As Song Jinyao entered the room and closed the door, the three Lu brothers stared at the piles of items on the ground, their heads throbbing painfully.
They had originally planned to sneak into the room while their mother was away to gather some of their father’s clothes to send over.
Now, with everything burned, would their father even have enough silver to purchase new clothing?
The three brothers’ faces were as sour as if they had been constipated for several days.
Lu Wenhui couldn’t be bothered to deal with her three older brothers.
With a disdainful snort, she turned to call her eldest brother Lu Yuan to supervise the work, then headed into the small kitchen.
Before leaving, Lu Wenhui kicked Lu Chuan in the back of his leg: “A good dog doesn’t block the path, move aside!”
The sibling bonds they once shared were clearly fake, and Lu Wenhui was thoroughly disappointed in her three brothers.
Her mother said now wasn’t the time to confront them openly, but Lu Wenhui was serious about ignoring the three of them.
Fourth brother Lu Chuan: “——”
Had this girl swallowed gunpowder today?
“Third brother, have you thought of a solution yet? We can’t just bury all that shiny silver in the ground, can we?” Lu Chuan whispered urgently.
He was so anxious that blisters had formed at the corners of his mouth. Being less quick-witted than his third brother, even if his head were taken apart he couldn’t devise a solution, so he could only pin his hopes on third brother Lu Yue.
Pressed repeatedly, Lu Yue responded with irritation: “What’s the rush? I’m thinking about it.”
“Go on, get lost! Go do whatever you’re supposed to be doing!”
“The fire’s burning our backsides, of course we’re in a hurry,” Lu Chuan muttered, pacing restlessly in place like a spinning top.
“Listen to your third brother and focus on getting the work done first.”
The second brother scolded him. He was anxious too, but unlike the explosive fourth brother, among the three brothers, the third had the best ideas. He figured that as long as he kept an eye on the third brother, he could still get a share of the spoils.
Given how things had developed, he didn’t expect to inherit much of the family fortune anymore. He just needed to deliver the promised one thousand taels to their father, then later have Aunt Tao help him secure a decent position at the county magistrate’s office.
As for aiming for a higher official position? Well… he’d have to wait and see.
He had also promised to buy a house for Xiao Tao and her son. How was he going to manage that?
Ah!
This is utterly frustrating!
Kitchen.
There had been matters in the household today, so Fang Momo had started cooking later than usual.
When Lu Wenhui entered, the last dish had just been scooped from the wok.
The food steamed hot, emitting an enticing aroma.
Fang Momo was highly skilled, and after working all morning, Lu Wenhui felt rather hungry, unconsciously swallowing a mouthful of saliva.
“Fang Momo, Mother asked me to bring some food to her.”
She paused, then added: “Please set aside meals for me and Chen’er separately too. I’ll eat in my room as well.”
Lu Wenhui said this because she didn’t want to deal with her three brothers at the dining table later. Eating in her room would spare her the unpleasant sight.
“Alright, alright, I’ll bring it to your room in a moment.”
Fang Momo agreed, then looked up hesitantly: “Is your mother… is her mood alright?”
The fact that she could eat probably meant nothing was seriously wrong, but worry lingered nonetheless.
Lu Wenhui blinked: “——”
How should she put this?
She certainly wasn’t grieving—after all, the deceased wasn’t her real father.
But judging by her mother’s behavior over the past day, she probably wished it were her actual husband Lu Xiuyuan who had died.
She was definitely angered by such a vexing situation. If it were her? She’d be angry too, but her mother seemed spirited enough when hitting people.
So, Lu Wenhui felt she really couldn’t describe it properly.
“Oh my, I can’t quite explain it. You’ll have to see for yourself in a moment.” Lu Wenhui sniffed the aroma of food in the air and replied in a crisp voice.
“You little rascal!”
Fang Momo dotingly tapped Lu Wenhui’s forehead with her finger. Lu Wenhui shrank her neck and couldn’t resist nestling affectionately against Fang Momo, making the older woman chuckle twice.
The household was still holding funeral ceremonies, so her laughter seemed somewhat inappropriate.
But Fang Momo truly didn’t feel much sorrow in her heart. Though he was the master’s husband, she had always felt that Lu Xiuyuan wasn’t worthy of the Madam all these years.
If not for that incident back then which allowed Lu Xiuyuan to take advantage, how could the Madam have married him?
Fang Momo’s eyes darkened.
It’s better that he’s dead. After another year or so, we can find someone new for the Madam! Fang Momo thought rather uncharitably.
Although Fang Momo disapproved of Lu Xiuyuan, she dearly loved the children of Song Jinyao and Lu Xiuyuan.
Especially Lu Wenhui, because both her appearance and temperament most resembled Song Jinyao.
Fang Momo’s love extended to all associated with her mistress, and she truly cherished Lu Wenhui from the bottom of her heart.
She took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from the young girl’s forehead.
The girl’s youthful, charming face seemed to overlap with a face from years past.
The old woman’s expression became momentarily dazed.
So similar!
Extremely similar!
Just like the Madam in her youth.
“Your mother—”
Suddenly, Fang Momo thought of something, but swallowed her words and only sighed: “Spend more time with her. If she says anything harsh, just bear with it. She’s had a hard life all these years.”
“And about that marriage arrangement—if you’re truly unwilling, wait until things settle down in the household in a day or two. I’ll go persuade your mother again. You’re the younger generation, so you mustn’t quarrel with your mother over this matter, understand?”
As she spoke, Fang Momo began wiping tears.
She was the only remaining servant from the Song Family who had followed them from Jing City.
She had served three generations of the Song Family.
She had witnessed the family’s rise and fall, their great fluctuations of fortune.
If the old master of the Song Family hadn’t encountered that incident back then, the Madam should have become the mistress of a noble household in Jing City—she would have been more than qualified to marry even a prince. How could she have ended up living this difficult life in such a remote, impoverished place?
Her young mistress has suffered so much!
She should have been a pearl, but fell into the mortal dust.
Truly, how unpredictable life is!
Lu Wenhui hadn’t expected that a few words of conversation would make Fang Momo cry, and immediately panicked: “Momo, don’t cry!”
“If mother sees this, she’ll say I’m being inconsiderate again.” Lu Wenhui stamped her foot anxiously.
Why would she suddenly start crying when everything was fine?
She herself had to deal with that scoundrel of a father and those troublesome brothers, yet she hadn’t cried. Fang Momo was less resilient than her.
“Alright, I won’t cry, no more tears.” Fang Momo wiped her tears away and forced a smile.
“Don’t worry, old Momo. Mother said last night that after the funeral arrangements are completed, she’ll find a way to cancel that marriage arrangement.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Mother promised it herself.”
“That’s wonderful! The Madam has come to her senses. Good, very good.”
Fang Momo’s eyes filled with relief as she repeatedly said “good.”
She remembered how not long ago the Madam had fiercely declared “I’d rather die than let Hui’er marry into that family.” At that time, she had thought the last bit of the Song Family’s dignity would ultimately be worn away by this cruel world.
Now everything was better—it seemed the Madam from before had returned.
After chatting for a while longer, Lu Wenhui went to bring Song Jinyao her meal.
Her mother had said to pack more food, so Lu Wenhui pressed down the white rice in the porcelain bowl again and again, filling two large bowls to overflowing.
One incense stick’s time later.
Song Jinyao patted her full, round belly and let out a satisfied burp.
With her stomach settled, she felt strength surging through her old arms and legs.
She narrowed her eyes, a cold smile curling at the corners of her lips.
Well, with her belly full, it was time to deal with those three ungrateful wretches.
Thinking this,
Song Jinyao flexed her wrists, joints cracking, and strode out of the room with a grin. As she stepped over the threshold, even the hem of her skirt seemed to carry a gust of wind.
Ling Tang.
The eldest, Lu Yuan, was meticulous in his duties.
Song Jinyao had instructed him to supervise the three brothers as they burned all of Lu Xiuyuan’s belongings, and he truly stood by the brazier without blinking.
Standing under the corridor, Song Jinyao glimpsed this scene through the half-open door and couldn’t help but nod in approval.
Although this stepson held resentment toward her, he never disobeyed her.
In her past life, she had been blinded by foolishness, taking advantage of his non-confrontational nature to bully him relentlessly.
Yet, at the end of that life, it was this child who had ensured she was laid to rest properly. A twinge of guilt stirred in Song Jinyao’s heart.
When she entered, the indecent old man’s belongings had already been burned, leaving only the last pair of shoes.
The fourth son, Lu Chuan, held the shoes in his arms, reluctant to part with them. Seeing Song Jinyao enter, he shouted at her,
“Mother, these shoes are still new. What a waste to burn them. Why not keep them?”
Keep them, so he could secretly deliver them to his father. Lu Chuan chuckled inwardly, thinking himself truly a filial son.
These shoes were made by Song Jinyao for Lu Xiuyuan, painstakingly stitched over two months.
Her needlework was exquisite, especially her embroidery, which was remarkably lifelike. The dark blue shoe uppers were beautifully embroidered with auspicious clouds and emerald bamboo—so fine that not a second pair like them could be found in all of Taihe Xian. No wonder Lu Chuan was reluctant.
Song Jinyao’s gaze lingered on the shoes for a moment. She remembered working late into the night by lamplight to make them, all so that heartless man could dress respectably.
How ironic it seemed now.
Song Jinyao shot a cold glare at her ungrateful son but then turned and took Lu Yuan’s hand.
Her tone softened: “Yuan’er, are you hungry?”
Lu Yuan was visibly taken aback.
When had this stepmother, who had always ordered him around, ever cared whether he was hungry?
But—
His doubtful eyes scanned Song Jinyao’s face. Today, her gaze toward him was unusually gentle. Was it an illusion?
“These three wretched sons have erred, so let them handle the vigil. There’s no need for you to kneel here day and night.”
Song Jinyao continued softly,
“Go down and eat first. For the next two days, you and your elder and younger sisters need only attend to the guests.”
As she spoke, her eyes swept over the black wooden Coffin Guo and the three biological sons kneeling before it. A trace of mockery flashed in her eyes.
Since he wasn’t their real father, she couldn’t bear to make the eldest kneel in vigil. Whoever had picked up the corpse and rashly claimed him as a father should be the one to “fulfill their filial duties.”
She was about to say more when someone, unable to tolerate her favoritism, grew agitated.
“Mother, we haven’t eaten either! Why don’t you ask if we’re hungry? We’re your real sons!”
Seeing that Song Jinyao ignored him and instead, unprecedentedly, showed concern for that bastard Lu Yuan, Lu Chuan cried out in dissatisfaction.
Song Jinyao slowly turned around, the tenderness on her face vanishing in an instant. Her gaze cut across Lu Chuan’s face like a blade.
The young man felt a chill run down his spine under her stare, yet he stubbornly retorted: “Mother, you’re biased beyond reason. He’s just a bastard, why do you care about him?”
The next moment.
“Slap!”
A sharp slap echoed through the Ling Tang.
Shocking everyone present.