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墨書 Inktalez
No one expected that the Matriarch would lose her temper over the outsider Liu Qingwu in front of the children from the Third Branch. Even the He Family and Liu Fangyi were taken by surprise. For a moment, everyone looked at each other in disbelief, feeling as if they had misheard.
Liu Anmeng's expression fluctuated, hesitating whether to speak up.
Before she could make up her mind, the older twin, Liu Anwen, shouted, "Grandmother, you must be mistaken! She's an outsider; why should we accommodate her?"
His younger brother, Liu Anwu, chimed in.
Lady Liu's smile gradually faded, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out as her expression turned serious.
Seeing something was off, Liu Anmeng quickly gestured to her brothers. Unfortunately, it was too late. The Matriarch's anger had already begun to build.
"According to you two, does that mean that anyone who is not from our Liu Family is not worthy of sympathy if they encounter bandits, have their family killed, or are left orphaned?"
At this moment, even Liu Anwen and Liu Anwu knew it was unwise to argue back; they were overwhelmed by their grandmother's barrage of accusations and couldn't lift their heads.
Liu Anmeng hurriedly said, "That's not how it is. Regardless of their background, we should help those who are in great distress."
This statement resonated with the Jiang Family. The disappointment she had just felt towards her descendants vanished instantly as she nodded and said, "Exactly."
At that moment, a lady stepped forward to comfort the Jiang Family, saying, "Mother, please don't be too heartbroken. The deceased are gone; you must take care of yourself."
She was not particularly striking in appearance; her skin was slightly dark and rough, with a broad forehead and thick eyebrows. However, her demeanor was sincere and her tone gentle, making anyone who saw or heard her feel at ease.
She was Meng Family, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Liu Family.
To avoid the sorrow of the Matriarch, the Meng Family spoke in very vague terms. However, those who knew the truth understood immediately with just a slight hint from her.
Lady Liu lost her parents at a young age and deeply understood the hardships involved. Her feelings towards younger generations with similar experiences were naturally different.
Due to the influence of the second daughter-in-law from the He Family, the Jiang Family had always looked down on daughters from noble families and did not favor delicate-looking girls.
Looking at Liu Qingwu's frail appearance, it was clear that only wealthy families could raise such a delicate child. Yet, when they thought of her background, the Jiang Family couldn't help but feel a sense of pity.
They beckoned Liu Qingwu over and, noticing her thin frame, the Jiang Family asked Liu Fangyi, "How old is she?"
"About five years old."
"Five years old and so thin? She needs to be well taken care of in the future." The Jiang Family reproached Liu Fangyi slightly before turning to Qing Wu and asking, "Tell your grandmother, what is your name?"
Qing Wu couldn't answer and could only lower her eyes and gently shake her head.
This caused a hint of displeasure from the Jiang Family.
Liu Anzhi quickly stepped forward and explained that Qing Wu was unable to speak due to being overly frightened and saddened.
Liu Anmeng and Wenwu, upon hearing that Qing Wu was "damaged," showed disdain on their faces.
However, the Matriarch of the Jiang Family listened with reddened eyes and embraced Qing Wu, repeatedly calling her "poor child."
The woman dressed in lake green clothing, who had originally stood with the Meng Family, stepped forward at this moment.
Although she was of age, her appearance was enchanting and her makeup exquisite, making it difficult to discern her true age. It was only when she addressed the Jiang Family with a "Mother" that the servants realized she was actually Madam Shen, the wife of the Third Master.
Madam Shen approached gracefully, swaying as she walked, and said to the Jiang Family, "If Mother likes this child, it would be better to go inside and take a closer look. It's so cold outside; the child might catch a chill."
As she spoke, she cast a sympathetic glance at Qing Wu.
Qing Wu had been observing her earlier. With just one look, she noticed that Madam Shen was actually feeling cold herself, her lips slightly pale from the chill. Yet Madam Shen insisted on using Qing Wu as an excuse to go inside.
The twins who had previously opposed Qing Wu and Liu Anmeng were both born of Madam Shen. Qing Wu truly did not have a fondness for Madam Shen. Now being used as an excuse again only made her more annoyed.
Madam Shen smiled and said, "Oh dear, the young lady is still shy. Being afraid of the cold is nothing to be ashamed of. I see your health isn't great either; if you catch a cold, it would be quite troublesome."
Her words were suggestive and layered with meaning, but the Jiang Family thought of something else and did not pay much attention.
Earlier, she had felt cold outside and thought that if she stayed out any longer, she might fall ill. This only increased her annoyance towards the He Family, prompting her to make an appearance at Liu Residence.
Having been distracted by various matters, she had completely forgotten about this. Now reminded by Madam Shen, she suddenly recalled and felt a chilling wind piercing through her clothing straight into her bones, extremely cold.
Lady Liu hurriedly handed Qing Wu over to the He Family and asked where her room would be so she could rest and warm up before considering anything else.
Madam Shen had been feeling very cold earlier. Hearing Lady Liu's words felt like a reprieve; she quickly exclaimed, "With so many things to take care of, I must hurry and tidy up," and hastily prepared to leave.
He Family quickly called someone to follow them.
Shen flicked her handkerchief and huffed, "What does Second Sister-in-law mean by this? Are you afraid I might take your things?"
"I’m just worried you might not find your way. But since Third Sister-in-law is so confident that she can find her own room among so many..." He Family smiled gently and called everyone back, "Then you can find it yourself."
Shen was at a loss for words and looked to Lady Liu for help.
Seeing that Shen was about to go ahead without her, Lady Liu was unwilling to assist. She turned to He Family and said, "You choose two people to help me."
The eldest daughter-in-law, Meng Family, upon hearing this, firmly stood by Lady Liu's side and obediently said, "I will go help Mother with the arrangements."
Looking at her obedient demeanor and the rough hands covered in calluses, then glancing at Shen's delicate figure as she left, and finally at the refined He Family, Lady Liu couldn't help but sigh.
Meng Family was the only daughter-in-law she had personally chosen. What she valued most was her diligent and capable eldest son, so she naturally picked a competent girl he liked best. Meng Family was good in every way, unlike He Family, who could not lift a finger, and not like Shen, who was wasteful and lazy. In the future, if she managed the household affairs, the Liu Family would not leak money so freely.
It's just a pity that her eldest son had little fortune; he passed away just a few years after marriage, leaving behind young children and a wife...
With a sigh, Lady Liu followed the mother arranged by He Family, supported by Meng Family and Changsun Liu Anyang, as they walked inside.
Seeing that she was ignored by the Matriarch, Shen didn’t mind at all.
As for Lady Liu, after being angry, often did not take many things to heart. For instance, no matter how much trouble Shen caused, as the wife of the legitimate third son, the Matriarch frequently forgave her. The Matriarch, generous as she was, also held grudges. For example, regarding the matter with He Family, even after many years had passed, the two remained at odds.
However, to be serious, the events of that night were indeed somewhat strange. It was just that Sister Lan and Liu Mama had long since disappeared from sight that evening...
Shen's gaze flickered, and she raised a smile again.
No matter what, as long as the Matriarch was not the most annoyed with her, she couldn't be bothered with other matters.
She called her children over in a loud voice and then shouted back once more, following behind Matriarch and slowly making her way inside.
Before long, two ordinarily dressed girls chased after Liu Anmeng.
Qing Wu heard from those around her that the two were the daughters of the Third Branch. Shen's earlier shout was directed at them.
Although Matriarch and the others had already gone to their residence, there were still maids, servants, and drivers to settle, along with dozens of carts of items to unload. Moreover, the Third Master had yet to return home as he wanted to stroll around the capital. When he arrived later, there would be quite a bit of busyness. Each of these matters was important; the He Family did not dare delay and quickly instructed everyone to tidy up. Liu Fangyi saw that it was getting late and hurried off to the government office.
Thus, soon enough, only Qing Wu and her three brothers remained in the courtyard.
Liu Anzhi suggested they return to Flower Hall, keeping an eye on their sister while reviewing their studies since school would soon be starting again. If they fell behind in their studies, the teacher would punish them.
Liu Anfeng was somewhat unwilling. "Why not take a break? It's hard to find free time, and now we have to study? We could study at night too. Look how messy the house is right now; it's hard to concentrate."
Liu Anzhi continued walking without stopping. "If you think about your studies, you'll naturally absorb it. If you're thinking about playing, you won't be able to focus."
Seeing that his plans for going out were about to fall through, Liu Anfeng was truly anxious and scratched his head in frustration. Just as he was pacing back and forth trying to come up with a strategy, he suddenly noticed the girl standing between his two brothers.
Unbeknownst to the Brothers, perhaps they were afraid that Sister Five would get lost in the bustling crowd, each holding her hand tightly.
Seeing this scene, Liu Anfeng's thoughts became lively as he said leisurely, "Ah, I heard it's quite lively outside. With the New Year approaching and today being the eighth day of the twelfth month, many stalls have been set up. There are all kinds of food and entertainment, including the Singing Opera that Young Ladies love the most."
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of anticipation slowly gathered in Qing Wu's eyes.
She automatically overlooked the part about the Singing Opera that Young Ladies loved. However, she had never been to a market in this era. She had read in books that ancient markets were the liveliest, especially during December when the New Year was near.
If only she could go and take a look.
As Qing Wu thought this, her pace began to slow down as she followed the Brothers.
Liu Anzhi and Liu An Ting looked down and saw that the girl was eagerly looking back. The direction she was gazing at was unmistakably their own front door.
Liu An Ting knew he shouldn't say anything, but somehow, those words slipped out against his will.
"How about we go out and take a look?"
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