Chapter 204:
Li Zuzu called over Zhao Zuzu, who was feeding the chickens, and they went together to Old Li Tou’s house.
When they saw the state of Luo Zhi’er’s room, they were so angry they blew their beards and glared!
Before the group even entered the yard, they heard Zhou Shi’s shrill scolding voice, while Miaomiao was scared and kept retreating…
“You damn Luo Zhi’er, daring to secretly hoard so much silver? Quick, say, is there more silver? Where exactly is it hidden?”
Looking closer, the room was in chaos, with things on the floor, on the bed, clothing from the wardrobe, bed sheets, pillowcases, all the worn-out stuff thrown on the ground…
The cabinets were all opened, looking just like it had been robbed by bandits!
The whole family, including Old Thing Li Depei, were rummaging through the young couple’s bedroom…
What kind of propriety is this?
If word spreads, which young wife would dare marry into Zhao Li Village again?
Zhou Shi clutched a big pile of clothing tightly in her arms, holding a money bag in her hand, her eyes about to spit fire…
The other two sisters-in-law surrounded her, while Chen Shi quietly watched her and said: “Mother, you can’t pocket this silver privately!”
“Right, this is what I found first, we all have a share!” Xiao Zhou Shi was furious to death; she had just found it in the drawer of that dressing table when the old woman snatched it away.
Li Gui squatted on the ground prying at the lock of a small safe dug out from under the bed, “Uncle, that’s something my father left me! Please don’t pry anymore… Haven’t you taken all the silver already?”
“You little bitch who’s courting death, your father gave it to you? Didn’t you bring it into our Old Li family? Then it’s ours!”
“Exactly, exactly!”
“What’s yours?”
Xiao Zhou Shi and Chen Shi chimed in!
Mother had that money bag, which they had seen earlier had at least a dozen taels of silver, not even counting the small copper coins; this damned Luo Zhi’er had earned so much silver in such a short time?
Their eyes were all red…
San Mao’s Wife sniffed, her eyes red, listening to the old couple’s reprimands and curses, head down swallowing her grievances…
“Still not confessing honestly where the silver for buying the mule came from?”
Old Li Tou glared at Da Niu and loudly questioned! “If you don’t say, watch out or this old man will divorce you, you disobedient woman!”
Li Depei righteously questioned, angering Li Zuzu behind him until his face turned ashen…
“Hah! Quite the airs! Li Depei ah Li Depei, do you live up to your name? You tell us, what’s going on in this room?”
Old Li Tou turned back and looked, oh my god! His head split into two; how did these two old ancestors come? They had just sent off Li Zhengxin, and now these two came to join the fun?
They were old and should rest at home enjoying their later years, so why keep running from house to house?
Of course, this was just his fantasy!
Looking again at Miaomiao and Old Lady Zhao hiding behind them, he knew what was up.
He inwardly fumed; it turned out to be this little traitor, and he gave her a vicious glare—wait and see!
Grandma Zhao shielded her behind her.
“Miaomiao, you wretched girl, come over here to this old man!”
He immediately wanted to go find a whip. “Watch me not beat you to death!”
“Hmph! Li Depei! After a trip to the county prison, you’ve gotten even more promising!” Li Zuzu widened his eyes, shook his sleeves, and loudly criticized!
“Heh heh, Uncle Li, what wind blew you here too?”
“Hmph! If I didn’t come, wouldn’t I miss seeing your whole family forcing her to hand over her dowry and looting her clothing?”
“Uncle, this is a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”
Old Li Tou fawned!
“Misunderstanding? Li Depei, what misunderstanding requires your Li Gui to personally pry someone’s lock? What misunderstanding requires your wife to sweep up someone’s silver and things in the room?”
“And what misunderstanding requires you to give your own granddaughter Miaomiao that look like you want to devour her alive?”
“What’s that on Miaomiao’s father’s back? Hmph! Don’t you think about how many guts you have to lay a poisonous hand on Miaomiao???”
That Bill outside would bite you to death and no one would say a word; it’d be as simple as pinching a grasshopper for them!
“Look at yourselves, are you family or a gang of robbers? Li Gui, is this how Donglin Academy taught you to pursue an official career and riches!” Zhao Zuzu also chimed in!
Everyone in the room stopped their actions, pondering how to deal with these two.
Zhou Shi glanced sideways at Miaomiao, seeing her hiding behind Old Lady Zhao.
She immediately rolled a fierce white-eyed glare and sharply scolded: “Miaomiao, you wretched girl, who is your real grandma? Watch your hide!”
Miaomiao stepped out and timidly called “Grandma!”
“Hmph! You wait for this old lady…”
“Cough… his mother, shut your mouth!”
Old Li Tou saw the ashen faces of the two Zhao Li ancestors and quickly reminded her!
Li Gui’s eyes darted, and he hurriedly stepped forward to explain: “Heh heh, Li Zuzu, Zhao Zuzu, this is because Third Sister-in-law was pocketing the family’s silver and wouldn’t hand it over, so we came in on Father and Mother’s orders to check the accounts!”
“Check the accounts?”
Does checking accounts require prying locks?
“You know, since our family hasn’t divided, these branches have no private property; she Luo Zhi’er took advantage of our absence to secretly hide things, which definitely won’t do!”
Xiao Zhou Shi: “Exactly, our Eldest Son’s Family and Second Son’s Family haven’t hidden any private stuff; this is unfair to our branches!”
“So you’re saying you’re just seeking justice?”
“Exactly!” They all said in unison!
Luo Zhi’er turned to greet the two ancestors, “Two ancestors, the room is messy and I didn’t receive you properly; better to sit in the yard outside!”
“Sigh, San Mao’s Wife, don’t be afraid or embarrassed; us two old ones saw what Li Depei and Zhou Shi brought these people to do, we know all your grievances.”
These two definitely favored Luo Zhi’er more than Zhou Shi and the others!
Not to mention the food they sent, her way of handling things, her relationships with the young master, the county magistrate, and the young master—how could that not make them wary?
“Say whatever grievances you have right here!”
“Two ancestors, I think as a daughter-in-law and sister-in-law, I’ve done my utmost for this family; I, Luo Zhi’er, have a clear conscience…”
The two ancestors nodded!
“I didn’t hide any private stuff; Mother, the silver in your hand is all the earnings from my little odd jobs in town these days; you came back too suddenly, I hadn’t had time to hand it over to Father and Mother for the accounts!”
After all, without family division, under the current situation, most villages don’t divide, and earnings are turned over publicly; better not to challenge everyone’s values and benefits!
Li Zuzu’s face changed with anger; hand over what accounts?
How much silver his descendants earned, they never inquired; others were doing well!
These old and young weren’t just trying to empty-handed wolf, taking advantage of the diligent and capable!
“San Mao’s Wife, you’re overthinking; folks in the village now aren’t like that anymore, that’s the old way.”
Dongli Kingdom has the tradition of not dividing while parents live, also the tradition of branches from a big tree, and even the tradition of same registry different wealth!
Li Zuzu’s family followed the same registry different wealth model, which he thought was great!
While Li De’s family, because Li Gui was studying and a few grandsons needed to study too, didn’t divide so the family could pool efforts to support a promising student for the clan’s benefit!
They supported that too!
Look at Li Gui; though the kid passed tong sheng two years ago and the village was happy for a bit, they always felt his character was lacking!
Luo Zhi’er went to Li Gui again, took out the key, and lowered her head to open the cabinet!
“Uncle, everything in this box is my dowry from Father; there’s no silver left, I used the silver to buy the mule cart, visit you in the prison cell, and for recent family expenses!”
