Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 538: Aunt Zhang’s house

All credit to original author: Yi Yi Lan Xi

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“Who is it?” Madam Zhao’s loud voice carried over the high courtyard wall.
As soon as her words fell, the door opened with a squeak.

“It’s me, sister-in-law!” Lian Fang Zhou called.
Before she could say the word ‘congratulations’, Madam Zhao was already shouting in surprise and throwing the gate open.

Holding her by the arm, she smiled and said loudly: “Fang Zhou, you’re here! When did you get home? Mother! Mother! Fang Zhou is back! Oh, we missed you so much! Come, come, come! Sit down! Mother has been talking about you every day.
It’s such a pity you weren’t home when we moved into our new house.”

Looking at the things in Fang Zhou’s arms, she added: “We’re already so blessed to have you visit, what are you doing bringing so many things? We’ve already benefited a lot from you! If you continue to do this, we’ll be ashamed…” As she said this, Madam Zhao’s smile was a little embarrassed.

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Lian Fang Zhou’s heart was warm.
Laughing, she quickly said: “It’s rare to visit Nanchang city so I brought some special products for food and entertainment, they aren’t worth anything!”

While they talked, Aunt Zhang and Uncle Li came out of the inner room.
Seeing Lian Fang Zhou smiling, Aunt Zhang looked her up and down and smiled.
“You’re a little thinner but you’re still in good spirits, good! Come in and sit down!”

Lian Fang Zhou smiled and followed her inside.
As soon as Madam Zhao had opened the gate, she couldn’t help but remember the first time she had come to see Aunt Zhang after arriving in this world.

Back then, it was also Madam Zhao who answered the door and she remembered the look of contempt and alienation in Madam Zhao’s attitude.

Comparing it to today, it was like night and day.
Life really was unpredictable.

However, Lian Fang Zhou didn’t hold a grudge against Madam Zhao at all.

Her reaction back then was actually very normal.

When the Lian family was kind to the Li family, Madam Zhao hadn’t entered the door yet.
She only saw her mother-in-law and father-in-law helping the Lian siblings for nothing.
How could she feel the kindness of the Lian family? And the Li family was not a wealthy family, could they afford to give out help for free over and over again?

So it was perfectly normal for Madam Zhao to dislike the Lian siblings at that time.

But even though she was unhappy about it, she didn’t do anything to harm them behind their backs.
She didn’t even spread malicious gossip.

She was just dissatisfied.

Later, when Lian Fang Zhou was able to return the Li family’s kindness and helped Li San He over and over, even giving management of the oil mill to him, Madam Zhao was full of gratitude.
Her change in attitude to Lian Fang Zhou was also normal.

Lian Fang Zhou didn’t think that there was anything wrong with this.

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Wasn’t this true for most people in the world? If you treated others well, they will treat you well.
If you only take without giving back, who could bear it after a long time?

To Aunt Zhang and the others, Nanchang was as far away as the sky.
As a well-known trading city, they were full of questions.

Lian Fang Zhou smiled and answered questions one by one, unwrapping her gifts and handing them out.
All of them were famous local candies, make-up products, silk flowers, embroidery threads, and other items.
There were also two unique silver hairpins, which Madam Zhao and Aunt Zhang liked very much when they saw them.
Everyone was full of praise, saying that the big city was really different.
These things were much finer and more delicate than what you could get here.

After exchanging gossip for hours, before they knew it, the sky was darkening.
Lian Fang Zhou got up with a smile and said goodbye.

“It’s getting late, I should go back!”

Aunt Zhang knew that she had just returned today and her family would have a big reunion dinner tonight, so she didn’t coax her to stay and eat.
Sending her out of the yard with a smile, she said: “You will be home for a while? I know you will be busy these next few days, since you just came back.
Don’t forget to come to my house for a meal soon! Bring Third Aunt and the others too! Don’t be too polite with us, otherwise we will think you dislike us!”

“Look at what you’re saying!” Lian Fang Zhou laughed.
“Okay, we will come over soon!”

“Good!” Aunt Zhang waved and watched her go.

As she walked home, Lian Fang Zhou glanced around idly.
Not far from Aunt Zhang’s house, she inadvertently raised her head and saw a person approaching her from an intersection.
Startled, her eyes went wide as she realized who it was.

The person was none other than Madam Qiao.

No wonder Third Aunt had sighed over Madam Qiao’s situation with unbearable sympathy.
Lian Fang Zhou hadn’t seen her for just a month and her aunt was visibly older and more grey.

It seemed the previous appearance of flaunting one’s power and overwhelming smugness would never been seen again.

No to mention Third Aunt, even Lian Fang Zhou, who hated Madam Qiao, couldn’t help but feel a stab of sympathy when she saw her like this.

 Seeing her, Madam Qiao’s eyes seemed to light up and the speed of her steps increased, as if she was running towards her.

Lian Fang Zhou froze.
She didn’t care about anything else at the moment, she just ran straight home, leaving Madam Qiao far behind.

Madam Qiao chased her for two steps before she stopped, stunned.
Lowering her head sullenly, she walked away, dejected.

When Lian Fang Zhou arrived home, Bi Tao opened the door and immediately said: “Miss, you don’t know but that Madam Qiao is well informed! She just came to knock on the door and said she wanted to see you! This servant did not give her a good face, I just said that you weren’t home and closed the door.
Ha, that concubine in her family is very powerful and she’s been beaten badly.
This servant thinks she came to ask Miss to support her.
Isn’t everything thanks to her running over here before? She deserves it! It’s better to act like a human being and not do things badly.
Doesn’t that make sense?”

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Lian Fang Zhou couldn’t help but laugh and tap the girl’s forehead lightly.
Smiling, she said: “You have a quick mouth, little girl! You’ve said a lot but it does make sense.”

Bi Tao was happy to be praised and smiled.
“Miss, you can rest assured that I know what to do! If she dares to come again, I won’t let her in!”

“Naturally.” Lian Fang Zhou nodded lightly.
“Our family won’t interfere with people talking outside about her.
Don’t interrupt them but don’t add anything.
Her family’s affairs have nothing to do with ours!”

Bi Tao quickly agreed but she was glancing at Lian Fang Zhou as if she had something to ask but didn’t dare.
After a moment, though, she seemed to make up her mind.
She was a curious person and Lian Fang Zhou had always been easy going.

“Miss, this servant wanted to ask… uh, but if this servant is mistaken, please don’t be angry!”