The Leisurely Life of a Peasant Woman in the Tang Dynasty

The family meeting was scheduled for three days later. These three days felt incredibly long to Tang Youyou. She knew that this wasn't just a fight within the family, but also a battle between good and evil.

She locked herself in her study, repeatedly scrutinizing all the clues and evidence, striving to make sure there were no leaks. The three children, Tang Wan, Tang Jin, and Tang Xiaoya, also became uncharacteristically quiet, vaguely sensing that a storm was about to break out.

Butler Li loyally stood outside the study, bringing tea and snacks to Tang Youyou, occasionally glancing at the closed door with worry. He knew that Tang Youyou was facing an unprecedented challenge, but he believed that this tenacious woman would be able to overcome everything.

Three days later, at the Tang Family Ancestral Hall.

The Tang family gathered together, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive. Second Master Tang, still maintaining his righteous demeanor, sat next to Third Uncle Tang, a subtle smugness playing on his lips. Fourth Aunt Tang, like a peacock, was decked out in all her finery, casting provocative glances at those around her.

Uncle Tang San sat in the main seat, his brow furrowed, and he said nothing. He looked at the tense crowd before him, feeling a mixture of emotions.

"Third brother, I think this matter is settled." Mr. Tang Er was the first to break the silence. He cleared his throat, his tone filled with unquestionable majesty, "Youyou is just a woman, how can she understand the ins and outs of the family business? I think it would be better to hand over all the shops and lands she owns to me to manage, so that she won't have to worry about it."

"Yes, yes, Second Brother is right." Aunt Tang Si immediately agreed, "Youyou, just listen to your Second Uncle. He's doing this for your own good, so don't be ungrateful!"

Tang Youyou looked at the double act in front of her coldly, and sneered in her heart. It was time, she would tear off the hypocritical masks of these two people and let the truth come to light!

She slowly stood up, her eyes sweeping across the crowd, finally stopping at Third Uncle Tang: "Third Uncle, I have something to say."

The ancestral hall was completely silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on Tang Youyou. Her face was calm, but her eyes gleamed with determination.

"I know that my second uncle has always coveted the business I have, but he may not know that the reason why I can make my business prosperous is not because of luck, but because of my strength." Tang Youyou's tone was steady, but it revealed an unquestionable power.

She waved to the crowd and said, "Uncle Wang, please come out for a moment and tell everyone what I asked you to pay attention to."

A middle-aged man walked out of the crowd somewhat awkwardly. He looked at Tang Youyou, then at Second Master Tang, and stammered, "I... I saw Second Master meeting a mysterious man a few days ago. They... they..."

"What happened to them? Tell me!" Tang Youyou asked harshly, with a hint of oppression in her tone.

Uncle Wang was startled and said quickly, "They said... they wanted to put all the losses of the shop on the young lady, and they also said... and they also said..."

"What else did you say?!" Aunt Tang asked sharply, but a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.

Uncle Wang looked at Fourth Aunt Tang, took a deep breath, and said, "He also said that once the young lady is kicked out of the Tang family, he will take over her shop and land. Then...then the fourth lady will also be able to have a share!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Aunt Tang's face changed drastically, and she pointed at Uncle Wang and shouted.

Tang Youyou ignored Fourth Aunt Tang's sophistry, but took out a letter from her sleeve and showed it to everyone: "This letter is evidence of Second Uncle's contact with that mysterious man. Their plan is clearly written on it. If you don't believe it, Third Uncle can send someone to check the handwriting!"

Uncle Tang's face turned pale as he snatched the letter away and read it carefully. Every word in the letter was like a sharp knife, piercing his eyes. He had never imagined that his brother, whom he had always trusted, would do such a despicable thing!

Tang Youyou didn't stop, she continued: "Over the past few months, Second Uncle has taken advantage of his position to secretly transfer goods from the shop, falsify accounts, and even collude with outsiders to deliberately create accidents. His goal is to make my business plummet so that he can take the opportunity to drive me out of the Tang family and seize my property!"

Every time she spoke, Master Tang and Aunt Tang's expressions grew uglier. They had originally thought their plan was flawless, but they hadn't expected that everything was under Tang Youyou's control!

Tang Youyou laid out all the evidence in front of everyone, completely exposing the conspiracy of Master Tang Er and Aunt Tang Si, causing an uproar in the ancestral hall. Everyone looked at Master Tang Er and Aunt Tang Si with eyes filled with contempt and anger.

"You...you are slandering me!" Mr. Tang's face turned pale. He pointed at Tang Youyou, but was unable to refute.

Tang Youyou sneered and looked at Third Uncle Tang who had remained silent the entire time: "Third Uncle, the facts are right in front of us. How long are you going to cover up for them?!"

Uncle Tang San looked at the letter in his hand, then at his niece-in-law, who appeared gentle on the outside but strong on the inside, with mixed feelings. He took a deep breath and spoke slowly, his voice filled with suppressed anger...

The letter in Third Uncle Tang's hand was crushed to the point of being deformed. He suddenly looked up, staring at Second Uncle Tang with a piercing gaze, disappointment and anger intertwined on his face. "Second Uncle, I always thought you were just confused for a moment, blinded by profit. I never thought you could be so cruel and do such a shameful thing!"

Mr. Tang was panicked. He was speechless and wanted to defend himself, but he found that he had no words to say. The evidence was overwhelming, and his deeds had long been exposed. At this moment, any sophistry seemed pale and powerless.

"Uncle San, I'm also responsible for what happened to Uncle Er." Tang Dayuan stood up. He sighed, his face filled with pain. "Ever since marrying into the Tang family, Youyou has been frugal and dedicated to family affairs. But Uncle Er and Aunt Si have always been prejudiced against her. Not only do they make things difficult for her, they've also repeatedly spread rumors to ruin her reputation. To maintain family harmony, Youyou has silently endured it and even secretly investigated the matter, just to prevent it from becoming a big deal and bringing shame to the family!"

Tang Dayuan's words made everyone present admire Tang Youyou even more. There was a bit more respect and sympathy in everyone's eyes when they looked at her.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Fourth Aunt Tang immediately jumped out to defend herself: "Brother Dayuan, you can't say such nonsense! When have I ever ruined Youyou's reputation? I just... I was just kindly reminding Second Brother to be wary of outsiders..."

"That's enough!" Uncle Tang shouted angrily, interrupting Aunt Tang Si's words. "At this point, you still want to quibble! Do you really think everyone is stupid when you gossip about other people every day?!"

Aunt Tang Si was frightened by Uncle Tang San's anger. She shrank back and dared not speak anymore. She could only lower her head guiltily, but her eyes were full of resentment and unwillingness.

Inside the ancestral hall, you could hear a pin drop. Tang Youyou watched the scene before her, feeling a mixture of emotions. She knew that today's turmoil had only subsided temporarily, and the conflict within the family had not been truly resolved.

She took a deep breath, slowly walked up to Third Uncle Tang, and said calmly, "Third Uncle, I know you are always fair and strict. I believe you will give everyone an explanation."

Uncle Tang looked at the resilient woman before him, feeling a surge of emotion. He nodded and said in a deep voice, "Youyou, don't worry. I will definitely give everyone an explanation."

His gaze slowly swept over everyone in the ancestral hall, finally stopping on Master Tang Er. He spoke meaningfully, "Second Brother, follow me." Master Tang Er's face paled as he feebly followed Uncle Tang San into the inner hall. The atmosphere within the ancestral hall was momentarily stagnant. Everyone looked at Tang Youyou with mixed emotions: admiration, sympathy, and a subtle hint of anticipation.

Tang Dayuan broke the silence. He walked up to Tang Youyou and said sincerely, "Youyou, you've done a great service to our family this time! If it weren't for you, we at the Tang family wouldn't know how long we would have been kept in the dark!"

The others echoed the sentiment. Tang Youyou responded with a smile, but her heart remained calm. She knew that this "victory" was only temporary. The issue of the distribution of the family fortune hung like a sword over everyone's heads, ready to stir up trouble again at any moment.

Sure enough, an uncle tentatively spoke: "Youyou, you see, the Second Master has made a mistake. From now on, family affairs..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by another elder: "Yes, Youyou, you have always been smart and knowledgeable. What are your thoughts on the distribution of the family property?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes were focused on Tang Youyou. Various thoughts intertwined, forming an invisible pressure that attacked her. Tang Youyou's expression remained unchanged. She looked around, her eyes calm and firm, and her tone was neither hurried nor slow: "Dear uncles and elders, I know that you are all concerned about the future of our family."

She paused, her eyes sweeping across the crowd before finally landing on the plaque reading "Tang Family Ancestral Hall" hanging directly above the ancestral hall. She spoke slowly, "However, the distribution of this property is a family affair and should not be taken lightly..."