Chapter 946 - 944 All Ruined by You

Words : 1172 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

Chapter 946: Chapter 944 All Ruined by You "Especially the fact that she sealed off the Cao family’s courtyard and rented it out—that’s truly clever. She only found honest families to rent her property. Naturally, these tenants would feel obliged to maintain a good reputation. If anything happens, they’re sure to lend a hand." "With these people around, those usual riffraff and hoodlums certainly wouldn’t dare to climb over walls and knock on doors at night. Even if they do plan to climb over, they have to get past these families outside, and might even be caught as thieves. Her family lives in the innermost area, and it’s not easy for anyone to reach their courtyard gate, thus preserving their reputation." Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin listened and thought carefully, and it really was true. In these times, a young widow with a child, without any support, is the prime target for idle men and hoodlums. They would take advantage of the night to pick the lock of the widow’s door, tarnish her reputation, and persistently spread rumors, potentially seizing her inheritance. Thinking of this, Old Madam Cao really has a clear mind. "Moreover, she teaches her son to be stingy and petty. It’s likely seven parts true, three parts false, deliberately spreading such a ridiculous, stingy reputation to make people think of the Cao family, reminiscent of their prosperous days, and pitifully compare them now, living even worse than common folks." "Even those who are not on good terms with the Cao family would see the mother and son’s daily struggles and gradually let go of old grievances over time. Some might even secretly pity them." "When the Cao family’s son grows up, and the family continues living like this, it doesn’t bother others. People think of the Cao family as merely a joke, don’t they? Plus, living behind closed doors, who knows what they’re really like at home? They might be enjoying a feast daily and only putting on a humble facade outside to deceive others." Old Granny Zhang turned and asked Song Chongjin, "That Cao family’s boy who fell into the water, does he look robust?" Song Chongjin was taken aback, recalling the situation at the time, and smiled: "Mother was right. Now that I think about it, the boy who fell into the water from the Cao family was quite hefty when we pulled him up. Though his clothes didn’t look great, he was definitely well-fed." These days, most families only have meat to eat during festivals; only children from well-off families grow sturdy, whereas ordinary children are skinny. It seems the Cao family, behind others’ backs, didn’t really neglect themselves after all. After this explanation, the three of them understood the situation. If it were those who were petty, they might go to the Cao family to demand an explanation, or even expose them. But Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu weren’t petty people; rescuing someone was naturally done in passing, and they didn’t dwell on it. Old Granny Zhang just muttered a couple of words about the Cao family’s lack of decency, and let it go. As Ding Granny and her companions returned, the water was heated, ready for bathing and changing clothes. Ding Granny and Old Granny Wu busily went to prepare meals. As for the Cao family. Since Cao Jian’s mother became a widow, she rarely ventured outside, especially during festivals. When Cao Jian was young, she kept him from going out, only letting him go when he grew older. Seeing her son, daughter-in-law, and precious grandson come back, with the grandson drenched, she guessed he must have fallen into the water. Jing County is near the river; boys of that age are the most mischievous, sneaking to the river to play while adults aren’t watching. Today it’s the Dragon Boat Race, likely he slipped into the water. Seeing the child still in wet clothes, she quickly told Cao Ergou to change clothes and ordered the daughter-in-law to cook ginger soup. After sending the daughter-in-law and grandson off, Old Madam Cao asked, "What happened? How did Er Gouzi fall into the water? Why is your forehead bruised?" Cao Jian was most afraid of his own mother; moreover, he saved quite a bit on gratitude gifts today, which made him proud, so he reported everything, expecting his mother to praise him. Unexpectedly, Old Madam Cao’s face turned stern, and she struck Cao Jian with her cane: "You fool! Is this how I’ve taught you? Doing such disgraceful things?" Cao Jian cried out in pain and protest: "Mother, didn’t you teach me to be thrifty? We’ve bowed a few times to Scholar Song, saving quite a bit on gratitude gifts! Isn’t this right?" Old Madam Cao angrily struck twice more with the cane, then said bitterly: "I’ve taught you to be thrifty daily, appear poor outside, not attract attention. Why? Isn’t it because your deceased father squandered our wealth and made many enemies? Do you think we could have survived till now without this pretense? But I also taught you to be grateful and repay kindness, didn’t I?" "Scholar Master saved our Er Gouzi! What a great favor this is! He saved our Cao family, preserving our lineage! Even your father and grandfather in the afterlife should be grateful!" "Yet you, bowing a few times wasn’t enough, you forced Scholar Master to speak for you in front of neighbors! You’ve really grown audacious, huh? Do you think our Cao family’s life is too easy, that you want to squander everything like your father until we’re ruined?" Cao Jian was chastised to the point he couldn’t lift his head, only kneeling silently. It was his wife who, hearing the commotion wasn’t right, cautiously approached: "Mother, we’ve said we’d erect a longevity plaque for Scholar Song, and burn incense day and night for him, isn’t that sufficient?" "You too, brain stuck in money matters, fool! A good chance finally came, our ancestors blessed us, allowing the Cao family to proudly stand tall without living in shameful secrecy—all squandered by you! What sin have I committed to have such dullards as children!" Old Madam Cao threw her cane aside and sat on the ground, wailing. Terrified, Cao Jian crawled to Old Madam Cao: "Mother, don’t be angry! If you’re upset, take it out on me with a few more cane strikes—" Cao Jian’s wife also knelt before Old Madam Cao: "Mother, we were wrong! We’ll pack items now and deliver them to Scholar Song’s family!" Old Madam Cao spat: "Having offended them, what’s the point of sending anything now? Doesn’t that just make enemies? Why am I so cursed—" She wailed loudly. Cao Jian and his wife slapped themselves and kowtowed multiple times, promising never to act on their own again, always listen to Old Madam Cao. Only then did Old Madam Cao gradually stop her crying. Sniffling, she sent Cao Jian’s wife to care for the grandson, and pulled her son aside to painstakingly break down the reasoning.

Chapter 946 - 944 All Ruined by You

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