Chapter 242: Where Is That Money Hidden?

Li Jinfeng understood her mother's meaning and signaled her to stay silent.

The Li family only knew the money was hidden in the dog hole behind the Huang Fu's backyard, but they didn't know its exact location.

Besides, now that county guards are stationed around the Huang Fu, strictly forbidding outsiders from approaching, it's uncertain whether the Li family can even retrieve the money.

"Sigh, I wonder when these guards will leave?" Zhu Shi now began to worry, "What if they never leave?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Li Old Matriarch glared at her, "I've inquired—these guards were sent by the Inspector from the Capital. He'll leave eventually; as soon as he does, we'll rush to get the money and make sure no outsider snatches it away!"

Saying this, she smiled warmly and pulled Li Jinfeng's hand: "Feng Yatou, you've suffered these past few months. Now that you're back with the Li Family, you must stand with us—don't turn against your own kin…" She deliberately glanced at Sun Shi beside her, the implication clear.

Li Jinfeng lowered her head and softly murmured, "Mm."

Seeing Li Jinfeng so obedient, Li Old Matriarch's smile deepened.

She didn't care who ultimately got the money—whether Old Man or Li Shoucai—it wouldn't hurt her much, as long as Sun Shi, that little bitch, didn't claim it all.

So she must hold tightly onto Li Jinfeng and make sure she isn't deceived by Sun Shi.

"Come, tell Grandmother, exactly which direction in the Huang Fu is the money hidden?" Li Old Matriarch's voice turned as soft as water, "Look at you, carrying such a big belly—you must be exhausted. Once we get that money, I'll have eggs cooked for you every day… Eggs are precious things; even your mother never had this luxury when she was carrying you. Feng Yatou, you're truly blessed."

Li Jinfeng suppressed the urge to roll her eyes—did they really think she'd be bought off by a couple of eggs?

Though her life in the Huang Family had been hard, they never stinted on food—three meals a day with meat, Big White Rice, eggs whenever she wanted, no scolding or beating for eating an extra bite.

Though she thought this, she showed no sign of it, answering meekly: "Grandmother, the place is in the dog hole behind the Huang Fu's backyard, but I can't say exactly where. I'll take you there myself when the time comes."

Hearing this, Li Old Matriarch nodded contentedly, gently patting her hand: "Good, good, Feng Yatou, I never spoiled you in vain—you're truly the most sensible one in our Li Family."

"Mm…" Li Jinfeng murmured obediently, lowering her head to hide the coldness and mockery in her eyes.

On the day she returned to the Li Family, Sun Shi had pulled her into a secluded corner and given her detailed instructions: absolutely must not reveal the exact location of the money to the Li Family.

Li Shoude was gone; they, mother and daughter, had no one left to rely on—if they lost this money, they'd never rise again!

Yun Ying, who was washing clothes for the whole family nearby, clenched her teeth in silent fury.

She'd been given Twenty Heavy Strokes at the County Yamen; the flesh on her buttocks was nearly beaten to pulp, and she could only sleep face-down at night—but the Li Family wasn't even human; they didn't summon a doctor or give her any Medicine, and every night she lay awake in pain.

Worse still, after lying in bed for only two days, she was dragged up to work—cooking, washing clothes, cleaning the house and courtyard, serving every member of the family… These tasks had always been Sun Shi's!

Because of the money Li Jinfeng hid, Sun Shi's life had improved, and all the dirty, exhausting work fell onto Yun Ying.

She'd been pampered her whole life—how could she do such labor? If the porridge was even slightly burnt, Li Old Matriarch would snatch up the fire poker and beat her, punishing her with no food.

Now she was so hungry she felt dizzy and weak, her work grew clumsier, and when she failed, Li Old Matriarch beat her again, while every member of the family watched coldly.

The Li Family had not one good soul!

Yun Ying bit her teeth in rage, yet dared not resist.

She'd been reduced to slave status, with no rights—even if she were beaten to death, the Guanfu wouldn't care.

No, she couldn't let this continue—she must find a way to steal her indenture contract and escape this den of wolves, or she'd eventually be tortured to death by this pack of starving wolves!

As Yun Ying was secretly plotting, Li Old Matriarch suddenly grabbed her ear and screamed: "Have you not eaten?! How many times have I told you—wash clothes with force! You wash so lazily, the clothes won't get clean!"

Yun Ying's ear throbbed with pain, yet she still bowed humbly: "Mother, I… I haven't eaten—I just don't have the strength…"

But no sooner had she spoken than she received a hard slap across the face.

"How dare you blame us for not feeding you? If not for you, would our sixty Taels of Silver have vanished?! Would our family be reduced to this?!"

Li Old Matriarch's anger grew hotter; she snatched up the wooden mallet on the ground and swung it at Yun Ying: "I say it's all your fault! Ever since you came, our Li Family has been cursed—nothing goes right, disasters pile up! Now you've killed Shou De—do you feel satisfied?!"

Yun Ying rolled on the ground, screaming in agony—those Silver Taels were the Li Family's own choice to save Li Shoude; what did she have to do with it?

Yet she kept begging: "I won't do it again… Mother, I won't, please spare me…"

Yun Ying's hair was disheveled, her face covered in scratches, her body caked in mud—utterly wretched.

Li Old Matriarch, disgusted by the filth, snorted coldly and finally stopped.

Yun Ying lay on the ground, her tangled hair unable to hide the hatred burning in her eyes.

Sorry, my dears—due to illness, my updates have been unstable. I went to the hospital for blood tests and was diagnosed with Jiajia; I've been taking medicine these past few days and will resume stable updates once I'm better.