She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 137 - 136 Qualifications to Manage Children

Chapter 137: Chapter 136 Qualifications to Manage Children

As soon as Qi Yougui mentioned farming, Qi Sanshun, who had always been envious of his older cousin and Second Uncle’s family, immediately objected.

"I won’t do it," Qi Sanshun yelled, jumping up and down, "Second Uncle’s family said that Xiao Jiajia will start attending school tomorrow as the new year begins. Xiao Jiajia said he will teach me everything the teacher teaches him. These days, he’s even teaching me how to write numbers. Our village only has paper and pens in Second Uncle’s family. I want to play with Xiao Jiajia and learn to write and gain skills with him and my older female cousin."

As soon as Qi Ershun heard the words "learn skills," he glanced at Lady Han, his complexion turning even more ashen. He and his second brother had been doing well working in the snack shop; Nanny Jin liked him for his cleverness, and the children of his age in the village also envied him for being able to work in the town, earn money, and learn skills at such a young age.

However, in less than a day, he had been beaten back to his original state, his desires to learn skills and become a shopkeeper suddenly seemed out of reach. As Grandpa said, he would have to learn to be a peasant scratching a living from the soil.

Qi Dagen had just pulled Lady Han to her feet when he heard Sanshun making a commotion beside his father; he couldn’t help but scold, "Learn what? You’re as much of a scoundrel as your mother, always thinking about how to take advantage of others. Neither my older female cousin nor Xiao Jiajia owes you anything. Why should they provide for your food, your play, and even your paper and scholarly pursuits?"

When Lady Han saw her youngest son being scolded, she immediately retorted, "How can you say they don’t owe us? My Sanshun spends all day playing with that little brat. The Second Branch family never gave us any silver for taking care of the child."

Qi Dagen was so furious he slapped her, "You wretched woman, you’ve managed to mess up Ershun’s job in no time at all, and here you are stirring up trouble again."

Men are strong; one slap made Lady Han stagger, her cheek instantly bearing a bright red handprint. She covered her face in disbelief and stood there, wide-eyed.

The three children of Shunzi were all stunned as well.

Qi Dagen realized that his family, just like his elder brother’s, being sons of the main branch, had been living increasingly uncomfortable lives these past few months, all because this woman couldn’t stop causing trouble.

Following through with a kick, Qi Dagen cursed, "From now on, do as you please. Sanshun will no longer lead Jiajia in play; all three of your sons are going back home to farm. Just you watch, if Qi Jia doesn’t play with your sons, there will be other children who will seek him out. You just wait and see how your family fares, with your children looking on enviously at others having fun."

Qi Dazhu stepped in to push Qi Dagen aside, chiding, "In a room full of people, in front of the children, what are you doing? Our family doesn’t have a tradition of hitting wives. You two go back to your room—don’t embarrass yourself here and corrupt the children."

"You think I want to!" Qi Dagen huffed back at Qi Dazhu, grabbing the sobbing Lady Han, who was covering her face, and started to walk out. As they left, he scolded, "Get back to your room quickly. Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough!"

Lady Wang looked at the backs of the departing couple and said coolly, "From now on, you two just focus on living your own lives. Don’t interfere in any matters concerning the three children, especially you, Dagen’s wife. I absolutely forbid you from meddling or speaking out about the children."

Qi Dagen’s figure stiffened for a moment, his footsteps suddenly halting.

The faces of everyone in the room, including Qi Yougui, all changed dramatically.

With Lady Wang’s words, Lady Han had effectively been stripped of her right to manage the children. Without the right to manage the children, she had no real standing in this family.

Lady Han was shocked and turned around. She saw her startled, fearful eyes glaring and her face deathly pale, making the several bright red finger marks even more stark.

"Mother, you can’t do this. Chengzi, Shunzi, and the three are my sons, whom I raised with hard work and toil. I am their true mother."

Lady Han’s voice was not loud, but it was somewhat piercing. Without a son to rely on, what status would she have in this family? She cried out and was about to throw herself towards the edge of the Kang bed where Lady Wang was.

Qi Dagen hesitated only a moment before firmly grabbing Lady Han’s arm, and she struggled in vain.

Lady Wang sneered, "Don’t behave like this. It’s not that I’m heartless, but you’re too oblivious to appreciate what’s good for you. I have no choice. How many times have I, as your mother-in-law, advised you? How many times have I warned you? Have you ever listened? Since you only care about your own pleasure and have no regard for the children’s future, you don’t deserve to be their mother."

Lady Wang looked around at the people in the room and said in a serious tone, "In the past, the farming families in our village lived their own lives, and one household had little to do with another. But now, with the arrival of your Second Uncle’s family, our way of life can no longer be the same as before."

"Our Sanshun can now set up a small stall with Chengzi in the county town, all because the Second Branch family holds in mind the affection between your father and Chengzi. Ershun and Sanshun are sons of Dagen and his wife, as well as descendants of the Qi family. I can’t stand by and watch the three children be dragged down by Dagen’s wife."

Sanshun and Ershun looked at their mother, then at their grandmother, wanting to speak, but not knowing what to say. They could only watch helplessly as Qi Dagen yanked Lady Han forcefully and shoved her out the door, back to the western wing.

Lady Xu brought the dinner, still the big bowls of stewed vegetables common in farming families, but the Wo Wo steamed buns that served as the staple were made much more delicately, with half of the cornmeal replaced with white flour, and the stew boasted a few more specks of oil.

Lady Wang, looking at Ershun sitting dazed by the dining table, felt pity and said to Lady Xu, "Take out the pastries Ershun brought back and share them between him and Xinger. They didn’t get to eat any of the pastries today."

Qi Ershun’s tears finally fell as he choked up and said, "Granny, I don’t want to eat, save it for Sanshun and Xinger."

Qi Sanshun looked at the piece of cake exuding the scent of butter brought by his aunt and said spitefully, "I won’t eat either! Tomorrow, I’m going to Second Grandpa’s house to play with Xiao Jiajia."

Lady Wang, sitting opposite Qi Yougui, poked Qi Sanshun and said, "You’re just a child, you can play with whoever you want, no one will stop you."

Qi Sanshun immediately brightened up, but Lady Wang continued, "However, you already had a big meal at Second Grandpa’s house yesterday, and you’ve had your fill of that butter cake today as well. This thing originally wasn’t meant for you to eat."

Turning to Qi Ershun, and coaxing, she said, "Come on, eat it if it’s offered to you, you’re just a child, where did you get such a big temper? Nanny Jin sent you home and even packaged such a precious treat for you, which clearly shows that she still likes you. As long as you’re willing to work hard like your older brothers, in the future you’ll still have a chance to work with your cousin Jiajia."

When Qi Ershun heard this, his mood brightened somewhat but he still showed little interest in the delicacy he had coveted that morning.

Lady Wang said to Qi Yougui, "Old man, the Second Branch family has been very caring towards us, and what happened today was Dagen’s wife’s fault. After dinner, the two of us old folks should visit Second Brother’s courtyard and have a talk with Second Brother and Ye Zi, so as not to let any rift grow between our families."