Chapter 192: Feng Yatou Has Fallen Into a Nest of Fortune

The Li family had just arrived home when they quickly packed up and prepared to go to town to find Li Jinfeng.

Sun Shi was still pleading: "Mother, Feng'er has only just married in; she hasn't even stabilized yet. For us to show up so abruptly is truly…"

The Old Matriarch, utterly fed up, turned and slapped her: "Pah! Sun Shi, you're telling me how to run my household! Don't think just because your daughter married into the Huang family your waist has suddenly straightened—I tell you, in this house, I'm the one who calls the shots!"

"Exactly! Big sister, Feng Yatou hasn't come back to visit her parents since she married in—this is great unfiliality!" Zhu Shi, having gained nothing from the Jiang family, seized the chance to stoke the fire as Sun Shi was struck.

"We're just going to see your Feng'er, to check how she's doing in town. We won't eat her—what are you afraid of?"

"It's good to see the second son's daughter-in-law understands." The Old Matriarch rarely complimented Zhu Shi.

"Mother, I won't go with you to town to find Feng'er," Li Shoude suddenly spoke up, having stayed silent until now. "Yun Ying isn't feeling well—I'll stay home with her."

The Old Matriarch's briefly improved expression darkened instantly: "Only been married a few days, and now she's aching here or there. A girl from a brothel, thinking she's some official's daughter."

She spoke harshly, with no regard for who heard.

Yun Ying, holding tea at the door, heard it all—her eyes instantly reddened.

"Mother, don't speak like that. Yun Ying may have come from Yanliu Alley, but she was a courtesan who sold art, not her body—a pure, virtuous woman." Li Shoude said discontentedly.

Seeing her son angry, the Old Matriarch fell silent—but still muttered under her breath: "Hmph, pure virtue? I'm just fooling you. A seductive, lowborn slut from a brothel—what scheme is she hatching…"

"Mother!" Yun Ying entered, holding tea. "This is flower tea I brought back from Xuzhou. The ladies and young mistresses there drink it daily—it beautifies the complexion, aids digestion, and quenches thirst. Have some before you go."

Caught red-handed insulting someone behind their back, the Old Matriarch showed no shame, her slanted eyes fixed on the tea Yun Ying offered. "What kind of flower tea?"

The ladies of the State drink this daily—it must be something precious!

She snatched the teacup eagerly, gulped it down like a cow chewing peonies, swished it twice, and found no flavor—it was worse than plain boiled water!

But to hide her vulgarity and ignorance, she forced out: "It's… fine. Just okay."

Yun Ying knew she was putting on an act. She coldly smiled inside, but her face remained sweet: "Mother, you truly are Mother—someone with discernment. You're nothing like some country bumpkin; you're as refined and elegant as the chief ladies of wealthy households in the State."

For the first time, a country Old Matriarch who acted crudely and cursed nonstop was praised as a noble lady—her heart bloomed with joy.

She unconsciously straightened her thin, hunched back, beaming with delight, and even found Yun Ying more pleasant to look at: "Hmph, it's rare to have such filial devotion. Since you're unwell, stay home and rest."

"Thank you, Mother."

Zhu Shi was utterly stunned by this turn of events.

Why had Mother suddenly changed her attitude toward this woman? One moment she was cursing her, the next she was worrying about her health?

She'd never received such treatment in all her years married into the Old Li Family—yet Yun Ying had only been here a few days…

While Zhu Shi gaped in shock, Sun Shi bit her lip tight and lowered her head in silence.

After the Li family left, Yun Ying's smile vanished instantly.

She turned to Li Shoude, her tone edged with impatience: "Didn't you promise me this was just a few days at home? That once we reported safety, we'd return to Xuzhou?"

These past few days in Yuhe Village—she'd had enough!

Even though Li Shoude protected her from chores, the Li family ate nothing but coarse grain gruel with wild vegetables—no meat for weeks, she was about to throw up!

Sometimes she had to force herself to flatter that old witch—she truly couldn't bear it!

In Yanliu Alley, though she wasn't as favored as the top courtesans, she'd never lived like this!

"Yun Ying, just wait a little longer. Your father and mother are trying to raise money for me. Without money, we can't survive in Xuzhou…" Li Shoude hurried to soothe her.

But his voice carried a hint of guilt.

During his time in Xuzhou, he'd held over twenty taels of silver from the Huang family, and felt rich—so besides drinking and whoring, he often hosted banquets, calling it "literati gatherings."

He pretended to be wealthy, made many drinking buddies, and met Yun Ying—then the two became entangled…

Seeing Li Shoude spend lavishly and holding a scholar's title, Yun Ying assumed he was some rich family's Young Master, and followed him—until she arrived in Yuhe Village…

On the day she stood before the Li family gate, she had regretted it.

But regret was useless now.

Li Shoude had bought her freedom. A woman from Yanliu Alley, if she left Li Shoude, had nowhere to live.

So even though she bitterly resented Li Shoude for deceiving her, that day she'd put on a show of deep affection, making the Li family accept her.

"Hmph, I don't care—I can't stay in this house any longer. If you won't go, I'll return to Xuzhou alone!" Yun Ying bit her red lip, feigning strength.

Of course, this was a lie to fool Li Shoude.

She had nowhere left to go.

But Li Shoude didn't know—he panicked at the thought of her leaving alone: "No! Yun Ying, I'm sorry! Wait a few more days—Mother and Feng Yatou will borrow money, and we'll pack and return to Xuzhou right away!"

"Will you… take Sun Shi with you?" Yun Ying asked softly, clutching her handkerchief.

Li Shoude paused. Seeing the displeasure on her delicate face, he hurried to say: "I'm going to the State to study and take the exams—I only need you with me. She'll stay home to care for your father and mother…"

"That's better." Yun Ying was satisfied now.

As Li Shoude soothed Yun Ying with gentle words, the Old Li couple, with Sun Shi and the Second Branch, finally reached the Huang Family Residence before dusk.

The bright vermilion lacquered gate, blue-brick foundation, and black gold-leaf sandalwood plaque above it bore bold, swirling characters: "Huang Family Residence."

Clearly a wealthy household—even the outer gate was so grand!

The Old Li couple's eyes gleamed.

"Oh my! Feng Yatou has fallen into a nest of fortune! Mother, let me knock!"

Before the Old Li couple could speak, Zhu Shi rushed forward and pounded loudly on the vermilion lacquered gate.