The two of them chatted indoors for the entire morning. Zhao Jiaqi was surprised to find that he was quite intelligent; he grasped things quickly, but was not good at interacting with people and always spoke too directly.
She also learned about his family situation. He was born after his father's death, and his grandfather had separated him from the main house before he was born. Because his family had no laborers, only mouths to feed, those in the main house didn't want Zhang Cuihua to stay.
"After my mother separated from the family, she had to submit ten jin of coarse grain and fifty copper coins every month. But with my mother pregnant, it was good enough if she could eat her fill, how could she have grain and coins to give? The village head, seeing my mother's plight, spoke on our behalf."
Zhao Jiaqi was listening intently when the voice suddenly stopped. She frowned and asked, "And then?"
"The grain stayed the same, but the copper coins were reduced from fifty to twenty. They said that after I was born and I could provide, I would make up for the owed grain and coins!"
And so, that led to the scene at the beginning!
"How much is still owed?"
Fan Zehao suddenly looked up and said with great righteousness, "Nothing is owed, I already paid it all back."
"I started hunting at twelve. I used the money from selling the game, keeping only enough for my mother and me to eat, and gave the rest of the coins to the main house. Over the years, I've paid more than enough, but they are never satisfied and claim it's not enough. But I know for sure."
Speaking of this, he felt wronged again, lowered his head, and said quietly, "So, since last year, I've been secretly hunting and selling, saving money for myself. If they come asking, I'll give them thirty or fifty coins. Anyway, as long as they don't hurt my mother, I don't mind spending a few coins."
Zhao Jiaqi sighed softly after listening.
He was resisting silently, all to prevent his mother from being hurt, thinking that if he just endured, everything would be fine. But how could he know the principle that the kind are always bullied?
"Your constant forbearance will only embolden the people in the main house. They'll think you're easy to bully and that they can always get coins from you by making a fuss. You think you're secretly protecting your mother, but you're actually hurting her, because every time they come, your mother has to worry."
Fan Zehao remained silent, staring at his toes for a long time before speaking in a hoarse voice, "Only when I am strong will the people in the main house dare not come, and my mother will not have to worry anymore, right?"
She didn't speak, a faint smile appeared on her face. She patted his shoulder and walked out of the room.
Just as lunch was being served, a representative from the main house arrived.
He glanced at the food on the table with disdain in his eyes. "Grandpa said for all of you to go to the main house. There's something to discuss!"
As he was leaving, he shouted at Zhang Cuihua, "Hurry up, don't dawdle."
Subconsciously, she immediately replied, "We'll be right there."
Going to the main house to discuss matters?
Zhao Jiaqi snorted coldly. This was undoubtedly aimed at her. Good, she would settle this matter today.
She glanced sideways at the man beside her, the light in his eyes obscure and unreadable. She hoped he wouldn't disappoint her.
The family of three locked the courtyard gate and headed for the main house.
Blue bricks and tile roofs, even the side rooms. The ground was paved with pebbles. The large courtyard was clean and grand.
Next to the east wing room was a small path leading to the backyard, presumably a garden. Such a house was one of the best in the village.
The main hall was clean, tidy, spacious, and bright.
On the two master chairs on either side of the eight immortals table sat an old man and an old woman, who were likely the grandfather and grandmother Fan Zehao had mentioned.
"Zhang, I'll ask you, am I still your mother-in-law?"
As soon as the three of them entered and stood firm, Grandma Cao Meihua, sitting on the chair with a wrinkled face, asked Zhang Cuihua.
"Yes!"
*Slap!* Cao Meihua slammed the table with a loud noise.
Her sparse eyebrows shot up as she questioned her, "Since I am still your mother-in-law, why did you, on such an important matter as marriage, make a decision and marry someone without waiting for us to return from the county?"