Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 596 - 302 Helping Outsiders_1

Chapter 596: Chapter 302 Helping Outsiders_1

Lady Wong, kneeling, tearfully recounted how her own brother had embezzled the silver intended to save Qian Sangui’s life, which nearly caused Wu Zuzhi to cough up blood in anger.

He had been deceived for so many years, especially his elderly father and mother, who worried about their daughter and son-in-law until their dying days, never at peace. His mother, confused by illness, would occasionally ask, "Did Niu Niu take that silver and cure her son-in-law’s illness?"

Over those years, he occasionally received letters from Wang Shoushi delivered by others, claiming that the silver had been sent to the Qian family, who were displeased with the meager amount. However, at the time, Wu Zuzhi had given his all, which already caused his wife, Lady Wong, to express her discontent. He only earned eight taels of silver a month, and there was a large family and a houseful of servants to care for—he simply couldn’t spare much. Additionally, feeling a touch of anger towards his younger sister, he stopped sending silver to her thereafter.

What angered him the most was that when his parents passed away one after the other, as they escorted the coffin back to their hometown, his sister downright refused to return and kowtow at their parents’ graves. From that moment on, he thoroughly detested his sister’s family. Later, when his sister sent someone to Zaozhou to find him, not only did he refuse to meet them, but he also chased the messenger away.

It turned out that the silver had never reached his sister’s hands. Wang Shoushi had embezzled it and, fearing the truth would be exposed, he stirred discord between the two families to cut off all contact. Even more infuriating was that his wife, after learning the truth, continued to aid and abet the deception, helping Wang Shoushi to fool him.

He was so angry that he considered divorcing Lady Wong, but seeing his son, daughter-in-law, two grandsons, and granddaughter all kneeling before him, and watching his old wife continually kowtow and apologize, he temporarily spared her. Afterwards, he hurried to Capital City with his son Wu Qingshu, joining Qian Manjiang to meet his sister.

When Lady Wu heard that her aged parents were still concerned about her, she cried uncontrollably.

Wu Qingshu, too, knelt down to apologize to Qian Sangui and Lady Wu on behalf of his mother.

Wu Qingshu, about twenty-five or twenty-six, was fair-skinned and scholarly, genteel and refined. He had passed the Graduate exams the previous spring. With no family connections and no extra money to bribe his way through, he was still waiting for an official post.

He cried unabashedly, furious at his maternal family’s callousness and worried about his elderly mother, fearing his father would divorce her. At fifty years old, she might not survive if divorced.

Lady Wu, despite her hatred for Lady Wong’s complicity, didn’t wish for her brother to divorce at such an advanced age, not to mention that her nephew, Wu Qingshu, wasn’t bad either. So, she also persuaded Wu Zu to spare Lady Wong, arguing that ultimately it was her own brother who had done wrong, and it was understandable that she didn’t dare to speak out.

However, the account with Wang Shoushi’s family had to be settled. Had that one hundred and fifty taels of silver reached Lady Wu’s hands at the time, it would have been a godsend; her family would not have suffered so much. The thought that her parents had died with such worries made it impossible for the Wu siblings to let go of their anger.

The matter was left to Qian Xiaofeng to handle. Qian Sangui and Qian Manjiang each wrote a letter accusing Wang Shoushi of his crimes and sent him directly to the Master County Magistrate in Wen County. Being a Lord Xiangen and a fourth rank officer in the Imperial Army might not count for much in Capital City, but in the distant Ji’an Province, they were influential people and close to the Emperor, and surely the local magistrate would take them seriously.

Having discussed the important matters, they let Pan Yue and the three Qian siblings, waiting in the hall, go to meet in the east side room.

Since Pan Yue had accompanied Qian Manjiang to Capital City, they had never been apart for so many days, and she was growing impatient. Hearing that she could now enter the side room, she hurried in, her eyes reddened as she clutched Qian Manjiang’s hand saying, "Brother Jiang, you were gone for so long, Yueyue was afraid you wouldn’t come back."

Jingjing also clutched Qian Manjiang’s robe, complaining in a whiny voice, "Mother cried, saying her heart ached from missing Father."

Qian Manjiang, smiling, lifted Jingjing into his arms and patted Pan Yue’s shoulder to console her, "How could I not come back? I can’t bear to be away from Yueyue and the children. I went to bring Uncle back; come and pay your respects to him."

Wu Zu already knew Pan Yue was a Commandery Princess and naturally didn’t dare to receive her bow. Pan Yue gave him a deep curtsy, and he quickly rose to return her gesture.

He and his son were still puzzled that this couple seemed different from others, openly discussing private matters publicly, indeed a cause for blushing.

Lady Wu added that their courtyard, Guixiang Courtyard, had been readied, inviting them to stay at the Qian family home for the time being.

Qian Sangui and Qian Manjiang’s view was that since Wu Qingshu had already achieved some distinction, they would help him find connections and possibly secure him a position. Although it wasn’t easy to obtain a significant post for someone of Graduate status, securing a modest Eighth Rank Junior Official post was still possible. The first step was to get him started on his official career, and then they could plan further.