Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Madam Ma was busy packing. No one had lived in the house for a long time. It was not convenient for others to go in and clean usually, and there was a lot of dust accumulated.
Little Ah Yu stuck her head out of the door and covered her nose. âCough⦠Second Aunt, Grandma is looking for you!â
âLittle cat, donât come in here. Arenât you afraid of choking?â Madam Ma shook the mattress in her hand and went out to wash her hands before looking for Old Madam Wang.
When she entered the house, she realized that Old Madam Wang was sitting and massaging her waist.
Madam Ma quickly walked over and helped Old Madam Wang lie down before rubbing her waist.
âMother, itâs all our fault for making you so tired. If thereâs anything, weâll talk about it after you recover. In any case, we have to wait for Dalang to get married before leaving.â
Dalang is getting married on the eighth of February. The county level imperial exam was on the 12th of February, and the imperial provincial examination was on the 23rd of February. There was still time.
Old Madam Wang closed her eyes and calmly enjoyed her second daughter-in-lawâs massage. After resting for a while, she said, âPerhaps itâs because of the sins of the first half of my life that I gave birth to so many idiots to anger me.â
Madam Ma didnât know if she should respond. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âAlright, Iâm not crippled. Go to my closet and bring over the box at the top.â
Madam Ma did not understand, but she still opened the cabinet and realized that there were more than ten boxes in it.
The boxes were not big, and the one at the top was also a little heavy.
âMother, Iâve brought it.â Madam Ma placed the box on the small table.
Old Madam Wang slowly sat up. âOpen it and take a look.â
When Madam Ma opened the box, she realized that there was actually a stack of banknotes inside. There were two jade pendants, two jade bracelets, and a golden Pixiu.
This was the first time Madam Ma had seen such a heavy box.
âMother?â
âBack then, when you married our Chuangui, our family did not send any betrothal gifts. All these years, in order to treat Chuanguiâs illness, your dowry was sold.â Old Madam Wang slowly stood up and took out a small cloth bag from the bottom of the box.
Seeing the small cloth bag, Madam Maâs eyes instantly turned red.
Old Madam Wang handed the small cloth bag to Madam Ma. âThis is a purse that your mother embroidered for you. Originally, there was a golden bracelet and a pair of golden earrings inside. However, after all these years, that pawnshop no longer exists and everything is gone. Only this cloth bag is still here.â
Madam Ma lowered her head and silently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
All these years, she had indeed felt a lot of worry and anxiety.
Back then, her handsome husband had become crippled suddenly. Her parents, who originally did not think highly of her marriage, would sigh at her every time.
Some of her relatives even urged her to remarry.
If not for the fact that her mother-in-law had always been very good to her and the other sisters-in-law often took care of her, Madam Ma did not know if she would have survived.
âGood child, itâs been hard on you all these years.â Old Madam Wang patted Madam Maâs head and pushed the box in front of her. âThis is my gift to you. Take it as the compensation for the betrothal gift back then. You donât have to let Chuangui know. Put it away yourself, and donât take this money to offset the debt I specially remembered for Chuangui.â
Madam Ma looked up in confusion. Her eyes were red and her voice was choked. âMother, my husband and I are one. Itâs only right that this money be used to offset my husbandâs school fees.â
Madam Ma did not think that there was anything wrong with her mother recording the accounts for them. Her eldest brother was busy in the fields, Chuanfu was busy with the shop, and Chuanman was coming and going in the wind and rain. Only her husband was studying. The expenses seemed small, but it was actually a lot.
Everyone was earning money for the family, but they were the only ones spending it.
She knew that her mother would not take back the decision she had made. If she said that she would give this money to her, she would definitely give it to her. Not only her, but the other sisters-in-law would probably also receive something.
âIâm recording that debt for Chuangui not because I lack his money, but to let him know from time to time that he hasnât been able to establish himself yet and canât be arrogant.â Old Madam Wang looked at Madam Ma and said in a rare gentle tone, âBut Iâm giving you this money to let you know that youâre my recognized daughter-in-law. What should be yours will be yours..â