Chapter 956 - 954: Discouraged and Disheartened

Words : 1324 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

Chapter 956: Chapter 954: Discouraged and Disheartened "Let me tell you, Sister-in-law of the Cao Family, truly, I’ve given birth to four sons and a daughter in this lifetime. All four sons together aren’t worth even a finger of my daughter! Those four sons of mine, each was born to collect debts, after raising them painstakingly, I still had to marry them off." "And what happens? After they get a wife, they forget about their mother! Their hearts are all biased towards their wife. All the good stuff is dragged to their own little family, do they still remember their mother? They talk about filial piety with their mouths, but in their hearts, they don’t sincerely regard you." "In this half of my life, following my four sons, I haven’t enjoyed a single day of bliss, just worked myself to the bone, heartbroken and unrewarded. Now, being with my daughter, I finally understand what a good life is like." ... Old Madam Cao listened to Old Granny Zhang’s bragging, half was deliberate flattery, half was sincere envy, watching the Scholar’s mother-in-law. Just because she gave birth to a good daughter, a rural old granny had become a city lady, with several people serving her. Looking at this old lady’s complexion, you could tell her life was unbelievably comfortable. In comparison to herself, at such an old age, still lowering herself to appease others for her son’s sake, sadness welled up in her heart. But ultimately, Old Madam Cao was quite clear-headed, becoming more aware that if she made Old Granny Zhang happy right now, Scholar Song wouldn’t hold grudges like he did with her own family. So she suppressed the bitterness and envy in her heart, employing tactics she used to please her own mother-in-law to make Old Granny Zhang smile with delight, only feeling that Old Madam Cao was a clever person. In the room were just two old ladies, one boasting, one flattering, and Old Granny Wu adding humor from the side, making the room fill with laughter. Yang Zongbao listened for a while before twitching his mouth and leaving to handle affairs. Song Chongjin couldn’t leave, so he had to sit to the side accompanying them. Cao Jian and his wife and Cao Ergou were also invited to sit aside, and some refreshments were served. If it were an ordinary day, the couple of the Cao Family and Ergouzi would definitely eat first and then talk, fill their stomach so they could save one meal. But they had been scolded yesterday, and seeing Song Chongjin sitting with a cold face to the side, swallowing saliva several times, they didn’t dare reach out. Wang Yongzhu originally wanted to send the Cao Family out directly, but seeing Old Granny Zhang rarely having someone to converse with, although mostly it was Old Granny Zhang talking and Old Madam Cao just responsible for raining praises, seeing Old Granny Zhang so happy, he patiently accompanied her. Seeing that Cao Jian and his wife were like sitting on pins and needles, and Song Chongjin was also uncomfortable, he thought for a while, then leaned over to Song Chongjin, "Why don’t you take the husband of the Cao Family out to the yard and sit for a while? I’ll stay here and accompany them." Song Chongjin felt relieved, usually he wouldn’t mind listening to Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang gossip, but with outsiders here, he felt uncomfortable. Upon hearing Wang Yongzhu’s suggestion, he also nodded, got up to signal Cao Jian to follow him out. Cao Jian and his son didn’t dare utter a refusal, trembling, they followed out. Old Madam Cao saw this and wanted to say something, but Old Granny Zhang pulled her over, "Don’t worry, my son-in-law is taking the kids to the yard, leaving us so it’s easier to talk." Old Madam Cao didn’t dare say more, only summoned up all her talent to talk and flatter. After quite a while, someone came to knock at the door, Old Madam Ding went to open it, only to find it was Xiao Wu, bringing a cautious lady in her thirties, standing at the door. Seeing Old Madam Ding, Xiao Wu’s eyes lit up, "Auntie, yesterday Scholar’s Lady asked if we knew anyone who grows flowers, today I brought someone for her." Old Madam Ding listened, let Xiao Wu and the lady in and let them wait at the door, she went to deliver the message. Xiao Wu saw Song Chongjin in the yard, along with the husband of the Cao Family, and was surprised, but quickly recovered, and bowed to Song Chongjin, "Greetings, Scholar Master." Song Chongjin nodded, didn’t speak. Inside, upon hearing Old Madam Ding’s words, Old Madam Cao took the opportunity to bid farewell, having sat for nearly two hours, truly exhausted, even more tiring than serving her mother-in-law back in the days. Old Granny Zhang didn’t insist, easily letting her leave, before leaving, she waved Wang Yongzhu over to whisper a few words. Wang Yongzhu nodded, shortly after, bringing in a purse to give to Old Granny Zhang. Old Granny Zhang stood up, at this point, Old Madam Cao brought Cao Jian and his wife and Cao Ergou back in to say goodbye, Old Granny Zhang then handed the purse to Cao Ergou, "No need to say more, this kid is making his first visit, can’t let him leave empty-handed. Take this purse back to play with, and I’ll not keep you any longer!" Cao Ergou didn’t dare take it, seeing Old Madam Cao nod, then accepted the purse, the family expressed their utmost gratitude before leaving the house. At home, the family finally breathed a sigh of relief, Cao Jian cautiously looked at his own mother, "Mom, is this matter settled? I see that Scholar Master’s mother-in-law quite enjoys talking with you, in the future, can you often accompany her and chat? Maybe she could whisper some words for us, let Ergouzi apprentice under Scholar Master? I think the old lady quite likes our Ergouzi, she even gave a purse!" This reminder roused Old Madam Cao, she beckoned, "Er Gouzi, give me that purse for a look." Er Gouzi pulled out the purse from inside his shirt and handed it to Old Madam Cao. Old Madam Cao took the purse, felt it light, pinched it, seemed like there was nothing inside. Upon opening it, found a silver note worth ten taels inside, and her hand relaxed, the silver note fell to the ground. Cao Jian and his wife leaned over to look, instantly their eyes lit up, "It’s a silver note! Ten taels! The Scholar’s family is so generous, giving the child a meeting gift of ten taels, the gift we gave wasn’t much, just about that amount—" "Shut up!" Old Madam Cao tapped her cane, helplessly watching her foolish son and daughter-in-law, who were still celebrating cheerfully, feeling a rush of emotion in her chest. "What are you happy about? Still don’t understand their meaning? They’ve no intention of arguing with us, but their attitude is clear, don’t think about getting involved with them in the future!" Old Madam Cao covered her chest, feeling waves of discomfort. She thought she had a way with the old lady, and with all her effort to make her happy, she planned that if she could get close to that old lady, they could visit often, and at the right opportunity, she could bring it up, maybe there’d be a chance. Unexpectedly, this old lady was so shrewd, despite flattering her for half a day, she clearly delineated the relationship at the end, and told their family outright, it’s impossible. Old Madam Cao looked at her clueless son and daughter-in-law, and her bewildered grandson, unable to help feeling disheartened. Enough, enough, seems like the Cao Family has no luck, better honestly guard the remaining family assets, and live this ordinary life in peace.

Chapter 956 - 954: Discouraged and Disheartened

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