Chapter 35: Pouring In

"You know a lot!"

Hearing Cuiyu's muttering, Shen Yunyao gave the other a fierce look.

Cuiyu gave a hehe laugh.

Although I don't understand what the Miss said, but these two sentences together feel quite impressive.

Forget it, as long as the Miss is happy, that's fine.

Cuiyu's demands have always been this low.

……

The marriage agreement farce between the Shen and Zheng families, as the Zheng family left Liu Cheng, gradually lost its previous liveliness.

Of course, for a long time, this was one of the topics of after-dinner chat among the people of Liu Cheng.

Because the Shen Family Third Branch was preparing for a daughter's marriage, and also because the city's roads were undergoing comprehensive repairs, after all, the silver for this road repair came from the Shen Family Third Branch.

And the silver used by the Shen Family Third Branch was the old debt repaid by the Zheng Family.

The Zheng Family, having paid out the silver, also didn't gain a good reputation; it can be said they lost both person and wealth.

And the Shen Family gained both fame and profit.

Although the silver for the road repair came from the Shen Family Third Branch, the Shen Family Third Branch has always been a member of the Shen Family.

Perhaps because of forming this high-ranking marriage alliance, Shen Yunyao suddenly discovered that she had become more favored by these sisters of the Shen Family.

Even those older aunts who were already married and had little interaction with Shen Yunyao also came back one after another, each bringing her gifts.

"It's really real!"

Shen Yunyao saw off the two aunts who had come together, married for many years, feeling her facial muscles sore from smiling.

"Miss, please don't complain!"

Cuiyu looked speechlessly at her own miss, "You didn't see how those two grand-aunts looked feeling sorry when they left!"

"That's right too!"

Shen Yunyao felt she had gained some advantage while still acting obedient.

Sitting idle at home, receiving gifts until her hands went soft, what more could she be dissatisfied with?

Li Shi never gave birth to a daughter in her lifetime.

But the concubines of the late Shen patriarch gave birth to many daughters.

While the Shen patriarch was still alive, they would often return to the Shen Family, after all, having a natal father meant they could always get some benefit when they came back.

But after the Shen patriarch's death, the Shen Family was for a time under Li Shi's control.

Regarding these children born of concubines, Li Shi naturally did not favor them.

Likewise, these concubine-born daughters also knew they were not favored, so aside from ceremonial gifts during holidays, they basically had little contact with the Shen Family.

Even if possible, they would not want to come back again.

However, according to ritual law, Li Shi is their mother, and they cannot not come back.

Concubine-born daughters, after marriage, actually cannot rely much on their natal family, unless their full-blood brothers can achieve success.

But this situation is rare.

This time, Shen Yunyao is to marry into the Xie Family of Jingcheng, and she is marrying the Xie Family's legitimate son; for the Shen Family of Liu Cheng, this is truly a high match.

If the Xie Family is willing to lend a hand, the Shen Family will surely rise with the tide.

Even the Shen Family's daughters who have already married can still benefit somewhat.

But the premise is, you must seize the opportunity.

If even this niece who is about to marry doesn't recognize you, then there's no point talking about any relationship.

Precisely because of this, Shen Yunyao suddenly became a sought-after delicacy.

However, although she received many gifts, this kind of day of accompanying smiles is truly exhausting.

Shen Yunyao sometimes even thought that if her engagement to Xie Zian encountered a change, then things would certainly become very interesting.

……

Wenxi Hall.

Li Shi has become much quieter.

She seems to have resigned herself, clearly understanding that no matter how she fusses, that unfilial son will not yield. And what can an elderly old lady do?

Li Shi's side is no longer causing trouble.

Unexpectedly, her maternal brothers suddenly arrived at the Shen Family.

Shen Shen, upon seeing this maternal uncle with whom he had had no contact for many years, was dazed.

How many years has it been that Li Shi hasn't returned to the Li Family, and the Li Family has never sent anyone to their Shen Shen hasn't returned to the Li Family, and the Li Family has never sent anyone to their Shen Family. Even during the years Li Shi was in charge, not even the holiday gifts were sent.

"Greetings, Uncle!"

After Shen Shen came to his senses, he could only, according to propriety, pay respects to Li Yifu.

"Are you my eldest nephew?"

Li Yifu is relatively thin, wearing a half-old, half-new long robe, his hair neatly combed, looking spirited. He wears a pair of thousand-layer-soled cloth shoes.

At first glance, he looks quite normal.

But upon closer look, one would find his outfit a bit mismatched.

"It's me!"

Shen Shen hurriedly spoke.

Li Yifu chuckled and said, "I came to see my old sister and bid her farewell!"

"Uncle, are you going out?"

Shen Shen became increasingly curious.

Li Yifu waved his hand and said, "I'm getting old, my body's failing; while I can still get around, I'll go see all these relatives."

"Then I'll go home, waiting to meet my ancestors and apologize to them."

"I, this unfilial descendant, have ruined the Li family's fortune!"

"Well, I'll go apologize to them."

If Li Yifu stayed silent, it would be fine, but as soon as he spoke, he left Shen Shen completely at a loss.

Is this uncle pointing at him?

However, Shen Shen didn't know what exactly had happened between Li Shi and the other party, and it wasn't appropriate to say anything.

"Uncle, let me take you to see Mother!"

Shen Shen didn't pick up on Li Yifu's cue, and directly took him to see Li Shi.

How to treat the Li clan, Shen Shen still had to look at his mother's attitude.

When Shen Shen brought Li Yifu to appear in Wenxi Hall, Li Shi's eyes lit up instantly.

"Brother!"

"Sister—"

After years apart, the brother and sister, upon seeing each other, immediately had tears in their eyes and embraced, sobbing.

Shen Shen stood aside, unable to stay or leave, so he could only stand there awkwardly.

Fortunately, Wang Mama had some sense, she brought a stool for Shen Shen, letting him sit beside them.

Li Shi and Li Yifu, the brother and sister, cried while embracing for a short while, then gradually stopped their tears and began to pour out their hearts.

"Sister, I know I was wrong!"

"These years, you've ignored me, ignored the Li clan—our Li clan has fallen!"

After Li Yifu settled down, he began to complain to Li Shi, recounting how difficult these years had been for him.

"You fool, didn't you know to come find me earlier?"

"I'm angry with you, but you're my own brother—how could I not care for you?"

Listening to Li Yifu recount his years of hardship, Li Shi also became exasperated: "This brother of mine, how can someone his age still be so clueless!"

"Sister, I don't have the face to come see you!"

"If I hadn't heard that your third son's eldest daughter married into our high-ranking family, I, as your maternal uncle, wouldn't have the face to come knocking."

Beside him, Shen Shen hearing his uncle's words felt ashamed to look.

To show up and mooch off others, you still need a pretext—really particular about it.

"What did you say?"

"The eldest daughter of the third household is getting married?"

Li Shi stared at Li Yifu in shock: "The second household's third and fourth daughters haven't even left home yet, so how did it come to the seventh daughter of the third household?"

"Sister, such a big matter, you don't know about it?"

Li Yifu was stunned.

Shen Shen's face instantly darkened; he knew his old mother was about to complain about him!

(End of chapter)