The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 803 - 781 Hard to Change Nature (Additional update for the reward by book friend ’Jinyiwei: Rongrong’ +5)

Chapter 803: Chapter 781 Hard to Change Nature (Additional update for the reward by book friend ’Jinyiwei: Rongrong’ +5)

He carried the basket and money toward home, determined to lead a good life from now on, but during the short walk of merely a few hundred steps from the two homes, the itch in Lai Tou’s pocket where the money was grew hotter. Subconsciously, the money he had intended to give to his parents found its way into his own bosom.

He felt that today’s luck was the best it had been in years. After all, he hadn’t only gained a basket full of ginger but also an extra ten wen. Perhaps his fortune really was about to change? Maybe he really could win?

Lai Tou hastened home, handed the basket over to his parents, and then went back to his room to grab the last bit of money he had before stuffing it into his clothes and striding out.

Seeing this, Lai Tou’s father couldn’t help but ask, "Where are you off to?"

"Just out for a walk; I won’t be back tonight."

Upon hearing this, Lai Tou’s father’s face turned unsightly. Usually, when he said this, it meant he was off to gamble. Swiftly chasing after him, he could only catch a glimpse of Lai Tou’s disappearing figure. In frustration, he stomped his foot, spending another sleepless night.

As soon as Lai Tou left, the Zhou Family gathered again to continue their meeting, completely unaware that Lai Tou had gone straight to gambling after leaving their place.

Old Zhou carefully recalled the scene when his younger brother returned that year and, furrowing his brows, said, "He was so lively when he came back, greeting acquaintances on the road wouldn’t have been out of the question."

Ms. Qian, however, said, "He’s been gone for six or seven years, changed so much that even if he did run into someone, they wouldn’t recognize him. When we held the funeral for him recently, nearly all of our acquaintances came, and no one mentioned having seen him that year."

"And besides, it was over a decade ago. Even if someone had met him, they would have forgotten by now. Why bring it up now?" continued Ms. Qian, "County Magistrate Yang probably said that just to scare Lai Tou."

Zhou SiLang looked around and asked, "How did County Magistrate Yang even know about our uncle?"

Ms. Qian sighed, "I fear the trouble started with the death notice."

She speculated, "Do you think... the family member named Zhou Yin who died in Shangzhou could have been found and, therefore..."

Old Zhou smacked his forehead with regret, "At the time, I was only thinking of giving him a rightful burial."

"What’s there to fear?" Ms. Qian gave him a sideways glance and said, "If it really is about that, we have nothing to fear. If the authorities come knocking, we’ll just say we don’t know anything. If they say he’s our family’s Zhou Yin, naturally, we’ll recognize him."

Zhou Dalang said, "Lai Tou panicked too quickly. Lord Yang is so astute, could he have seen through something?"

Ms. Qian bit her lip and said, "As long as nobody confesses, they have no evidence, just speculation. They can’t do anything to us."

Zhou Wulang asked, "Mother, do you really trust Lai Tou that much? What if he talks?"

"If he had talked, could we still be sitting here at home?" Zhou SiLang shot him a glance and said, "Lai Tou definitely hasn’t confessed. Since he hasn’t cracked after being beaten, he likely won’t in the future. Plus, County Magistrate Yang isn’t even in the county right now."

Old Zhou asked, "Where has he gone?"

"He’s getting married and has to go back to the capital," Manbao said. "He’s probably on the road right now."

The Zhou family all breathed a sigh of relief at once. With him not in the county, there was no need for immediate worry. They could take a moment to think about how to respond if County Magistrate Yang came to question them.

As the Zhou family relaxed, Ms. Qian said to Zhou SiLang, "You should still accompany Manbao to Yizhou City tomorrow. Keep a close watch on her and don’t let her get deceived by County Magistrate Yang."

Zhou SiLang replied, "Mother, Manbao doesn’t know anything. What could Lord Yang possibly deceive her about?"

Ms. Qian thought about it but still said, "Just keep an eye on Manbao, and keep her away from Lord Yang and that Lord Tang."

Zhou SiLang grimaced, agreeing to the daunting task.

Once everything had been settled, everyone returned to their own homes to appease their wives. Zhou SiLang handled Ms. Fang effortlessly, but Zhou Wulang was a bit flustered.

When his uncle left, he had been very young and hardly remembered him. He knew of his uncle only because his parents and older brothers often mentioned him to him and Sixth, saying that the only reason they survived as children was because of the bag of wheat their uncle had brought home.

So, he always knew he had an uncle, and twelve years ago, when his uncle returned to the village in fine clothes, bringing with him plenty of delicacies, toys, and beautiful fabrics for clothes, he liked his uncle very much and truly remembered him.

Since then, the family stopped mentioning his uncle. His wife asked him about it, but he couldn’t talk about his uncle’s matters, and he couldn’t think of excuses for other things, so he could only remain silent.

Lu Zhi, vexed, scratched him a few times to vent her frustration.

Ms. Qian didn’t care about what was going on in her sons’ homes. She might sound confident in front of them, but she also had some trepidation.

Once back in her room, Ms. Qian lit three sticks of incense, bowed reverently before the portrait of the Heaven Master, and prayed, hoping for divine protection so that everything would turn out to be a false alarm.

Old Zhou sat on the side, sighing, "It’s been twelve years. Manbao is about to grow up and marry. How could this matter be dug up again?"

Ms. Qian looked up at the portrait of the Heaven Master and after a long pause said, "Do you believe what the officials say?"

"What?" Old Zhou was momentarily confused.

"Do you believe what the officials said twelve years ago, that Two was a bandit?"

"I don’t," replied Old Zhou. "How could a bandit marry a scholar’s precious daughter?"

"..." Ms. Qian said, "I believe in Two’s character. He’s not that kind of person."

"Exactly, I know my own brother. He’s always helping people, not harming them."

"So you think, if it comes to light, could the authorities bring justice for Two?" Ms. Qian said. "And the people who caused his and Sister-in-Law’s deaths, don’t they deserve to rest in peace?"

Old Zhou was taken aback, whispering in alarm, "Are you mad? It’s been so many years. How can we investigate? The officials who branded Zhou Yin as a bandit had their documents stamped. They will believe their own kind over us."

"But County Magistrate Yang seems decent, and he’s friends with our Manbao."

Old Zhou just fell silent.

Seeing her husband’s silence, Ms. Qian herself sighed and shook her head, "Forget it. There’s family to care for, not to mention the whole of Qili Village behind us. If County Magistrate Yang can really help clear Two’s name, that’s one thing, but if he can’t..."

Then the entire Qili Village would be dragged down by her, and even if Ms. Qian felt resentful, she couldn’t be so reckless.

The whole village had kept their family secret for so many years; it wouldn’t be reasonable for them to suffer on her account now.

Ms. Qian suppressed her folly and gazed again at the Heaven Master’s portrait, bowing her head and murmuring a prayer, "I only hope that Heaven Master will bless us so that County Magistrate Yang won’t uncover anything this time."

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