Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 375: The Revelation of Yun Zhao’s Origins and Recognizing Relatives (5)_1

Chapter 375: Chapter 375: The Revelation of Yun Zhao’s Origins and Recognizing Relatives (5)_1

However, Mo Qingze could only stay at home for two days, and there wasn’t enough time to prepare, let alone that the 30th day of the 11th month was not an auspicious day. On the other hand, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, known as the "Laba Festival," was an excellent date. Changshan Academy would be on a one-day holiday, and thus conducting the adoption ceremony on this day would be perfect.

With the date set, the next step was to finalize the list of relatives and friends to invite.

Under the strong opposition of Yun Zhao, Mo Qingze had no choice but to agree to a small affair, inviting only the village head, Lin Yong, and other well-acquainted families to witness the event. Mo Hong’s family also needed to be informed, but whether they attended was immaterial.

Even with few guests, the adoption ceremony couldn’t be too simple; they had to follow the necessary rituals and customs.

The next morning, Mo Qingze went to the best Silver Tower in the city to order customized longevity locks for Yun Zhao siblings. The longevity locks needed to have the siblings’ names engraved on them and had to be made to order.

Upon returning, he took Yun Zhao Yun Sheng siblings to visit Yang Bao’s House first to extend the invitation.

Although Yang’s family didn’t quite understand why Mo Qingze, who already had a son and a daughter, wanted to adopt other children, they still warmly congratulated him.

After visiting the other well-acquainted families, the trio finally went to Lao Mo’s House.

Learning of their purpose, Old Man Mo felt so choked up that he could hardly breathe, but times had changed, so he forced a smile and managed a "good."

Mrs. Hong, on the other hand, was so angry that she smashed her teacup, cursing Mo Qingze for preferring to raise two children of unknown origin over caring for his own relatives. Had Mo Yongfu and Mo Yonglu brothers not held her back, she might have charged at Yun Zhao siblings.

Mo Qingze ignored her cursing; he spoke courteously to Old Man Mo for a moment and then left Lao Mo’s House with the calm Yun Zhao and a somewhat fearful Yun Sheng.

In less than half a day, the news that Mo Qingze was adopting children spread throughout Liu Yang Village, and those who once saw them as the Mo Family’s servants now kept their mouths shut!

Most people were envious of the Yun Zhao siblings’ luck, having been taken in as adopted children by the Mo Family, which was akin to stumbling into a nest of happiness. Adopted children, even if they couldn’t completely match the status of one’s own children, were still expected to take on the responsibility of getting married.

Moreover, given the Mo Family’s conduct, once they had accepted the siblings, they would not treat them poorly; at the very least, whatever the Mo Family siblings had, they would also have. The Mo Family owned houses and rice shops, and everything they consumed was of high quality—wasn’t this stumbling into a nest of happiness?

"Tsk tsk, you see, the Mo Family is really so wealthy and idle. First, they let two burdens live in comfort, and now they’re adopting them as children. Why didn’t such a great opportunity come to my Tang Bao?"

Mrs. Yu came back from outside, having overheard the news about the Mo Family’s adoption. She picked up her freshly awoken young son, kissed his rosy cheeks, and spoke jealously to Tang Zhutou, who was weaving baskets beside her.

Without raising his head, Tang Zhutou said in a monotonous voice, "The Mo Family isn’t foolish. There must be reason behind their actions."

Although she understood the reasoning, Mrs. Yu still felt discontent, complaining bitterly, "Our Tang Bao is so wonderful, smart, and clever. If only we could have afforded to send him to the Academy, he might have earned us a noble title."

At the mention of silver, Tang Zhutou’s expression darkened, and his hands moved faster.

Seeing him work silently and inexorably, Mrs. Yu was so irritated that she kicked a completed basket nearby, her voice raising to a shrill pitch, "Weave, weave, weave, one basket for a mere Three Wen, even if you wove day and night until the New Year, you wouldn’t earn enough even to pay the interest on the loan. What use are you? I must have been blind to marry such a good-for-nothing like you!"

Tang Zhutou paused for a moment, then shrank back, reaching over to pick up the basket Mrs. Yu had kicked away, and continued to weave, head down.

Watching him, Mrs. Yu became even more angry, her complaints growing louder, "You have neither talent nor strength, you’re not as fast as others when working, nor as clever as them. You’re always the last one chosen for work, whether it’s harvesting soybeans or clearing land. Otherwise, why would our lives be so hard? If we hadn’t needed to borrow money at interest to invest in that greenhouse, could have spared selling our daughter. Now the vegetables have frozen, the money is lost, and you still refuse to sell that useless girl. If you’re capable, come up with Ten Taels of silver to pay off the debt, and I won’t mention selling her again."

Tang Zhutou was so overcome with shame he couldn’t lift his head. Thinking of the Ten Taels of silver owed, principal and interest, his entire back bent, he muttered, "If, if we can’t raise enough money by the deadline, then, then we’ll just have to sell her!"

Tang Xin, carrying a full basket of greens, just arrived and overheard her stepmother talking about selling her. Her face, already red from the cold, turned pale. But upon hearing those words confirming her fate, her hands, already numb from being soaked in the cold water, lost the last of their strength, and the basket of greens fell to the ground with a thud...