Crossing Over to Yamada Love

"But we're still short ten taels. What are we going to do with those ten taels?" Cui didn't ask about Mo Lan and Xiao San'er's future, but was concerned about what to do with the remaining ten taels of silver.

"Don't you still have some silver hidden away? Take it out and give it to me first." Mo Changsheng looked up at Cui's dowry chest.

"What! That's my dowry, the money my mother gave me to keep at the bottom of my trunk. You can't touch that money!" As soon as Cui heard that her dowry was to be touched, she immediately objected, her eyes widening as if there was no room for negotiation.

"What are you shouting for! Call the eldest son's family here. You'll have to pay all the money. If they don't agree to let those two brats pay off the debt, are you going to send Zhu and Ju'er?" Madam Feng glared at her daughter-in-law and threatened her fiercely.

“Zhu and Ju’er are my darlings, how can I let them go? And you, husband, since you’ve already pawned that girl and Xiao San’er, why not pawn another one? Pawn Erlang or Mo Mei too, then we won’t have to pay any more money. My mother only gave me twenty taels of silver as a dowry, and now ten taels are gone. How are we going to live?” Cui Shi grumbled in dissatisfaction.

………………

Mo Lan couldn't bear to listen to what they were saying anymore. She was so angry she felt like her lungs were about to explode. No matter how much they argued, she had never thought about how the second wife would treat them. At most, they would just separate and live their own lives. After all, they were family.

But now, Mo Lan wants to kill them with a knife, sell her and her mistress, and send her, a young girl, to a terrible place when she grows up, while making her mistress a prostitute. How could they do this! How could they be so heartless! So cruel and ruthless, are they still a family?!

She clenched her teeth, suppressing her anger. No matter what, she couldn't make a scene now. If she did, firstly, they might deny it, and secondly, they might cry and beg, softening the hearts of her own family members, leading them to forgive them and spend money and effort on them. She had to make sure her own people remembered the pain, so they wouldn't be so lenient towards the second branch of the family in the future!

She took a few deep breaths to calm her anger, then crouched down and left the second room. Actually, her legs were numb from squatting, but she was so filled with hatred and rage that she didn't pay attention to how they felt.

She entered the main room with a numb expression and saw Liu standing there reporting the events in the town to Wang. Mo Lan looked at Wang and Xiao San'er on the kang (a heated brick bed), forced a smile, called out "Grandma," and went up to the kang to hug Xiao San'er.

She hugged him very tightly, and the little boy frowned slightly, but he looked at his older sister knowingly and did not resist.

Mo Lan was secretly relieved that she had overheard the second wife's conversation. Otherwise, if she and the mistress had really been tricked out by Mo Changsheng tomorrow, what would have awaited them? She couldn't even imagine…

After listening to Liu's story, Wang gave her an approving look and said, "You are all good. It is only right to share the money with your in-laws. Lan'er did the right thing. This time, the money from the sale was quite a lot. If we can save it, life will be much better in the future."

"Mother is right. But should we tell Second Aunt how much money we made this time?" Liu asked her mother-in-law with a smile.

"Auntie, don't say anything yet," Mo Lan spoke up before Wang Shi could.

"Does Xiao San'er miss her sister?" After saying that, she ignored the questioning looks from her grandmother and aunt. Instead, she asked Xiao San'er.

"I miss you, I miss you so much." The little one nodded very seriously, speaking in a childlike voice.

"Your sister and aunt bought some malt candy and sugar balls for Xiao San'er. Let your aunt take you to get them, and then you and your aunt can deliver them to your uncle and spend some time with him, okay?" Mo Lan coaxed him. She needed to discuss this with Wang Shi alone and had to get the little guy away.

“Okay, Xiao San’er will take it to Uncle, and then eat with Sister.” Xiao San’er nodded her little head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Mo Lan.

“Sister has been out for most of the day and hasn’t gone to learn to read with Uncle. Uncle must be feeling down without anyone to keep him company. Little San’er, go keep Uncle company for me and let me rest for a while, okay?” Mo Lan said lovingly, touching Little San’er’s face.

"Alright, alright, sister, you rest. Little San'er will go keep Uncle company in your place." He obediently finished speaking, got up, kissed Mo Lan on the cheek, and then followed Liu Shi out with a blush on his face.

"What is it? You need to get your aunt and Xiao San'er out of here." After the two left, Madam Wang asked Mo Lan with a smile, knowing that her granddaughter had something to say to her.

Mo Lan's face darkened, and she recounted what she had overheard in the second room.

With a snap, before she could finish speaking, Wang threw the shoe sole she was holding onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

"These damned bastards, why don't they just strike them with lightning?" Wang cursed angrily, stood up from the kang (a heated brick bed), and wanted to get down and confront the second wife's family.

She sat up halfway, then slowly sat back down. Her face was terribly gloomy, but the rage from before was gone.

"What do you think, Lan'er? What are your thoughts?" She sat up straight and asked Mo Lan, her voice already calm.

“I agree with Grandma’s opinion. We can’t make a scene now. After all, Grandpa and Second Grandpa are brothers. Only if something happens tomorrow and Grandpa is completely heartbroken can this family be truly separated. After the family is separated, they will come after us again. I don’t think Grandpa will be soft-hearted.”

Mo Lan had calmed down by now. She told Wang Shi her thoughts: to resolve the matter, impulsiveness was useless; she had to remain calm.

"Yes, you're right. Let's not make a fuss about this for now. Tomorrow, we'll find a way to keep your grandfather and the others at home. Then we'll make a big scene, the bigger the better. Let's see what excuse they have for not dividing this family!" Wang's words were cold and frightening, devoid of any warmth.

"Grandma, how about I pretend to be sick tomorrow? I'll say I have a headache and feel unwell. That way, we can leave Grandpa and the others here. When they don't find us at the village entrance, they'll definitely come looking for us. Then they won't be able to deny it even if they want to." Mo Lan thought for a moment and suggested pretending to be sick.

“If anyone’s going to pretend to be sick, it has to be Grandma. That way, you can all come and serve me. Keep an eye on Changsheng and make sure he doesn’t go out and meet those people. When they come knocking on our door…” Wang didn’t finish her sentence, but judging from her gloomy expression, Mo Lan knew what she meant.

She frowned and asked worriedly, "My third uncle signed a mortgage agreement, but I don't know if it's valid?"

"Your grandfather, your parents, and I aren't dead yet, so it's his turn! If he really wants to use the child to pay off the debt, let his son Zhu and Ju'er go. I want to see if his heart has really been eaten by dogs, that he'd be willing to send the child to the fire." Wang was clearly furious. Her voice was chilling, and her expression was frightening.

However, Mo Lan was not afraid. The two discussed a few more details. Just as she was about to mention that the Xue family wanted to build a villa, she heard voices outside. It turned out that Mo Quan and the others had returned from the fields.

The second branch of the family seemed to have finished their discussions as well, and soon a large group of people filled the main house. Mo Lan observed the expressions of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law from the second branch, noticing no significant change in their expressions; their faces still wore that forced, insincere smile. She gritted her teeth inwardly, thinking, "You'll be crying tomorrow!"

Dinner was served on the kang table. Today, Madam Feng and Madam Cui didn't complain too much, though they said a few sarcastic things. They probably had something to hide and didn't dare to nitpick too much. The meal was finished as everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts.

In the middle of the night, Wang Shi began to groan softly that her chest hurt. Mo Quan was so frightened that he wanted to fetch a doctor for her in the dark, but Wang Shi and Mo Lan stopped him so as not to disturb anyone. Even so, as soon as it was dawn, the main house was already crowded with people, and even Mo Changhai came to visit his mother.

"Old woman, what's wrong with you? No, you can't be hurt! He, go and fetch your Uncle Chen right now!" Seeing Wang's distressed state, Mo Quan couldn't hold back any longer and instructed Mo Changhe to fetch Doctor Chen.

"No, husband, I'm fine, I just need a rest. The Chen brothers haven't even gotten up yet, how can we bother them? I'll be fine in a bit. You, you and Changhe, let the two wives get you some food and go to the fields later." Wang Shi stubbornly stopped Mo Changhe from going to fetch the doctor, and persuaded Mo Quan to go to the fields.

"Why go to the fields? It doesn't matter if you go a day less. Nothing is more important than you. Just rest well and don't worry about anything. I'll have Changhe go and ask Uncle Chen to come and take a look at you later." Mo Quan's face was gloomy, but his eyes were full of affection for Wang Shi and concern for her health.

On the morning of the first day, everyone from the main house surrounded Wang Shi, showing concern and care. Doctor Chen also came and explained that Wang Shi was suffering from symptoms of internal heat, such as qi stagnation, fever, and emotional distress. He advised her to rest quietly for a while and that as long as she avoided extreme joy or sorrow, she should be fine.

Mo Lan was taken aback by the doctor's words. Wasn't her grandmother faking illness? How could it be that, according to the doctor, her grandmother's health was truly not good?

"Yes!" Mo Lan pondered for a moment and understood. Some time ago, Madam Wang realized that her granddaughter's soul had been replaced. Although she accepted her, her granddaughter was gone after all, and how could she not be heartbroken? She just couldn't express it. Yesterday, she heard that the second branch of the family wanted to sell her and her mistress. Even she was furious; how much more so would her grandmother be? Those people had lived with her for decades. She must be even more heartbroken.

Mo Lan looked at Wang Shi with some guilt in her eyes. Her grandmother's poor health was partly due to her.

"Changhai's health has improved quite a bit. What medicine has he been taking lately?" Doctor Chen took Mo Changhai's pulse again, somewhat surprised by his improved condition.

"It was that girl Lanlan. She asked about a folk remedy in town, saying to boil goose eggs with dandelion. She also told Changhai he had to eat something in the morning, like millet porridge and lean meat to nourish his body. And surprisingly, Changhai seems to be getting better." Mo Quan was somewhat relieved to hear that Wang Shi's health wasn't too bad. He then spoke to Doctor Chen about his eldest son's condition.