"When you say it like that, it’s really..." Lady Zhang was evidently moved by Lady Chiang’s words and agreed with her. However, due to her personal temperant and limitations, she couldn’t quite articulate that Lady Chiang was bewitched.
"Fourth Aunt, I’m young and inexperienced. I wonder if you’ve heard about this: in the Zhao Family Village, there’s an elderly lady who was once sharp and sensible, but after turning fifty, she beca muddled. Things she never said before and events that never happened all started to appear. It’s like..." As she spoke, Lady Chiang pointed to her own head, "sothing went wrong, and so even say she was bewitched."
Lady Zhang didn’t know about this elderly lady in Zhao Family Village, but hearing Lady Chiang say she was originally sensible prompted her to think that Lady Zhou, who was never sensible to begin with, had only beco more extre. And as for being bewitched...
"The old lady lights incense and prays to Buddha every day... She doesn’t go anywhere..." Lady Zhang said in confusion.
"Fourth Aunt, that courtyard isn’t the sa as it was when you lived there. There are so things I don’t dare to say..." Lady Chiang replied.
Without Lady Chiang saying it, Lady Zhang understood. In that courtyard were Xiao Ba, whom she lost due to a miscarriage, and Lady Gu, who died violently after suffering tornt there.
The courtyard wasn’t clean, and with Lady Zhou’s guilty conscience, if sothing really did happen, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
"Fourth Aunt, if lighting incense and praying to Buddha always worked, then there wouldn’t be so many problems in this world." Lady Chiang added.
"You’re right." By this point, Lady Zhang was three tis more inclined to believe Lady Chiang’s words.
"However, there’s also talk that the Zhao family’s old lady ended up like that because she lost her soul." Lady Chiang, seeing Lady Zhang’s response and noticing Lian Manman listening intently, continued speaking.
"How could soone lose their soul?" Lian Manman, finding Lady Chiang’s words increasingly intriguing, asked.
"Yeah, how could soone lose their soul for no reason?" Lady Zhang also inquired.
"It’s said to be due to karma... The Zhao family’s old lady accumulated virtue in her life. Originally, her ti on earth was up according to the book of life and death, but King Yama, seeing her virtue, extended her life. He first took a piece of her soul to the underworld to make up the numbers, leaving her in the mortal world to enjoy blessings. This adding and subtracting is all predestined." Lady Chiang explained.
Lian Manman glanced at Lady Chiang. She had long suspected that Lady Chiang had other motives for visiting besides bringing gifts for Wu Lang’s wedding. After hearing all that Lady Chiang said, she had a vague understanding of the situation. Now, she completely understood.
Lady Chiang, what a clever person to co up with such a convincing story, putting great thought into considering all angles.
Lady Zhang was captivated by Lady Chiang’s words, not understanding the deeper aning. Lian Manman fully comprehended but chose not to speak.
Seeing Lady Zhang and Lian Manman remain silent, Lady Chiang felt slightly disheartened, but since she’d gone this far, she couldn’t stop now.
"Fourth Aunt, though I am inexperienced, isn’t our old lady a lot like the Zhao family’s old lady?" Lady Chiang said, "Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt have accumulated virtue, so Heaven extended our old lady’s life."
"The old lady seems to be getting more robust, it’s just her temperant... When you put it that way, she really does seem similar." Lady Zhang agreed.
"That’s also what many people out there are saying." Lady Chiang was secretly pleased; she had been waiting for Lady Zhang to say that. However, despite her joy, she also felt a bit uneasy. She quickly glanced at Lian Manman, who was looking down, seemingly in deep thought.
Lady Chiang wondered whether Lian Manman believed those words. Regardless, she felt she had to give it a try and keep pushing. She hoped Lian Manman would believe her; despite her intelligence, Manman was still young. Moreover, Lady Chiang considered her approach quite comprehensive.
Even if Lian Manman had her doubts, Lady Chiang silently prayed that she would soften and rember Da Niuniu. All the talking about Da Niuniu’s grievances was ant to illicit sympathy and compassion from Lady Zhang and Lian Manman.
She didn’t intend to harm anyone; she just wanted a better, more dignified life for herself and her children.
For a mont, the three of them remained silent. Lady Chiang was anxious, having said everything she could. Now it depended on Lady Zhang and Lian Manman’s reactions. Lady Zhang was still in shock, processing all of Lady Chiang’s words.
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