After Becoming the Villain Mother-in-Law, I Launch My Redemption Arc Chapter 85: Don’t Burn All Your Bridges

ng Ruyu angrily glared at ng Yao, stomped her foot, and went after ng Qingshan.

The governnt officer was ordered to question ng Zhu, and ng Yao, after saying a word to the village chief, took the officer back ho.

When they left, the County Magistrate instructed the officer a few things. Although ng Yao didn’t hear clearly what was said, Zhao Xiaoshu did, and had already told ng Yao on the way back.

The County Magistrate said that since ng Zhu was a married woman, he should just go through the motions.

So, ng Yao was not worried about anything.

But ng Zhu didn’t know this and was very nervous.

Li Changning was also very nervous, fidgeting with ng Zhu’s hand.

Li Chang’an, on the other hand, was calm and composed, conversing with the officer without any sign of nervousness.

The officer was polite as well, speaking with an effort to maintain so elegance. He asked a few simple questions and then bid farewell.

ng Yao, knowing the customs, quickly caught up and insisted on stuffing a piece of Silver into the officer’s hand.

About two taels.

Though it pained her, she knew she couldn’t skimp on it.

The officer did not refuse, calmly accepted the Silver, cupped his fist toward ng Yao, and rode off.

Once the officer was out of sight, ng Zhu finally breathed a sigh of relief and questioned ng Yao about what had happened.

ng Yao recounted everything in detail, and ng Zhu’s expression changed several tis. She opened her mouth several tis but ended up saying nothing, finally turning her words into a long sigh.

"I will go back once to get the lock piece for you," ng Zhu stood up.

"Then I will go with you." ng Yao was worried.

"The County Magistrate has already given the order; he must honestly hand it over." ng Zhu gently patted ng Yao’s hand, "You wait at ho; I’ll be back soon."

ng Yao had no choice but to let ng Zhu go.

ng Zhu returned to her natal ho with mixed emotions.

ng Ruyu was crying, and ng Qingshan was silently smoking his dry tobacco pipe.

Neither of them noticed her return until she spoke up.

ng Qingshan was initially stunned, and then he began to curse ng Yao, accusing her of being ungrateful and lanting that because of ng Yao, the family was falling apart. Then he complained, saying that at his age, the only one he could depend on now was ng Zhu.

"Father, why do you bla Yaoyao for all this? Isn’t it your own doing?" ng Zhu’s tone was icy.

She knew ng Yao was not a biological mber of the ng Family, so she could reluctantly understand why they never liked Yaoyao. She believed that since they received Silver Coin from Yaoyao’s family, they should take good care of her. They didn’t treat her well, so she treated her well.

People’s hearts are made of flesh; over ti, ng Zhu truly regarded her as her own sister.

If the ng Family had indeed raised the original self, it was rely by giving so food.

In reality, it seed more like ng Zhu raised the original self.

Thus, ng Zhu beca both sister and mother to the original self.

"You child..." ng Qingshan was sowhat embarrassed.

"Yaoyao is still soft-hearted. If I were her, I would make you cough up those one hundred and twenty taels of Silver," ng Zhu said through gritted teeth.

"You are part of the ng Family; you share no blood ties with her!" ng Qingshan exclaid.

"You always said that marrying a daughter is like throwing water out. From the day I got married, I was no longer part of the ng Family; I am part of the Li Family." ng Zhu enunciated each word, "Blood ties? I may share blood ties with you, but do you treat well?"

ng Qingshan was speechless.

"I’m not here to hear you play the victim card. Bring the lock piece that was on Yaoyao back then," ng Zhu said.

ng Qingshan’s eyes darted around, but before he could speak, ng Zhu continued, "Before you try any tricks, think about how you will contend against the County Magistrate. Or are you thinking of going to the Governnt Office to reunite with mother and elder brother?"

"No matter what, Yaoyao saved the young master of the County Magistrate’s household. Moreover, the County Magistrate personally severed her ties with the ng Family. Think carefully before you act, and consider if you can bear the consequences!" ng Zhu added.

Despite his reluctance, ng Qingshan could only retrieve the lock piece wrapped in a cloth from the box where Madam Sun stored money and stuff.

ng Zhu took the lock piece and turned to leave.

ng Ruyu clutched onto ng Zhu’s sleeve and spoke pitifully, "Aunt, the Governnt Office wants a fine silver; Grandpa says the family has no Silver Coin."

Whether or not there is Silver Coin, ng Ruyu knew well enough; her mother always liked to tell her that Grandma had stored a lot of Silver.

Although she didn’t know the exact amount, ng Ruyu knew that their family was likely the richest in the village.

At this critical mont, the old man was reluctant to draw out Silver, not because they lacked it, but because he was unwilling to put it out.

She felt hatred in her heart but was helpless.

ng Zhu was a bit surprised, clearly not believing that there would be no Silver at ho.

ng Qingshan’s eyes were sowhat evasive, "There is so, but it is not enough. If the fine silver isn’t enough, the hard labor cannot be reduced. It would be better to keep those Silvers and not be left penniless when they return."

ng Zhu laughed, realizing that the coldest and most emotionless person in the family was this seemingly amiable man.

The ones doing hard labor were his only son and the person who bore him children and stayed by his side for years.

He could harden his heart against them, which showed just how selfish a person could be.

"I don’t have any Silver either," ng Zhu pried open ng Ruyu’s fingers, "This is the ng Family’s affair; as a married-out daughter, I can’t help much."

If there really was no Silver at ho, considering the kinship, she would certainly not stand by and do nothing.

But now, clearly there was Silver, yet not a coin was given, expecting her to beco a fool? In your dreams?

"Father, as a father and daughter, I have so words for you: don’t be too ruthless. My brother is young and strong; let him do the hard labor. But mother is old; how can she endure it? After all, she has been with you all these years."

ng Qingshan remained silent.

ng Zhu said nothing more and simply left.

The lock piece lay in ng Yao’s palm; it didn’t look thick but felt heavy. One side was engraved with "longevity for a hundred years" and the other with auspicious Ruyi patterns, surrounding a "Yao" character. At first glance, it looked ordinary, but upon closer inspection, it was exquisitely delicate.

Moreover, the engraved na clearly indicated it was custom-made.

From this alone, ng Yao could deduce that the original self’s biological parents were not likely poor. Otherwise, why spend so much Silver to make a longevity lock for her?

It’s just unknown what happened that led them to send the original self to the ng Family.

ng Yao thought that after so many years, the truth would be hard to uncover.

A longevity lock crafted so ticulously indicated that the original parents cherished the original self greatly; hence, they surely wouldn’t abandon her. But over these years, they’ve remained silent, and apart from sothing preventing them from coming, ng Yao couldn’t think of another possibility.

She hopes the original self could reunite with her gone parents.

As for this lock piece, if there’s an opportunity in the future, she would find a prosperous temple to offer it, accumulating so rits for the original self and her parents.

ng Zhu softly suggested, "Sketch out the appearance of this lock piece. Your brother-in-law travels extensively; ask him to inquire at each silver shop he visits about any clues. This lock piece is so exquisitely made, not just any silver shop could craft it!"