bayedsolid Chapter 236 Extra 2
Chapter 236 Extra 2
Cai said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. Let's lock all the doors and have someone watch them."
The mother-in-law stole the items and pawned them, then gave the money to the second and third wives, which naturally displeased her. Not only was she unhappy, but she was also quite angry. Her two sisters-in-law were both unruly shrewish women, selfish and stingy, and their relationship with her was very tense.
She wouldn't even give her sisters-in-law such a thing, not even a needle. Therefore, she held her mother-in-law in utter contempt. She was worried about how to get rid of this troublesome woman and send her to her second and third sons' homes; as long as the old woman remained, the eldest son's family would never have a peaceful day.
This old woman steals, and to make matters worse, she's trying to force women into her son's life. And those women are all from her own family. What's going on here? Is she trying to turn the entire Wang family into the Liang family's?
Fang Qiong's great-grandmother's surname was Liang.
Madam Cai, along with Fang Qiong, several children, and a few trusted confidants, hurriedly went to the villa. This villa was Madam Cai's private property, part of her dowry. Liang's people couldn't reach here. She and Fang Qiong could relax and enjoy their vacation there.
The villa wasn't far from the capital, just five li south of the city. Before leaving, Cai took her husband's and son's clothes, shoes, and socks, and sent someone to the government office to inform them that after their official duties, they should go directly to the villa and not return home.
Upon receiving the news, Wang Yong couldn't help but sigh deeply.
It seems his stepmother has caused trouble again, and has angered Fang Qiong and her mother. To be honest, he really dislikes this stepmother. If it weren't for her, his and Fang Qiong's lives would be so much happier. Because of this stepmother's existence, Fang Qiong's life is very uncomfortable, and she often quarrels with him.
The reason for their falling out was that his stepmother would frequently try to force him to marry other women, which made Fang Qiong both heartbroken and disgusted. If he hadn't been so determined and resolute, Fang Qiong would most likely have divorced him.
This stepmother has caused a lot of harm, and so has this step-grandmother.
Wang Yong truly wished he could kick this vicious stepmother out of the house and let her go and harm her two biological sons and their biological grandchildren.
This old woman is incredibly shameless. Despite having a terrible relationship with her stepson, she brazenly lives with him. She has two sons she adores and a daughter she cherishes dearly, yet she doesn't live with them.
Her actions clearly showed that she intended to harm and exploit Wang Yong's family, using the gold and silver she obtained to support her own children. Wang Yong hated this stepmother with a passion that seethed through his teeth.
No, we have to think of a way to get rid of the old lady!
That's it! Let's start with the old lady's own sons. As long as her two sons suffer a great loss, she won't hesitate to leave and go live with them!
Upon thinking of this, Wang Yong couldn't sit still. He glanced at the hourglass; there were only two quarters of an hour left before his shift ended. He gave his subordinates a few instructions and asked his superior for leave. Then, he mounted his horse and quickly headed towards the yamen where his second uncle was to take up his post.
His second and third uncles were both the old woman's biological sons. Currently, they were only minor officials of the sixth rank, several grades lower than his fourth rank. Arriving at the yamen, he happened to run into his second uncle, who was finishing his duties. He stopped his second uncle at the yamen gate: "Second Uncle, I have something to discuss with you. I'd like to invite you to dinner at the Good Days Restaurant!"
After saying that, without waiting for her second uncle's agreement, she pulled him along quickly. There was a branch of the Good Days Restaurant not far from here. It was only a short walk away, no need to ride a horse.
My second uncle was a frail scholar, and being held by this highly skilled military officer, he had no chance of breaking free. He had no choice but to obediently follow along.
Besides, this was a meal at the Good Days Restaurant, something he couldn't be happier with! You see, the food at the Good Days Restaurant was one of the finest delicacies in the capital. Someone of his family's means and his minor official rank would have to be very careful about what they ordered if they went to the Good Days Restaurant once a month, otherwise they would be heartbroken.
Even the bare minimum for a meal is five taels of silver!
Uncle Er reluctantly followed Wang Yong to the Good Days Restaurant.
"I'd like a quiet private room," Wang Yong said to the waiter.
The waiter happily replied, "Alright, please follow me!" and led the two to a secluded private room in the backyard.
Wang Yong ordered a few snacks and a pot of Biluochun tea, then said to the waiter, "We have important matters to discuss, so please don't let anyone disturb us if I don't call for help!"
The waiter respectfully replied, "Yes, sir, please rest assured!"
At this moment, Wang Yong was still wearing the uniform of the Imperial Guard, and it was clear at a glance that he was an official of a high rank.
The waiter considerately closed the door.
Uncle Er sensed something was wrong and asked anxiously, "Ah Yong, what do you want to see me about?"
Wang Yong said, "Grandmother is at odds with Fang Qiong again, trying to force women into my life again and again. Doesn't she know that this is very annoying?"
Upon hearing this, the second uncle was startled and pondered to himself: What exactly does he mean by saying this?
Seeing that he was stunned, Wang Yong continued, "You and your third uncle should take her back to your home. I will give her fifty taels of silver a month as living expenses from my father! She will also receive proper care during holidays! Grandmother is the biological mother of my second and third uncles; my father is just a stepson!"
Fifty taels, that's a lot! You have to understand, his monthly salary is only twenty taels! My second uncle's salary is less than ten taels a month.
Upon hearing this, the second uncle was both angry and embarrassed: "A-Yong, it's not that I'm unwilling, but your grandmother insists on living and eating with the eldest son, and there's nothing I can do about it!"
Wang Yong: "If my grandmother lived with us because she loved and cared for my father, then I would never have let you take her away. The problem is, she didn't care about or like my father at all. The reason she lived with us was twofold: first, to plunder the eldest son's family's money to subsidize the second and third sons' families; second, to cause trouble for the eldest son's family, to make their lives miserable, and to prevent them from having a good life!"
"This, this, Ah Yong, you can't just say things like that!" Second Uncle stammered, his words hesitant, and he didn't dare to look Wang Yong in the eye.
A hint of sarcasm played on Wang Yong's lips, his attitude utterly resolute: "Whether this is nonsense or not, you and your third uncle know it perfectly well. Fine, I won't argue with you anymore. I'll just say one thing: are you going to take Grandma back to your home or not?"
Uncle stammered again: "Well, well, you have to let me discuss this with your aunt, right?"
Wang Yong sneered without any attempt to hide his true feelings: "Bringing your own mother to live with you and being filial to her, you don't even need to discuss it with your wife? Wouldn't that be a laughing stock if word got out? Let me tell you, I'm giving you three days. If you don't bring your grandmother back, you and your third uncle will definitely lose your jobs! And your cousins will lose their jobs too! If you don't believe me, just try it!"
What? They're going to lose their jobs? Is he trying to sabotage them? With his abilities, methods, and connections, taking their jobs would be a piece of cake for him.
Upon hearing his words, the second uncle was startled and quickly said, "No, I didn't say I wouldn't pick you up. I have a day off the day after tomorrow, so I'll ask your third uncle to come with me, okay?"
Since that's the case, he could just go and pick her up; anyway, his mother had a lot to say. She had decided to live at the eldest son's house, and it wasn't up to them to go and pick her up to make her go with them. If they went and she didn't agree, they couldn't blame them.
My second uncle also had his own ulterior motives.
Wang Yong gave his second uncle a sharp look and snorted coldly: "Going to pick her up is not enough. You must persuade Grandmother to live with your second or third branch of the family and successfully take her away. Otherwise, you will lose your jobs, and don't blame me for being ruthless! Since Grandmother doesn't want us to live a happy life, then we'll all suffer together and have no good days together!"
Uncle's lips twitched involuntarily. His request was indeed a bit difficult, but he had no choice but to comply. Otherwise, he, his third brother, and their sons and nephews would lose their jobs!
"Alright, I will definitely do my best!" Uncle said evasively.
Wang Yong: "Doing your best is not enough, you must do it well! Otherwise, you can wait to retire and go back to your hometown!" If his second and third uncles do not take the old woman away, he does not mind being the bad guy and making his second and third uncles lose their jobs.
Being lenient with evil people is being cruel to yourself.
The old woman's actions, and her inability to stop herself, were largely due to the indulgence and instigation of her second and third uncles. Both families, young and old, watched the old woman with bated breath, hoping she would occasionally slip in some money to help them.
Fang Qiong and Cai Shi settled into the villa, and their depression dissipated considerably.
Old Mrs. Wang was furious. It was bad enough that Cai Shi and Fang Qiong had left, but even her eldest son and Wang Yong hadn't come home. After they left, the servants in the house became lazy and indifferent, and the meals they prepared for her consisted of only two dishes and a soup, which were clearly perfunctory.
She wanted to establish her authority by taking control of the people, but everyone seemed to have agreed beforehand, continuing to treat her perfunctorily. No matter what she ordered the maids, servants, or guards to do, they either pretended not to hear or outwardly complied but inwardly disobeyed.
She was filled with resentment. She knew perfectly well that the servants had acted this way under the instigation of Cai Shi and Fang Qiong. Otherwise, how could they have dared to do such a thing?
On the third day, her two biological sons arrived.
Wang Lao Er said, "Mother, your son has come to take you home. Pack your things and come home with me!"
The old woman glared at him: "What nonsense are you talking about? If I leave, will there still be money to subsidize you in the future?"
Wang Lao Er said, "Mother, you must leave. If you don't, my third brother, the boys, and I will lose our jobs!"
The old woman spat at him: "Who said that? Which scoundrel said it?"
Wang Lao Er: "Wang Yong came to me personally and said it to me in person. Mother, you are our biological mother, and by right, you shouldn't be living with my eldest brother's family. Just come with us, don't gamble with our future for a few coins!"
The old lady immediately flew into a rage: "He dares? He's just a fourth-rank military officer, what right does he have to interfere in your affairs? This yamen isn't his business! Besides, if he dares to do this, I'll go to the yamen and sue him for filial impiety!"
Wang Lao Er: "Mother, although he is only a fourth-rank official, the people he knows are very capable! Shangguan Mufeng, Prince Duan, Yu Zhe, these people are all his backers. Not to mention others, Prince Duan alone can take away all our jobs! If Mother goes to sue him, it will only result in mutual destruction and make us a laughing stock!"
Wang Laosan also said, "Yes, Mother! Please, have mercy, stop making a fuss, and come back with us!"
. . . . . .
After much persuasion from the two brothers, who had talked themselves hoarse, the old lady finally agreed: "Alright, stop talking, I'll go with you! But before I leave, I want you to break the lock on the storeroom in the main room and take all the valuables inside! Otherwise, I'll feel terrible!"
Wang Lao Er almost knelt down: "Mother, let's go, don't cause any more trouble! If you really do this, I'll lose my job! And if you do this, you'll definitely not be able to stay here anymore! If word gets out, none of us will be able to make a living in the capital!"