The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 703 Bringing a Concubine Into the House (2)_1

Chapter 703: Chapter 703 Bringing a Concubine Into the House (2)_1

Upon fainting, crying, and questioning, Qian Wanxiu immediately gripped Pei Zongli’s heartstrings. Seeing his face filled with shame and his lips stuttering out apologies, claiming he did not fancy Zhao Liniang and was merely seduced, Qian Wanxiu felt a rage burning within her. Now he knew to feel guilty, but later he would still gravitate towards that despicable vixen. Truly inviting her into the household would indeed make him secretly overjoyed.

In an attempt to placate Qian Wanxiu, Pei Zongli said he would send Zhao Liniang away and swore that he had never considered taking her as a concubine from the beginning.

Qian Wanxiu, drying her tears, said, "You’re really muddled. She is carrying a child, a descendant of Old Pei’s House. How can we let it be cast aside! I can’t be so heartbroken as to neglect the bigger picture. Let’s invite her into our home!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Zongli felt as comforted as if he’d consumed a bowl of hot soup on a bitterly cold day. He stood up and bowed to Qian Wanxiu, "Wanxiu! I must’ve accumulated good karma over ten lifetimes to have you as my wife!"

Qian Wanxiu lowered her head again as tears fell.

Pei Zongli consoled her with a few more words, then stepped outside and declared that he would bring Zhao Liniang into the house.

Zhao Liniang had not expected things to go so smoothly; it felt almost unreal to her. She hadn’t said or done anything yet! Lady Qian had actually agreed on her own to invite her into the household!?

Initially, Zhao Liniang had thought that if Qian Wanxiu did not agree or acknowledge her, she would counteract her with jealousy. Even if she was an officer’s wife, being excessively jealous would break the Seven Outs clause. Even if Pei Zongli didn’t divorce her, it would scare Lady Qian enough not to block her entry into the household.

She had never imagined it would be so easy, and that she would gain so much without any effort at all.

Outside, Pei Qin and the others, expecting a doctor’s visit hinted at misfortune for Zhao Liniang, waited only to see Zhao Liniang emerge unharmed, with Grandma Zhao and Old Man Zhao carrying things with them.

Pei Qin cursed under her breath and stood up to leave.

Pei Yuan’s face tinged with red, and she lowered her head. She had indeed considered the possibility that Qian Wanxiu would suffer this injustice silently, yet she had still held onto a slim hope that Qian Wanxiu and Zhao Liniang would cause a commotion. She had even dragged her eldest and third sisters here to watch, only for it to be settled without a word.

Returning to the small detached courtyard, the heat on Pei Yuan’s face still hadn’t subsided, "Eldest Sister! It’s all my... miscalculation..."

Pei Qin, frowning, looked at her and Pei Qian, then thought of Pei Wendong and started contemplating life, questioning if her educational methods were wrong. Even Pei Qian, who harbored the deepest resentment, showed great restraint and certainly did not actively seek to harm anyone.

"Eldest Sister..." Pei Yuan felt even more remorseful.

Pei Qin exhaled deeply, "Who would have thought that despite my own worthlessness, I would raise you few to be kind-hearted radishes. Is it an educational failure or success!?"

Pei Yuan was momentarily stunned, then couldn’t help but twitch the corners of her mouth. But Eldest Sister was right; none of the siblings, even their third sister now, allowed hatred to blind them.

Pei Qian had long wished everyone from Old Pei’s House would die off one by one! Noticing Pei Qin’s sigh, she glowered, "If you ask me, we should just finish them all off!"

"Try killing one and see!" Pei Qin shot her a sidelong glance.

Pei Qian scowled, snorted angrily, and got up to leave. She could no longer hold back! Now that the people from the Pei family were fighting amongst themselves and vulnerabilities had emerged, she would definitely not let them off!

At noon, Pei Wendong, Chang Yonglin, and Xiao Yong returned from school, overjoyed to see Pei Qin and the others.

The normally quiet courtyard instantly came alive with activity.

Jiujiu was surrounded by her three uncles who cajoled and played with her, chatting about catching longhorn beetles, grasshoppers, weevils, and other insects. The three of them exchanged knowing looks and couldn’t help but feel helpless. A little girl who didn’t like dragonflies, butterflies, or flowers, but instead was fascinated by bugs.

Chang Yonglin had a phobia of weevils, the green, finger-thick insects that coiled up at a touch. The thought of her holding a weevil made him shudder. Jiujiu might resemble her father in looks, but with a temperament like this, she’d likely turn out just like Sister Qin when she grew up!

"Right! Sister, why did you all suddenly come to the county town? Where’s your husband, Brother-in-law?" Seeing that Mo Heng wasn’t with them, Pei Wendong couldn’t help but ask.

"He went out." Pei Qin briefly explained.

Pei Wendong frowned upon hearing this. It wasn’t that shameless Ms. Wei, it was either Prince Yong’an or Prince He Qing, trouble was bound to happen sooner or later.

"Sister Qin! It’s not busy at home right now, so why don’t you stay here for a couple of days?" Chang Yonglin said.

The small courtyard wasn’t large, but if they squeezed in, there would be enough room for all of them to stay.

Ever since the three of them went to study at the county school, Pei Qin could only set homework for them, and then wait for them to return home during their break to go over it together. If the subjects were too profound, she’d be out of her depth. After looking over their completed homework, she nodded, "Then we’ll stay for two days!"

The trio were immediately delighted upon hearing this.

When Old Lady Chang found out, she even invited Pei Qin, Pei Yuan, and Pei Qian to her house to play.

Although Chang Yonglin had always been nurtured by Pei Qin, and the two families often exchanged food and supplies, Pei Qin rarely went over to their house for visits.

Pei Qin accepted the invitation, and the next day, she took Pei Yuan and Pei Qian with her and led Jiujiu on a formal visit.

Even if the two families were close, Pei Qin was now granted the enjoin of the Third Rank, so Landlord Chang and Old Lady Chang personally greeted them at the front door.

As soon as Old Lady Chang saw Jiujiu, she was so delighted that she couldn’t help herself and held her in her embrace, feeding her snacks.

Jiujiu glanced at her mother and obediently sat down, letting her feed her two pieces of pastry and a piece of candy.

By noon, Chang Yonglin, along with Pei Wendong and Xiao Yong, came over to eat. "Pei Zongli is officially taking a concubine today. That Zhao Liniang has already been carried in on a sedan chair."

"Once there’s one, there will be two, and once there’s two, there will be three," Old Lady Chang remarked.

"Their rented house will soon become too small!" Chang Yonglin said with a smile.

Qian Wanxiu was unwilling to buy a house in Yuanyang County because she had no intention of staying there long-term. She was only hoping her son would pass his examinations so that their whole family could rise in status and leave this small place of Yuanyang County.

"The income from that silk shop should be enough for them to build a house of their own." Landlord Chang had been in business for most of his life. Although different industries vary greatly, in his early years, he was also involved in the silk business. However, being suppressed by the Wang family, he had to close the shop and switch to his expertise. Qian Wanxiu’s silk shop might have been cheaper than others’, but due to Old Pei’s House and Pei Zongli’s tarnished reputations, it directly affected the business. They still made money, but it wasn’t substantial. If they had a large amount of silver, surely Pei Zongli had been embezzling and accepting bribes during his preaching.

Seeing that Pei Qian’s complexion had turned sour, and when the servant came over to ask about serving the meal, Old Lady Chang, who was holding Jiujiu, said, "Let’s go eat first!"

The wet nurse hurriedly offered to take her. Old Lady Chang was already in her fifties, and Jiujiu was taller than other children her age.

"The more I look at Jiujiu, the more I like her!" Old Lady Chang said with a smile, shaking her head as she held Jiujiu and sat down at the table.

After Pei Qin and the others had their meal, they wandered around Landlord Chang’s house until the afternoon before returning home.

As soon as they entered the door, something felt off.

They saw Feng Wei carrying a basin of water out of the room, filled with blood.