Chapter 12: There Isn

Jiang Xiaoxiao's heart tightened involuntarily.

According to the original novel's plot, hadn't the part where the Li family sold the Original Host to the human trafficker already arrived?

But this time, that won't happen—she has successfully divided the family with her mother and severed kinship with the Li family; she is no longer a member of the Li family.

They have no right or authority to control her life or death.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiaoxiao's restless heart finally settled back into place.

The journey back to the village passed without incident; apart from Li Jinbao occasionally shouting that he wanted sugar, he later shrank into Sun Shi's arms after a cold glance from Jiang Wei and dared not speak again.

At the village head, they got off the ox cart, and the two families went their separate ways.

Without a word, Jiang Wei led Jiang Xiaoxiao toward the village tail.

Li Jinfeng watched the mother and daughter's retreating backs; the big and small packages seemed to stab her eyes, and she stamped her foot: "Mother, how could Grandpa and Grandma agree to them dividing the family? Where did they get so much money to buy all these things?"

"Who knows!" Sun Shi frowned tightly. "Probably that bitch Jiang Shi used some underhanded trick to force your Grandpa and Grandma into letting them split!"

After saying that, she turned to look at her own man, a worried expression crossing her face: "Shoude, you said they've all split off from the family, so what about the silver you've been juggling around...?"

"What's there to fear? Even if they split, she's still one of Lao Li's!" Li Shoude said dismissively.

"But, Father, that dead girl says she's Jiang now, not Li anymore! What do we do?" Li Jinfeng tightened her eyebrows.

Hearing this, Li Shoude fell silent.

After a long pause, he glanced toward the direction the mother and daughter had left, then picked up his luggage and said only: "Don't talk about this now—hurry home and ask Dad and Mom what's going on."

Thus, the family of four picked up their big and small packages and hurried toward Lao Li's place.

Before long, they arrived at the Li Family Ancestral House.

The Li Family Elders had been waiting at the door, eager and anxious; seeing them return, they rushed forward: "Son, you're finally back! How was it in Town?"

"Father, let's talk once we're inside," Li Shoude said, handing his luggage to his younger brother who came forward, then walked straight into Shang Fang.

Li Shoucai looked at the big and small packages in his hands, sneered, and tossed them to his wife beside him, then followed directly into Shang Fang.

"Sister-in-law, you're home too," Sun Shi said, handing her luggage to Zhu Shi. "Just put it in the East Room for us."

"Yes, yes," Zhu Shi smiled politely, burdened with all four of their packages, her arms nearly bent under the weight, yet she dared not utter a single complaint.

After Sun Shi and her two children entered the room, she revealed a look of bitter resentment: she had borne two sons for Lao Li, while Sun Shi had borne only one—why must she always be overshadowed by Sun Shi?

Hmph, so what if she married the eldest son, a Reading Man? What's there to boast about? Does she really think she's a Scholar's Wife?!

In Shang Fang, the younger sister-in-law Li Xiufen had already poured tea and offered it eagerly to Li Shoude: "Brother, you're back! Have some tea to moisten your throat."

Li Shoude took the tea and drank several large gulps, then spoke: "Father, the results of the prefectural examination have been announced."

A stone thrown into still water stirred a thousand waves—all eyes turned to him; even Zhu Shi, who had just entered, hurried forward to listen.

The Li Family Old Man's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly: "Son, when is the exam?"

Seeing the whole family gathered around him, Li Shoude felt greatly satisfied: "This year's prefectural examination is set for August!"

"That's soon—only two months away!"

The Li Family Old Man exhaled deeply, and Li Shoude continued: "Father, this time the prefectural examination is in Zhou— we'll need silver to grease the wheels."

"How much?"

"At least twenty taels," Li Shoude held up his fingers, and the family's faces immediately fell.

"Son, we don't have that much silver left…" the Li Family Old Man said helplessly.

Li Shoude frowned tightly and said nothing.

These past few years, supporting his studies in Town had indeed cost a lot of silver, but with such a large Li family, if they strained themselves, they could surely raise the money.

Besides, they still had over forty mu of family fields.

"Father, for this trip to Zhou for the prefectural examination, travel and lodging alone will cost a great deal, and after it's over, he must dine with colleagues and bribe officials…" Sun Shi, seeing her husband fall silent, stepped forward quickly.

"What are you doing butting in when men are speaking?!" the Li Family Old Matriarch snapped, glaring.

"Oh, Mother, I'm just worried," Sun Shi quickly forced a smile, pulling out a small bundle and handing it to the old matriarch. "Mother, look—I bought this cloth in Town for you. The material is excellent—perfect for making two sets of clothes for you and the younger sister-in-law."

The Li Family Old Matriarch glanced at the cloth, and her expression softened: "You've got some thought—you still remember this old woman."

"You're my mother—I never forget your kindness!"

As the Eldest Daughter-in-law, Sun Shi knew exactly how to handle the Li Family Old Matriarch—just a few bolts of old cloth from the bottom of her chest could win her favor.

Beside her, Zhu Shi stared longingly at the bundle of cloth, then at her own patched hemp clothes, her heart filled with envy and bitterness.

She hadn't worn new clothes in years, yet her sister-in-law could pull out several pieces of new cloth so casually…

At that moment, Li Jinfeng suddenly spoke: "Grandma, how come Third Sister-in-law's family split off?"

Hearing this, the Li Family Old Matriarch's face darkened: "Who else but that troublemaker? Good riddance—she and that money pit are gone, saving us Lao Li's grain!"

"We saw Third Sister-in-law and Er Ya in Town today—they carried big and small packages and bought a lot of things," Li Jinfeng said with a sour tone.

"What?! They went to Town?!" the old matriarch leapt off the kang, furious: "Where did she get the money?! That bitch must have been hoarding silver behind my back!"

"Exactly," Li Jinfeng, seeing her mother give a signal, continued: "Grandma, I heard Er Ya broke kinship with us? She says she's not Li anymore—is that true?"

"I don't care what surname she uses!" the Li Family Old Matriarch spat. "If she's not Li, I'm glad! When she dies, she won't be buried in our Li ancestral grave!"

Sun Shi, listening nearby, frowned tightly—so the severing of kinship was real.

Then the plan she had prepared probably wouldn't work anymore…

"Father, figure out a way to get the money—I don't have much time to waste," Li Shoude continued pressing the Li Family Old Man about the silver.

"Son, I can't produce that much silver right away," the Li Family Old Man puffed his tobacco pipe, his face lined with worry. "Wait a few more days—I'll ask your uncles and uncles-in-law for help. If all else fails, we still have several mu of family fields…"

(End of Chapter)