Speaking of which, Madam Zhen Feng's husband's family was a famous family in Gusu. However, their house was later burned down by a fire and turned into a pile of rubble.
He didn't know what the husband and wife were thinking. They didn't want to find a new place to live in Gusu, but they sold all their land and property, and then took all their assets and the two girls to seek refuge with his father-in-law, Feng Su.
Zhen Family's assets were reduced by more than half due to the fire, but as the saying goes, a centipede dies but never falls down. Thus, they had more assets than the farming Feng Family. Unfortunately, Zhen Shiyin was a bad judge of character. He gave all his family's assets to his father-in-law, who only cared about money. In the end, the money was only exchanged for some poor land and dilapidated houses.
Unfortunately, Zhen Shiyin only knew how to appreciate flowers, plant bamboo, drink wine and recite poetry. He was not good at farming. Now that he had to do everything himself, he was in a mess. He did not manage to sort everything out in one or two years and only became poorer and poorer. Later on, he ran away with a limping Daoist priest.
The most pitiful one was Madam Zhen Feng. First, she lost her daughter. Then, her family was in trouble. Her father was a person who even cheated her daughter and son-in-law. The couple, who had a good relationship, suddenly fell apart. Later on, even her husband disappeared.
In just three years, she encountered these great changes. She was already strong enough not to jump into a well. However, this was not the end. After Zhen Shiyin left, Feng Su took back the poor land and dilapidated houses. Madam Zhen Feng had no choice but to go to the Feng Family with her two maidservants. The three of them worked day and night to earn some money for their nobility in the Feng Family. Even so, the Feng Family still complained about it every day.
Not long after, one of her maidservants, called Jiao Xing, was asked by the new county magistrate, Jia Yucun, to be the second wife. Jia Yucun was a poor scholar who lived next door to them in Gusu. He only had money to go to the capital to take the imperial exam because of Zhen Shiyin's help. Now that he was the county magistrate, not only did he help take care of Madam Zhen Feng because of Zhen Shiyin's kindness, but he also colluded with Feng Su to take Jiao Xing away from Madam Zhen Feng. Feng Su benefited from the money and won Jia Yucun's favor. Unfortunately, Madam Zhen Feng only got four bolts of brocade, which were all taken away by her sisters-in-law.
Soon after, Madam Zhen Feng's brother followed her example and took her other servant girl as his concubine. All of a sudden, Madam Zhen Feng became a thorn in her sister-in-law's side. She wished she could drive Madam Zhen Feng and her maid out with a broom. Her elder brother was also happy that she could divert his wife's anger. He was very happy to have two women in his arms.
As for Madam Zhen Feng, because she had been crying all year round, her eyesight was not good. Feng Su complained that she did less needlework every day, and the money she earned was not as much as before. Therefore, he allowed his daughter-in-law to do whatever she wanted.
Before long, apart from doing some needlework every day, Madam Zhenfeng's daily necessities were no different from those of the Feng Family's servants. The ten taels of silver for the fortune-telling was exchanged with the needle and thread she secretly made. No one in the Feng Family knew about it. Otherwise, they would have already plundered it.
Shuijing's fortune-telling booth had been open for several days, but Madam Zhen Feng was the first one to spend money on fortune-telling. Therefore, even though no one knew what they talked about, the news that she spent ten taels of silver for fortune-telling spread throughout the county in less than the time it took for an incense stick to burn. Naturally, the Feng Family also knew.
Madam Zhen Feng looked at the room that looked like a swarm of locusts. Her face was calm, without any sadness or anger. She stood in the corner like a block of wood, motionless.
Her father, Feng Su, was sitting on a bench by the door, smoking a pipe. His two sons and two daughters-in-law were rummaging through chests and boxes. They took out their clothes one by one and shook them twice, afraid they would miss a copper coin.
After an unknown amount of time, the four of them finally stopped and walked to Feng Su, panting. When they passed by Madam Zhen Feng, they glared at her fiercely. The eldest son of the Feng Family lowered his head and said, "Father, we've searched three times, but we haven't found a single copper coin."
Feng Su knocked his pipe on the ground, looked at Madam Zhen Feng, and said earnestly, "My dear daughter, our family has been in a bit of trouble recently, and we can barely feed ourselves. Why don't you take out all the money you have stashed away and help us get through this difficult time? Think about it carefully. You don't have any children. You have to rely on your brothers and nephews for your old age. Although our family is not as rich as your former husband's family, we can still provide you with food and shelter. If you leave here, not to mention whether you can survive, you won't even have someone to send you off when you die. "
The eldest daughter of the Feng Family said sarcastically, "I don't think my sister-in-law cares about these things. She wants to spend ten taels of silver for fortune-telling, but she doesn't want to give us a single copper coin. Sure enough, a married daughter is like spilled water. How can she be of the same mind as us? "
The second daughter of the Feng Family said, "Big sister, I don't want to scold you, but how many fortune-tellers have you seen over the years? The news of you bringing misfortune to your husband and daughter has been spread far and wide. We wanted to find a man for you to marry so that you could have a stepson to send you off when you die. Who would have thought that when the man heard it was you, he was 100% unwilling? Later, Head Lai Zhang of the west of the city was willing to marry you, but you didn't want to. We didn't force you to marry, did we? We wholeheartedly worshipped you, but you turned around and gave ten taels of silver to the fortune-teller. Our hearts are cold … "
Madam Zhen Feng finally moved. She lowered her head and bit her lips so hard that they almost bled.
Head Lai Zhang of the east of the city was a famous old scoundrel. He ate, drank, whored, and gambled. He had already beaten three women to death. He only wanted to marry her because he wanted someone who could cook for him and be beaten by him. Three taels of silver. For only three taels of silver, she was almost sold off by her family. If she didn't threaten them with death, how could they give up three taels of silver? It was also from then on that she began to secretly save money so that she wouldn't be sold off by her family.
Feng Su saw her lowering her head and thought she was regretful. He said, "My dear daughter, what you did this time was really wrong. Father can't help you. Quickly take out all the remaining taels of silver and apologize to your brothers and sisters-in-law. They can continue to take care of you. Our family can continue to live in harmony like before. "
Madam Zhen Feng raised her head and glanced at them with a bone-chilling gaze. "Only the ten taels of silver. I've already spent them all."
Her hoarse voice sounded particularly harsh, making the eldest daughter of the Feng Family angry. She pointed at Madam Zhen Feng's nose and cursed, "Bullshit! Who's crazy enough to give all their money to a stupid fortune-teller? I'm telling you today, hurry up and take out the rest of the money, or you can get out of here. Our family can't afford to raise a person like you who spends money recklessly. "
The eldest son of the Feng Family quickly pulled her sleeve and said, "What are you talking about? Father is still here watching! "
The eldest daughter of the Feng Family panicked and looked at Feng Su. Seeing that he was only smoking and didn't react to what she just said, she couldn't help but become more arrogant.
"What? Did I say something wrong? You're speaking for her. Didn't she just give you a little goblin? You've been bewitched by that little goblin, haven't you? I'm really unlucky ~ "She sat down on the ground, slapped her thigh and wailed," I raised your children and did the housework, but you gave me a little goblin to break my heart ~ How can you do this to me? My sister-in-law is also not a human. She doesn't care about her own man and meddles in her brother's backyard! I'm so unlucky, but I still have to smile and take out money to raise her. Why is my life so unlucky … "
The second son of the Feng Family, who had been silent all this time, also frowned and said, "Sister, hurry up and give the money to father. Look at you, you don't want to live a good life. You have to make a mess of the family. "
The second daughter of the Feng Family said coldly, "Sister, you've already caused your husband's family to be ruined. Do you want your family to be broken up with you? You're really vicious."
Although she already knew what kind of people her father and brother were, when she saw her sister-in-law tell her to get out and Feng Su didn't do anything, her heart was torn and bleeding.
"I don't have any money." Madam Zhen Feng clenched her hands. For the first time, she summoned up the courage to argue with them, "Not to mention that I really don't have any money, even if I did, you won't get a single copper coin from me!"
The people of the Feng Family were stunned by her words. They didn't expect that the sheep that had been obediently slaughtered by them would rebel one day.
The eldest son of the Feng Family was angry and scolded, "What are you talking about? Is this how you talk to your father? How did we have such an unfilial daughter like you? You're a disgrace to our family. Think about it, brother-in-law doesn't want you anymore. If father didn't pity you and took you in, you would have starved to death on the streets. "
"Pity me?" Madam Zhen Feng thought of what had happened since she came to her family. She couldn't control the resentment and grievances that had been accumulated for a long time and vented them all out, "Haven't you taken enough money from me over the years? Do you think I don't know that you bought the 300 mu of land in the west of the city with Zhen family's money? Father, feel your conscience, how much money did Shiyin give you? It should be more than enough to buy a house and a few hundred mu of land. But what about you? What did you do? It's all your fault that I became like this! "
"Rebel! Rebel! " Feng Su stood up and trembled with anger, "Put this unfilial girl in the woodshed. Without my permission, don't let her out and don't give her anything to eat."
The eldest son and the second son of the Feng Family were about to grab Madam Zhen Feng. Seeing this, Madam Zhen Feng took out the scissors from the basket and held them tightly with both hands. She pointed the sharp point at them and shouted, "If you want to kill me, then do it! If you dare to touch me, I'll fight you to the death! "
People who were greedy for money were usually afraid of those who didn't care about their lives. Seeing her crazy appearance, the Feng Family people were scared and didn't dare to take another step forward.
At this time, someone suddenly shouted outside, "Oh no! Fire! Fire!"
The Feng Family people were stunned and hurriedly ran outside. As expected, they saw a big fire in the woodshed in the southwest corner. It was very conspicuous in the dark night.
The memory of his son-in-law's property being burned was still fresh in his mind. Feng Su hurriedly shouted at the top of his voice, "Help! Quick! Put out the fire! Put out the fire! "
Hearing the noise outside, Madam Zhen Feng breathed a sigh of relief. Her legs gave way and she fell to the ground. Her hand holding the scissors trembled slightly.
She didn't want this to happen. But she had been wronged for so many years that she couldn't control her emotions. She couldn't die now. It wasn't easy to find her daughter's whereabouts. She had to save her life.
Madam Zhen Feng quickly wiped her tears. Even though her legs were still weak, she gritted her teeth and stood up. She hurriedly packed some clothes and ran out.
She had to leave while the Feng Family people were putting out the fire. Her daughter was still waiting for her in Jinling.
The Feng Family was in a mess. Men and women of all ages were busy putting out the fire. Madam Zhen Feng smoothly arrived at the back door. But she didn't expect to see her sister-in-law and sister-in-law fainted on the ground at the back door. Beside them, there was a half-opened small cloth bag. The corner of the money was exposed.
Madam Zhen Feng hesitated for a moment. She stepped forward and opened the small cloth bag. There were five one-hundred taels of silver notes and fifty taels of silver in it.
She didn't know why they fainted here with such a large amount of money.
She didn't have any money now. Although she could beg all the way to Jinling, she couldn't let her daughter beg with her after she found her. Besides, when she first came to Ruzhou, she brought a few thousand taels of silver. Now, these few hundred taels of silver were her compensation.
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