kingnovel Chapter 3: You can tell if someone is sick just by looking at it!
Chapter 3: You can tell if someone is sick just by looking at it!
"How could Old Lady Sun be so heartless? That Master Li is even older than her, yet he made Taohua, who had just come of age, his ninth concubine? There's no way he could be so disgusting."
"For twenty taels of silver, she even abandoned her humanity and falsely accused Peach Blossom and Shen Ming of eloping, ruining Peach Blossom's reputation. How wicked! It's a wonder Peach Blossom still calls her 'Grandma'."
"Old Mrs. Sun has a sharp nose and cheeks, and a mean-spirited look. She's definitely not a good person!"
They initially despised Qian Shi for being a "money-losing" daughter, unable to bear a son, and demanded Zhao Ershu divorce her, forcing him to give her away without even a needle or thread to save his wife and daughter. Now they're actually trying to control their granddaughter? Bah, shameless!
When the villagers arrived at Zhao Ershu's house, they indeed saw Zhao Sanshi lying on the ground. They immediately started talking amongst themselves, their eyes filled with disdain for Old Lady Sun.
When Grandma Sun heard what these people said, her face trembled with anger.
She glared at the group of people and said angrily, "Look at the state of Zhao Ershu's family, I'm finding a golden nest for Taohua and it's like I'm doing badly?"
"Grandma, it's such a wonderful day, why don't you go by yourself?"
Zhao Taohua countered with a question.
Immediately, the villagers in the courtyard laughed and said, "Yes, Peach Blossom's grandma, on such a wonderful day, why don't you go yourself? You could bring your children and grandchildren to enjoy the good life with you!"
Grandma Sun glared at the man who spoke and cursed, "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm over fifty years old. Do you want me to ruin my reputation in my old age?"
Peach Blossom has been living a life of luxury since entering the Li household, with meat at every meal. I think you're just jealous of her!
At this moment, all she cared about was the twenty taels of silver, and she even managed to justify things that were unreasonable.
Grandma Sun was notoriously difficult to get along with and troublesome in the village.
Everyone held their breath, but no one dared to utter a sound, fearing that they would be entangled with Old Lady Sun and get themselves into trouble.
However, some kind-hearted villagers quietly went to find the village chief.
"Enjoy life?" Zhao Taohua was worried that Grandma Sun would really get away with dealing with these people. She was so anxious that tears immediately welled up in her eyes. "My father and the Zhao family's old house separated ten years ago. It was agreed that the second branch of the Zhao family would no longer have any relationship with the old house."
Three years ago, I was seriously ill and had no money for treatment. My father went to beg you, and you kicked him out with the same words. Now you're actually kindly telling me to enjoy a life of luxury?
What, have you forgotten what you said before?
"You..." Old Mrs. Sun was so angry at Zhao Taohua that she felt a lump in her throat.
She had three sons in total. Zhao Taohua's father was the second oldest in the middle. She didn't care about him and treated him as if he were dispensable.
Zhao Ershu was originally obedient and honest, which she thought was fine, but later he actually disobeyed her for the sake of Qian Shi, that woman who couldn't have a son.
So, in a fit of anger, she gave Zhao Ershu none of her family property and instead distributed the people away.
She did say that, so for the past ten years, when Zhao Ershu returned to the old house to pay New Year's visits, she never even opened the door for the family of three!
However, she didn't expect that Zhao Taohua, that little rascal, would use those words to shut her up.
Unlike Old Lady Sun, Wang was not so formidable. Seeing so many people standing in the courtyard, she dared not utter a sound.
Grandma Sun turned her head and glared at her, "Useless thing!"
Zhao Taohua didn't give Old Lady Sun a chance to speak at all, and continued, "It's an arranged marriage by my parents. My parents are still alive. How can you decide my marriage? Aren't our two families no longer related?"
Grandma Sun felt as if Zhao Taohua had slapped her face repeatedly in public: "You disrespectful little dog, I am your grandmother, how dare you be so disrespectful to me?"
"Your parents don't have time to arrange marriages for you, but I'm arranging a good one for you, and you're still complaining?!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Old Lady Sun's eyes as she reached out to grab Zhao Taohua's wrist. She couldn't let those twenty taels slip away!
She gestured to Wang to pick up the wedding dress from the ground.
Zhao Taohua didn't expect that Old Lady Sun would still be so persistent in trying to drag her away in front of so many people.
Just then, she suddenly caught sight of a figure entering from outside. Zhao Taohua, who had been lying on the ground, immediately got up and cooperated with Grandma Sun in pulling her outside.
She sobbed uncontrollably, pleading, "Grandma, I don't want to be Master Li's concubine! Grandma, you want twenty taels of silver? I'll earn the money for you later, please don't send me to the Li family..."
As she was about to leave the hospital, a smug look flashed in Grandma Sun's eyes. She was determined to make money today!
"Sun Zhaodi, have you no shame?"
Before Grandma Sun could even step out of the yard, she was stopped by an old man with a goatee.
He was full of energy and his imposing presence overwhelmed Old Lady Sun, causing her to change her expression drastically in fright!
"Grandpa Village Chief, please save me! I haven't even reached marriageable age yet, I don't want to become Master Li's ninth concubine..."
Zhao Taohua grabbed the village chief's arm, knelt down before him with a thud, and cried her heart out. She looked so pitiful that the village chief frowned. He also had a granddaughter who was about the same age as Zhao Taohua.
The village chief's house is not far from Zhao Ershu's house. Three years ago, Zhao Ershu's family incurred debts to treat Zhao Taohua's illness, and their situation was particularly difficult. He would often take care of Zhao Ershu's family.
Someone had just told him that Granny Sun had gone to Zhao Ershu's house to cause trouble, so he rushed over immediately.
I never expected to hear such words as soon as I arrived.
The village chief was quite influential in Zhao Family Village, and as soon as he arrived, Old Lady Sun dared not act recklessly.
However, Old Lady Sun was still holding onto Zhao Taohua's hand, unwilling to give up the twenty taels that were within her grasp!
“Sun Zhaodi, Taohua is also your own granddaughter. Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution for treating her like this?”
The village chief was furious. Everyone knew that the wealthy man in town, Mr. Li, was old and obsessed with women. He was already impotent and was rumored to be on his deathbed.
Sun Zhaodi actually wanted to send Xiao Taohua to him to be his concubine. Wasn't that pushing Taohua into a pit of fire?
Grandma Sun turned her head away with a cold face and snorted, "Village chief, I am her grandmother, and her marriage is my decision. Even though you are the village chief, you cannot interfere in other people's family affairs."
"You're not my grandmother. When the family divided the property, you said that the second branch of the family would have no connection with the old house. So why are you interfering in my marriage now? To be a concubine to a dying old man!"
Zhao Taohua cried so hard that everyone present felt pity for her. Taohua was so pitiful, and Old Lady Sun was so cruel.
“Peach Blossom is right. I was there when you and the second branch of the family separated. You said that from now on, the second branch and the old house would have no connection whatsoever, and whether they lived or died would have nothing to do with you.”
The division of the family property is clearly stated in black and white on the paper, and can be verified at the town's government office. Therefore, you have no right to interfere with Tao Hua's marriage, nor are you allowed to interfere in any matters concerning the second branch of the family.
Zhao Taohua forcefully pulled her hand out of Old Lady Sun's clutches, hid behind the village chief, and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, that's right..."
Seeing Zhao Taohua's eyes red and her voice hoarse from crying, the village chief felt even more sorry for her.
Zhao Taohua rubbed her empty stomach and said, "Grandpa Village Chief, I'm so hungry. My grandma locked me up at home for three days without giving me any food, all to force me to become Master Li's concubine..."
As Zhao Taohua spoke, her body swayed unsteadily, as if she were about to faint at any moment.
"What? What a terrible thing to do!" The village chief helped Zhao Taohua up, turned to Grandma Sun and cursed, "You're a beast! If Taohua starves to death because of you, I'll send you to the Duting Jail!"
Upon hearing this, a kind villager immediately said, "Peach Blossom, let me take you home and get you a bowl of corn porridge."
"No wonder Peach Blossom has become so thin! Look at her face, it's as white as a dead person! It's all because of Sun Zhaodi's evil deeds!"
"The peach blossoms are so pitiful..."
When Grandma Sun saw everyone pointing and whispering about her, her face turned as black as charcoal. Not only had she not earned twenty taels of silver today, but her youngest son had also fainted for some unknown reason.
Grandma Sun glared at Zhao Taohua with ill intent. Could this brat be a jinx too?
"Grandma, if it weren't for you harming me, how could Uncle have fainted from being consumed by evil thoughts?" Zhao Taohua asked, her gaze fixed on Grandma Sun.
Grandma Sun frowned and said, "Stop talking nonsense. My youngest son is the kindest of all. He has no evil intentions. He's just sick!"
That brat is cursing her youngest son again!
Grandma Sun stared at Zhao Taohua. If looks could kill, Zhao Taohua would have died a thousand times over in Grandma Sun's eyes by now.
"The village doctor, my great-grandfather, is right here. He can tell if someone is sick just by looking at them!"