man the night before, leading her to soften her tone. She forced a smile on her face, "Qingze, Yonglu and Yongshou are your true cousins after all; you can’t favor outsiders and neglect them!"

Mo Qingze listened until his temples throbbed with pain and, with great patience, he said, "Second aunt, it’s not that I intentionally refuse your request, but we truly have enough help already. If Yongfu and his brothers can endure the hardship, they could perhaps help watch over the vegetable garden at night. I would be willing to pay them higher wages for this."

"Watch over the vegetable garden? May I ask, cousin, just what are you thinking? In this bitter cold, you want to send us to watch over the vegetable garden, is it your wish to freeze us all to death?"

Mo Yonglu interrupted his mother, glaring and bellowing loudly as if watching the vegetable garden were a death sentence.

"Exactly, uncle, when there are easier tasks available, how can you let my husband watch the vegetable garden? Why not send those others away instead?"

Mo Niu’s wiped her mouth and joined in the shouting, her voice carrying all the way outside the courtyard.

In the courtyard, although the door to the main hall was closed, Mrs. Niu’s words still clearly reached Lin Da, Lin Song, and Lin An’s ears, causing them to become instantly tense.

But what followed made them so furious that they wished they could rush inside right away to reason with those throwing false accusations at them.

"Your sister-in-law is right; after all, those are outsiders. How can they be more reliable than one’s own family? Who knows if they haven’t been secretly pocketing silver on the sly?"

At this point, Mo Hong’s family glared at Mo Qingze, eyes filled with resentment. Indeed, a white-eyed wolf that could never be tamed; now that he had money, not caring for his relatives was one thing, but not to let his own family help with the good jobs, and to let outsiders take advantage unfairly!

Hearing this, Mo Qingze could no longer tolerate, and his face turned cold: "Second aunt, please watch your words! I am well aware of their character; they have not made a single mistake these days, and I will certainly not send them away. If my cousins can’t bear the hardship of night watch, then consider that I never mentioned it!"

Old Man Mo saw how things were unfolding and knew trouble was looming. He glared at Mo Hong’s family, motioning her to shush before turning to Mo Qingze with a stern face and said, "Qingze, don’t listen to your aunt’s nonsense. She is only concerned about you, which is why she misspoke. Don’t take it to heart, she’s just a woman."

Facing his only uncle, despite his disappointment, Mo Qingze would not disrespect him: "As my elder, I certainly won’t take offense at my second aunt! However, uncle, the people who have been helping me are all set, and it would not be right to casually dismiss them. If I did that, how would I be any different from those deceitful villains who break their promises?"

Mo Qingze was forthright, and while his words meant no more than what was said directly, Old Man Mo took them differently.

Was he suggesting his wife was one of those deceitful villains? Old Man Mo’s face burned as if slapped, and he felt a deeper resentment toward his only nephew.

Though he was discontented within, he showed nothing on his face.

Old Man Mo sighed, his expression somber as he said, "Uncle understands the difficulty you face, but your brothers are all good-for-nothings. The adults may be able to bear it, but it is pitiful to see your little nephews and nieces not getting enough to eat or warm clothes to wear. Just the other day, Shitou fell ill. If it hadn’t been for your family’s money, he might have... If times weren’t so tough at home, your uncle would not have the gall to trouble you this way."

Seeing his uncle like this, Mo Qingze’s heart was also heavy, especially seeing his little nephews and nieces scuffling over pastries, which, in comparison to his own life, made the children seem even more pitiable. The words of refusal that he was about to utter could no longer be spoken.

Noticing that Mo Qingze had softened, Old Man Mo quickly tried to strike while the iron was hot. However, before he could continue with his emotional appeal, the door to the main hall was opened...

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