The Leisurely Life of a Peasant Woman in the Tang Dynasty

Under Tang Youyou's leadership, Taohua Village prospered and was peaceful. The completion of the free clinic earned Tang Youyou a high reputation. However, this harmonious scene began to show a crack in the dark.

That day, Tang Youyou saw off a group of old doctors who came for free clinics at the village entrance with a satisfied smile on her face. These days, seeing that the villagers no longer had to worry about their illnesses because of the free clinic, she felt extremely relieved.

"Youyou, you are such a kind-hearted girl. It's a blessing from our ancestors that we have you in Taohua Village!" An old man held Tang Youyou's hand, his gratitude overflowing with words.

Tang Youyou responded with a smile: "Old man, you are too kind. I just did what I should do."

After seeing the old man off, Tang Youyou turned around and prepared to go home, but she saw a familiar figure not far away - Mr. Tang Er. He was standing with a few villagers, talking about something, with a somewhat mysterious smile on his face.

Tang Youyou was puzzled and walked over. Before she could ask, she heard Mr. Tang Er raise his voice with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone: "...Tell me, who in this family has made the greatest contribution to the family? If it weren't for me back then..."

His words stopped abruptly, and he seemed to realize Tang Youyou's arrival. A trace of panic flashed across his face, and then he put on a smile: "Youyou, you're back."

Tang Youyou keenly noticed his abnormality and asked calmly, "Second Uncle, what were you talking about just now?"

Mr. Tang's eyes flickered as he said vaguely, "Nothing, nothing, just chatting with a few old brothers."

After saying that, he left in a hurry.

Tang Youyou was even more confused, but she didn't think much about it. She just thought that her second uncle was in a bad mood, so she turned around and went home.

However, what happened next made Tang Youyou realize that things were not that simple.

Fourth Aunt Tang began to appear frequently at Tang Youyou's door. Every time she came, she would intentionally or unintentionally bring up matters of the family property, and her words were full of hints and provocations.

"Youyou, look at your second uncle. He's been working so hard for the family all these years, but what's the result? In the end, he still got nothing."

"I'm not saying anything bad about you, Fourth Aunt, you're just too kind. You handle everything on your own and aren't afraid of exhausting yourself."

Although Tang Youyou remained calm on the surface, she already understood something in her heart. It seemed that her Second Uncle and Fourth Aunt were planning to take the family fortune.

She knew that there had always been rumors in the family about the uneven distribution of property, but in the past, everyone was embarrassed to speak out out of consideration for each other. Now, the actions of Second Uncle and Fourth Aunt had undoubtedly brought these contradictions to the surface.

Tang Youyou knew clearly that if the situation was allowed to continue, the family would likely fall apart.

At this moment, Uncle Tang San came to Tang Youyou's door with a serious face, holding a letter in his hand...

Tang Youyou welcomed Third Uncle Tang into the house, served him some hot tea, and asked with concern, "Third Uncle, how come you have time to come here today? Is there something important?"

Uncle Tang San sighed softly, a trace of worry between his brows, and said, "Youyou, I came here today because I have something to tell you. Have you heard the rumors about you and your family in the village recently?"

Tang Youyou nodded slightly, already understanding about 70% of what was going on, but pretending to be confused, "Uncle, which rumors are you referring to? Youyou has been busy with the free clinic all day and hasn't paid attention to them."

"Ah!" Uncle Tang sighed heavily. "It's your second uncle and fourth aunt who are spreading rumors everywhere, saying that you have been relying on your own abilities to monopolize the family's resources over the years, and that you..."

Uncle Tang hesitated to speak. He felt embarrassed to say these words, and was unwilling to believe them.

Tang Youyou held Third Uncle Tang's hand and comforted him, "Third Uncle, don't be anxious. Talk slowly."

Third Uncle Tang then continued, "They also said that when your grandfather was alive, he intended to leave part of the family fortune to you, but your parents passed away unexpectedly, and the matter fell through. Now, they want to take this opportunity to seize the share of the family fortune that originally belonged to you."

Tang Youyou sneered in her heart. The ambitions of her second uncle and fourth aunt were indeed greater than she had imagined.

"Youyou," Uncle Tang San looked at Tang Youyou worriedly, "Uncle knows you have a kind heart, but this matter is very serious. You must not take it lightly!"

"Don't worry, Third Uncle, Youyou understands." Tang Youyou's eyes were firm. She would never let anyone take away anything that belonged to her and the children!

After Third Uncle Tang left, Tang Youyou pondered how to deal with the upcoming family dispute. She knew very well that with the personalities of Second Uncle and Fourth Aunt, they would never give up easily.

As expected, the next day, Mr. Tang Er brought a group of family relatives to Tang Youyou's doorstep, claiming that he wanted to have a "good talk" with her about the distribution of family property.

Tang Youyou looked at this group of greedy relatives coldly, without any ripples in her heart.

"Tang Youyou, you have been relying on your own abilities to monopolize the family's resources over the years. Now it's time for you to share some with us!" Mr. Tang spoke arrogantly, as if Tang Youyou owed him something.

"That's right, as a woman, you don't need so much money. It will be wasted!" Aunt Tang Si also fanned the flames.

Although the other relatives didn't say anything, the looks they gave Tang Youyou were filled with greed and jealousy.

At this moment, Tang Dayuan, who had been silent the entire time, stood up. He pointed at the shouting relatives and angrily shouted, "Do you still have any conscience? If Youyou hadn't helped us all get rich over the years, would you have been able to live the good life you have now? Now, you're repaying kindness with hatred. You're simply heartless!"

Tang Dayuan's words left the relatives speechless for a moment.

"Why, do you feel guilty now?" Tang Dayuan continued, "Youyou has done so many good things for the family, and it's fine if you're not grateful, but you're actually thinking of dividing up her property. How shameless!"

Tang Dayuan's words were so reasonable that the relatives were speechless. However, they still refused to leave, their eyes flickering, as if they were waiting for something...

At this moment, Butler Li quickly walked over to Tang Youyou and whispered a few words in her ear. Tang Youyou's face changed slightly, "What did you say? The accounts have been tampered with?" Butler Li's face was solemn, and he lowered his voice to say to Tang Youyou, "Madam, I have been sending people to keep an eye on the accounting office, but just a few days ago, someone sneaked in and flipped through the account books. Although nothing was lost, I discovered that the account books that were flipped through all recorded some of the property sales and financial transactions when the old master was still alive."

Hearing this, Tang Youyou understood that her second uncle and the others were collecting evidence to prove that her grandfather had indeed intended to leave part of the family fortune to her. Unfortunately, after so many years, even if there were some clues in the account books, it would be difficult to constitute substantial evidence.

"I understand. You continue to investigate this matter secretly and don't alert the enemy." Tang Youyou ordered calmly.

After Steward Li took his orders and left, Tang Youyou faced the group of eager relatives in front of her, and she had a plan in mind. She turned around and ordered the maid, "Go, call all the family members to the ancestral hall and tell them that I have something important to announce."

In the evening, members of the Tang family arrived at the ancestral hall one after another. Tang Youyou, dressed in a plain dress, stood calmly in the center of the hall. Her eyes swept over everyone, finally landing on Master Tang and Aunt Tang, and a barely perceptible sneer curled up at the corner of her mouth.

"I've gathered everyone here today because of the family property." Tang Youyou said straight to the point, "I know there have been some rumors about me in the village recently, saying that I've monopolized the family's resources, and even that I..."

Tang Youyou paused, his eyes sweeping across the crowd sharply, "Everyone knows what kind of person I am. Everyone has witnessed what I have done for the family over the years. I have never thought of monopolizing anything. Today, I will make this matter clear in front of all our ancestors."

As soon as Tang Youyou finished speaking, a whisper broke out in the crowd. Mr. Tang Er and Aunt Tang Si could no longer hold back, and greedy looks appeared on their faces.

"Youyou, since you think this way, we elders are relieved." Mr. Tang said with a fake smile, "Don't worry, we won't let you suffer any loss."

"Yes, yes, we are all family, so we should support each other." Aunt Tang also echoed.

Tang Youyou watched this clumsy performance and sneered in her heart, but remained expressionless on the surface.

"In that case, I'll be frank." Tang Youyou cleared her throat, "I will ask several respected elders in the village, as well as the clan leader, to re-count the family's property and then formulate a fair and just distribution plan."

"what?!"

Mr. Tang Er and Aunt Tang Si's faces suddenly changed, and they exclaimed in unison. This was completely different from what they had expected! They had originally thought that Tang Youyou would give up part of her property under pressure, but they had never expected that she would actually want to redistribute all the property!

"What? Second Uncle, Fourth Aunt, do you have any objection to my proposal?" Tang Youyou looked at them with a half-smile, a cold gleam in his eyes.

Mr. Tang Er and Aunt Tang Si looked at each other, both feeling a little flustered, but unwilling to give up. After exchanging glances, Mr. Tang Er said with a stiff upper lip, "Youyou, isn't it too..."

Before he could finish, Tang Youyou interrupted him and said in a cold tone: "Why? Second Uncle thinks that I am not qualified..."

"Second Uncle, do you think I'm not qualified to be in charge of family affairs?" Tang Youyou's tone was cold, with unquestionable majesty. "Don't forget, I'm the eldest grandson of the Tang family. After my parents passed away, the family affairs should have been taken over by me. Over the years, I've always been thinking about family ties and didn't want to do anything extreme. But what about you? What have you done in secret?!"

Master Tang was intimidated by Tang Youyou's aura and was speechless for a moment, stammering and unable to speak. Seeing this, Aunt Tang rolled her eyes and said sharply, "Youyou, how can you say that about your uncle? He is also doing this for the good of the family. He is worried that you are young and lack experience..."

"Enough!" Uncle Tang, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke up, a hint of disappointment in his cloudy eyes. "It's already this hour, and you're still arguing here! I agree with Youyou's proposal. Her contributions to the family over the years are obvious to all. I believe she will handle family affairs well."

Uncle Tang San was quite prestigious in the family. As soon as he spoke, other members of the family nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Uncle Tang Er and Aunt Tang Si knew that they could not say anything more today, so they could only frown and remain silent.

The meeting ended unpleasantly. Tang Youyou knew in her heart that this was just the calm before the storm. She returned to her courtyard, and Butler Li had been waiting for a long time.

"Madam, the Second Master and Fourth Aunt..." Butler Li looked worried.

"They won't give up." Tang Youyou took the tea handed to her by the maid and took a sip. "I guess they will make new moves soon."

"Then what should we do?" asked Butler Li.

"When the enemy comes, we will fight them; when the water comes, we will block it with earth." Tang Youyou put down the teacup, a gleam in his eyes, "Go and help me find out who Second Uncle and the others have been close to recently. I want to see what they are trying to do!"

Late at night, in the dead of night, several dark shadows gathered stealthily in the woods near the Tang Family Ancestral Hall. They were none other than Mr. Tang Er, Aunt Tang Si, and others.

"Brother, do we really have to do what you say? That requires..." Aunt Tang said hesitantly.

"What are you afraid of?!" Master Tang said viciously, "Do you want to watch that little girl Tang Youyou swallow up all the family property?!"

"But……"

"It's nothing!" Mr. Tang Er interrupted Aunt Tang Si's words, "I have already contacted a few ruffians, as long as we..." His voice became lower and lower, and finally disappeared in the night wind.

Tang Youyou stood in front of the window, looking at the dark night sky in the distance. An uneasy premonition surged in her heart. A bigger storm was about to come... She turned to look at the shadows behind her and whispered, "Come out, did you hear everything?"