Chapter 563 - 563: Divergence

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Judge Sun waved at them. “Before Madam Li left, she said that one of you wants to adopt a child. Have you thought about it? How many people have this idea? I’ll go back to the capital and find someone to help you ask around.”

Ah Lian took a step forward and bowed to Judge Sun. “Sir, if possible, I also want to adopt a child. I don’t necessarily want a boy. A daughter is fine too.”

Judge Sun Tong glanced at the young women and felt uncomfortable. At such a young age, they should have been taken care of by their parents and found a good family to betroth to. However, they were ruined by those beasts at such a young age.

Judge Sun looked at the three girls with pity. “Sister-in-law, do those children think the same as you?”

Ah Lian looked at the three of them and said to them, “Liu Ye, what do you think? What do the other sisters think?”

Liu Ye and the other two walked out and said shyly, “We also want to adopt a child. We don’t want to get married anymore.”

Ah Lian looked at the six women standing at the back. “Xiang Xiu, what do you think? Have you made up your minds?”

Xiang Xiu and the women looked hesitant. “We want to go back and find our brothers to adopt our nephews.”

San Qiao sneered in a low voice. “Adopt your nephews. Be careful lest you won’t have a place to stay.”

The other women also nodded repeatedly. “It’s fine if they’re not married. Most

Judge Sun looked at the women who were discussing softly and said to Xiang

Xiu and the others, “It’s fine if you want to find a brother’s family to adopt. Have the others thought about it?”

San Qiao and the other women replied, ‘We’ve thought about it. We’ll adopt one outside.”

Judge Sun nodded and said, “Alright, a total of 21 people are going to adopt outside. When I go back, I’ll get the bailiffs to help you keep an eye out. Sister-in-law, you’ll be in charge of the village from now on. If there’s anything, you can come to the capital government office to look for me.” “Thank you, sir.” Ah Lian bowed with the women.

Judge Sun waved his hand and said, “You don’t have to thank me. Live well in the future. I’ll report to the higher-ups when I go back and find a good person to buy the fields in the village so that you won’t be bullied.”

If a kind person bought the fields, no one would be as good as Madam Li! Her family was also farmers. Wouldn’t it be better to let her buy the fields?

After thinking about it, Ah Lian went forward and said, “Sir, I have a request. Please help me.”

Judge Sun nodded and said, “Go ahead.”

Ah Lian bowed and said, “I want to ask Madam Li first after you return to the capital. I think it’s best for her to buy the empty fields in our village.”

It was indeed not bad for Madam Li to buy the fields. Her family was also good at farming. Judge Sun nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll definitely ask Madam Li when I get back. If her family doesn’t buy it, I’ll find someone else.”

Ah Lian thanked him happily. “Thank you, sir.”

“Alright, I’m going back to the capital too.” Judge Sun thought for a moment and instructed Ah Lian, “You’re all women. Watch the door carefully and don’t stay in the straw shed.”

At this moment, the scribe came to report, “Sir, the luggage is ready.”

“Alright, have Imperial Physician Xu and Imperial Physician Chen packed up?” Judge Sun judged.

The scribe bowed and said, “The two imperial physicians are concocting medicinal herbs. They said they’ll be ready soon.”

Imperial Physician Xu came out of the house and waved at Ah Lian and the others. When they reached the door, he pointed at the medicine packets in the wicker basket and said to Ah Lian, “You can read. Distribute those medicines to everyone. Remember to drink them on time. I’ll come back to take a look at you in half a month.”

Imperial Physician Chen also instructed them, “Hong Mei and Ying Tao have to recuperate for a few more days. Apply the medication on time. I’ll come back in half a month.”

The women bowed gratefully to the two imperial physicians. “Yes, we’ve noted it down. Sorry to have troubled you for so long.”

Imperial Physician Xu and Imperial Physician Chen looked at these poor women and nodded. “Remember to take the medicine and watch the door.” “Yes, don’t worry. We’ll be careful.” Ah Lian nodded repeatedly.

Everyone reluctantly sent them to the entrance of the manor. Everyone waved goodbye and stood there watching Judge Sun’s carriage gradually walk away.

Ah Lian turned to her sisters and said, “Let’s go back! We still have to get busy on the fields!”

Xiang Xiu glanced at Ah Lian. “Sister-in-law Lian, I want to go back and see my parents.”

Ah Lian frowned. “Xiang Xiu, you should wait for the houses to be built before going back to talk to your parents and brothers about the adoption. Isn’t that better?”

Yang Liu glared at her. “Sister-in-law Xiang Xiu, your parents have never treated you well in the past. You still have to build a house with that little silver of yours but you’re busy visiting them now. I think you don’t want to build a house anymore.”

Xiang Xiu rolled her eyes at Yang Liu. “How do you know I don’t want to? No

one can take the money away from my pocket.”

Ah Lian looked at Xiang Xiu. “Let’s not talk about your parents. Your sisters-in-law are not easy to deal with.”

“I…” Seeing that the other sisters were looking at her, Xiang Xiu hesitated for a moment. “I just want to go back and see my parents. Don’t you miss them?”

When everyone heard this, they lowered their heads. Ah Lian looked at them and said, “Yes, why not? When I was a daughter, my parents and three brothers treated me extremely well. So what? What happened in our village has long spread throughout the capital. I don’t believe they didn’t hear the news. Forget it, I’m no longer the Ah Lian of the past. Let’s not go out and be looked down upon by others.

Xiang Xiu and a few other women asked, “What if they don’t know about us?”

Ah Lian looked at them and said indifferently, “You can go back if you want, but there’s one thing. Our village is filled with widows now. Don’t bring your brothers into the village.”

Xiang Xiu looked at Ah Lian unhappily. “Why should we listen to you?”

Yang Liu walked up to her and shouted angrily, “Why do you think Lord Sun handed our village to Aunt Ah Lian to manage?”

Ah Lian looked at them and said earnestly, “We’re sisters who went through thick and thin together. Listen to me. After you’ve been busy these days and built the house, you can go back and adopt a child. Money is eye-catching. I won’t harm you.”

Xiang Xiu muttered in a low voice, “We didn’t say that you wanted to harm us. We just wanted to go back and see our parents and buy something to show our filial piety to them.”

Ah Lian understood. She had money in her pocket and wanted to go back and show it off. It seemed that it was still the silver.

“I’ve already said it. If you want to go, go. Remember not to bring your brothers to the village.” Ah Lian turned to look at the other women. “Sisters, any of you can go back if you want. As long as you don’t bring anyone into the village, we’re not worried about anything else. We’re just worried that the food and money in our hands will make people jealous.”

“That’s right! In the past, we were busy all year round and couldn’t save much food and money. Now, the government office has only left us with rice and a female household. Without hard labor, we’re even exempted from taxes for three years. It’s hard to guarantee that others won’t be jealous.” Yang Liu looked at everyone. “But what did we use to exchange for these things? If possible, I’d rather eat chaff and vegetables like before..”