The fake daughter married into the mountains and had meat to eat every day during the famine

Looking at Yao's gloating expression, Old Lady Zhu pointed at her and said bitterly, "Yao, don't you want to serve me so much that you colluded with this girl to murder me? A needle this long, it's going to kill me, right? I was so kind to you before, and you guys are just wishing me dead."

Yao pretended to be aggrieved.

"Mother, you've misunderstood me. Miss Song was invited by the master. I've only heard of her superb medical skills before, and this is the first time I've seen her in person. How can you accuse me of colluding with her?"

Master Zhu also said, "Yes, mother, it was I who invited Miss Song."

Old Madam Zhu refused to do so and shrank back into bed again.

"I don't want acupuncture!"

Master Zhu patiently advised, "Mother, if you are sick, we must actively seek treatment, otherwise the longer you delay, the worse it will get."

After hesitating for a long time, Mrs. Zhu had to say something in a low voice.

"I'm not sick!"

Zhu Deming raised his eyebrows.

"No illness?"

Madam Zhu nodded and said with lowered eyes, "I've been in Anyang County for half a month, and you've been busy at the government office all day. Yao's wife is going shopping today, and tomorrow she's going to play mahjong with that wife. You've been so busy that you don't have much time to be home, and my grandson has gone to the academy to study."

The more she spoke, the quieter her voice became.

"I'm unfamiliar with the place, so I can only sit at home and wait for you to come back. Only then will someone talk to me. I just want to be surrounded by people."

The people in the room were silent for a long time, and Yao spoke first, breaking the silence.

"Mother, why shouldn't you have said this earlier? If you want to be around people, why would you need to pretend to be sick? Do you think your daughter-in-law is a woman who doesn't respect her elders? Do you think your mother-in-law has to pretend to be sick before she will stay by your bedside to show her filial piety?"

Old Madam Zhu glanced at her.

"I see you have fun every day."

Yao sat down beside Madam Zhu's bed, took her hand and said, "My dear, do you think going out to play doesn't require any energy? The master is busy with official business in the government office, and I have to manage this household for him. Besides the affairs in our courtyard, we also have to interact with the ladies outside, and these relationships are not easy to maintain."

Old Madam Zhu looked awkward.

"I know, but you've been playing too wildly lately. You're almost throwing yourself on the card table."

Yao gathered the hair around her ears a little embarrassedly and chuckled.

"I've really been addicted to mahjong lately, and I've lost track of time. It's my fault, and I apologize to Mother." Yao continued to hold Madam Zhu's hand and said, "Tomorrow I'll make an appointment with the ladies of the other families and take Mother out for a walk. These days, who doesn't have an elderly lady? Mother will be living with us in the future, so naturally she'll need some old sisters to talk to."

Mrs. Zhu's thoughts moved, but she quickly said with embarrassment, "But I'm not familiar with them, I'm afraid they will dislike me."

Yao said hurriedly, "When I followed the master to Anyang County, wasn't I unfamiliar with the place too? We became familiar with the place as we chatted. Besides, the master is the father and mother of Anyang County. They are eager to please you. If anyone dares to offend you, just tell your daughter-in-law and I will skin her alive!"

Looking at her daughter-in-law's fierce look, Mrs. Zhu burst out laughing.

"You're such a vicious person. I don't know what De Ming saw in you back then."

"You think I'm thick-skinned." Yao smiled and stood up and bowed to Madam Zhu. "Since you're fine, you'd better get up and move around. Since Miss Song is visiting the mansion for the first time, I have to entertain her on behalf of the master. I won't say more to you. I'll come to pick you up tomorrow."

Old Madam Zhu nodded and turned to look at Song Yuntang.

"Miss Song, I didn't mean to target you just now. I hope you won't blame me."

Song Yuntang nodded slightly.

"I was also rude just now. I hope Madam Zhu will forgive me."

Yao felt that the girl in front of her was flexible and liked her very much, so she quickly gave instructions to her personal maid.

"Baosheng, come and carry Miss Song's medicine box." He then took Song Yuntang's arm and said with a smile, "My hands are itching to play mahjong today, Miss Song, can you play mahjong with me?"

Song Yuntang followed her and said in embarrassment, "To be honest with you, Madam Zhu, I don't know how to play mahjong."

The original owner didn't seem to have any information about Ma Diao in his memory. I wonder if it has become popular in recent years.

Yao smiled at her and said, "It's very simple. I learned it in half a day. You are so smart, you will definitely learn it in no time."

After watching the two people walk away, Mrs. Zhu looked at Zhu Deming.

"Look at your wife, she's already in her early thirties, and she's becoming more and more out of touch."

"She's been taking care of the backyard for me for so long, it's rare for her to find something interesting to do. If she likes to play, let her do it. It's harmless after all." Zhu Deming looked at his mother. "It was my son's negligence and lack of consideration that caused you to suffer so much. From now on, I will try my best to finish my work at the government office as quickly as possible and come back to spend more time with you."

Old Madam Zhu sighed.

"The affairs of the government office cannot be neglected. You must not let me delay the important work. This time, I was too impatient and resorted to such a bad idea. I will not act so recklessly in the future."

Since his mother was not sick, Zhu Deming didn't care much about her pretending to be sick.

"Mom, get up from the bed. I'm free now. I'll walk with you in the yard."

"Hey, good."

Mother Zhu said this and quickly got out of bed.

……

Song Yuntang was pulled by Yao to her yard.

There are many flowers and plants in the Yao family's yard. The pot of pepper seedlings on the windowsill with branches full of fiery red peppers is particularly eye-catching.

When Song Yuntang came in, his eyes were fixed on the pepper seedlings, and Yao asked curiously.

"What on earth did Miss Song and Master ask me for chili seedlings for?"

Song Yuntang smiled lightly, "Of course it's for eating."

"Eat?" Yao looked at her in surprise. "This thing is spicy. How can it be delicious?"

Song Yuntang pretended to be mysterious, "Would Madam be willing to give me some later? I'll make some delicious food and send some over to Madam."

Yao nonchalantly pulled Song Yuntang to sit at the stone table under the pavilion.

"I have a branch full of chili peppers, so it's no big deal if I give you a few." He turned and smiled at her, "But before that, you have to play a few rounds of mahjong with me."

Song Yuntang smiled.

"No wonder Madam Zhu blamed Madam for spending so much time at the poker table."

I originally thought that the county magistrate's wife would be a conservative middle-aged woman, but I didn't expect her to be such an open-minded and interesting older sister.

Xu Qingye was reading at home. She had nothing else to do, so it was okay for her to play for a while.

While asking Baosheng to fetch the mahjong cards she had placed on the dressing table, Yao said, "Let her blame me if she wants. I'm not going to lose a piece of meat. You can't be too serious about life, or you'll just be making things difficult for yourself. Life is short, so why make it difficult for yourself, don't you think?"