Fall in love with your enemy

Continuing from the last time, Cheng Cheng couldn't answer my question, so he leaned over and pretended to pick out styles, pinned a brooch on his suit, then stood up and smiled silently.

"Speaking of this, I'm really angry. You just met him once and he already acted like his brother-in-law to me. He has a good relationship with a small family in private. That small family is similar to us. He wanted me to do him a favor and make concessions. He tried hard to persuade me to give him a project. What could I do? I just went..."

I knew at a glance that he was lying, and that he had probably gotten into trouble. But the child is grown up now, and he has to save face. So it’s fine if he doesn’t want to tell me. As long as Gao Xinci and Xiangyang Lulu didn’t ask anyone to tell me, it’s not a big problem, and he can handle it himself.

So he pretended to sigh and said, "If there are really suitable merchants, it would not be a problem to recruit them. Although you have transferred many industries to Yudu, we are still relatively prosperous in Linjiang. I know you want to be strong, but don't be too overbearing. If you force your subordinates to have no way to survive, they will sooner or later unite and rebel against you. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. You understand this principle. If you refuse to share a piece of the pie, the government will always have eyes on you. If you make the slightest mistake, you will be finished..."

"I understand, sis—" Cheng Cheng said in a perfunctory tone.

I always feel uneasy, but I know that Chengcheng doesn't want me to control him. If you ask me, he is really like my second uncle. Wasn't my second uncle obedient on the surface but actually wanted to be the boss of Lao Fu? He even taught Lao Fu a lesson, but Lao Fu didn't let him.

After thinking it over, she pulled him over and held his hand while adding, "Don't provoke Gao Xinci. Let him go. Even if it's not for the benefit of the merchants below, the Gao family is a big family and has a say in Yudu. He's almost biting people when he gets angry. If he blocks your way, it will be a big problem. Do you want to sell your sister to him?"

Cheng Cheng was originally cheerful, but when she heard the last sentence, she hugged me tightly and shook her head frantically: "No! Doesn't he have a sister himself? Why is he trying to steal my sister every day!"

I pondered for a moment: "It seems that he really doesn't have a sister."

Cheng Cheng choked and before she could react, footsteps were heard at the door. Lan Lan pushed the door open and came in with a fragrant smell. She held the old wooden box in her left hand and several bags of snacks in her right hand. She opened them and showed them to me: "Sister, do you want to eat roasted sweet potatoes?"

Chengzi: "Here comes another one to steal my sister."

I smiled, patted him lightly, raised my chin and asked Lanlan, "Have you divided up the market stalls? I haven't heard of any quarrels between Aunt Zhang and Uncle Wang this year. Are they not fighting over the entrance to the archway?"

Lan Lan picked up a piece of egg fried rice with chopsticks, blew on it, swallowed it and nodded, "Of course, it's just a small matter. If they can't handle it, then Qi Cheng and Li Yuanye are useless. They don't care about the fight below. They quarreled just to get their stall closer to their yard. After all, doesn't our family require that the carts must be pushed back at night and can't block the road to the square? One of the two families sells roasted sweet potatoes and the other sells lamb skewers. The stalls are very heavy and neither of them will give in. My mediation was ineffective, so I decisively chose to move Aunt Zhang to a larger yard closer to our home."

"They asked about the position, and you changed their house? And you changed it to a bigger one?" Cheng Cheng laughed.

Lan Lan nodded proudly: "Yeah! So what? There are so many empty houses in the Southeast Courtyard with no one living in them anyway. They're just sitting there doing nothing anyway."

Cheng Cheng pondered for a moment: "The Feng Shui treasure land in the Southeast Courtyard is for the main residents and special nursing homes, right? Good fellow, Aunt Zhang is very happy that she can quarrel and get an opportunity, right? But it's too unfair, why don't you change it for Uncle Wang?"

Lan Lan was immediately "filled with righteous indignation" and she even chewed her rice with more strength: "What fairness? That Uncle Wang is so narrow-minded! If they want to quarrel, they quarrel. When he was unreasonable, he pushed Aunt Zhang! He is a grown man and a junior, so what's wrong with giving in to others? I just don't like him, and it's good enough that I didn't kick him out. In comparison, Aunt Zhang is very reasonable! And her roasted sweet potatoes are especially delicious. I wanted to eat some before but she didn't have any stall, so I was very unhappy. When she knew about it, she invited me to her house and roasted them especially for me." Lan Lan said, shaking the sweet potatoes in her hand.

"Foodie——" Cheng Cheng commented, but didn't take it seriously.

Lan Lan was full when she remembered the things in her hand. She brought them to me and placed them in front of me. "I have prepared what you asked for, sister. As for that matter, I have also reported it to the ancestral hall. I can go anytime. The people are in our own room. I guarantee that there will be no noise before we do it. I have also arranged for Sui Jiyun to go in. It is not to be said that she is really suitable for the ancestral hall. She is worthy of being the head of the family. She can recite the family rules by heart."

"What's going on? What happened?" Cheng Cheng was very confused and picked up the box: "What is this? What did you hide from me?"

I took the box, opened it, and took out the things inside. Lanlan immediately grabbed the sweet potato and covered her eyes with it, making a "hiss" sound and saying "don't blame me". Chengcheng then became bolder and not only dared to take it but also dared to read it.

"The spirit tablet of the late second wife, Kou Qiaolan... Kou Qiaolan? Who is this? Is there any elder who has recently passed away in the family? I haven't heard of it." Cheng Cheng was confused.

I smiled bitterly, took the tablet and wiped it carefully, and said in a low voice unconsciously: "This is the second wife."

"Second Madam?" Cheng Cheng was even more confused. She leaned over with interest and asked, "Second Madam used to have such a name?"

"Are you really stupid or just pretending to be stupid? Doesn't William have a mother?" I tapped Chengcheng's forehead, rubbed it, and became even more confused. I stroked the name on the card and laughed for no reason: "The reason why the old man executed the second wife was that she cheated on him and suspected that William was not his son. Today I have to clear her name. William is my third uncle. The second wife gave birth to a child. She should be properly enshrined in our Fu family's ancestral hall. Lanlan, has Ying Qi gone to burn incense for grandma these days?"

Lan Lan nodded, then turned disgusted: "Who knows what he does? He gets up every morning and goes there."

"Where is Zhizhi?" I asked again.

Before Lanlan could say anything, Chengcheng had already raised his head in a sarcastic manner and said, "He's standing at the door as a door god. I don't know what happened to him these past few days. He's been standing at your door in a daze every day. He was there when I came."

As soon as I finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. After I answered, Zhizhi straightened his clothes and came in, looking a little hurried.

However, Chengzi greeted him with: "The world has changed. You still remember to knock on the door when you come? Isn't this door open?"

"Oh, the giant baby is still here, what a coincidence." Zhizhi said, and before Chengcheng was about to greet him, he squeezed next to me and tapped the table with his knuckles: "Second uncle went to Yifeng Courtyard and took Yingqi with him. Everyone in the room, including Cui Yu, was driven away. There might be a chance."

"What opportunity?" Cheng Cheng squeezed over again.

I ignored him. My heart was trembling at that moment. I really wanted to laugh, but unfortunately, I was afraid that I would cry while laughing. I could only pull the corners of my mouth and fiddle with the rosary in my hand.

"They have a deep love between mother and son. There's nothing wrong with that." I said with a trembling voice.

Lan Lan shrugged her shoulders: "This sentence sounds really spooky."

I bit my lip and swallowed my bitter tears: "Did they... quarrel?"

Zhizhi glanced at the detection device installed earlier, and a string of subtitles popped up. He nodded: "It's arguing now."

"Sister, what are you going to do?" Cheng Cheng was a little anxious.

I was also anxious, and hurriedly grabbed his hand: "Didn't you hear what Zhizhi said? Second Uncle and Second Grandma are arguing again. As his niece, I have to side with my Second Uncle. Give him a gift."

"What?" Chengcheng's voice lowered a little.

I handed him the tablet and asked him to hold it steady. I hammered it heavily on the table twice and said, "Go to the ancestral hall immediately and ask the steward to place the tablet of the late Second Wife on the right side of Grandpa and correct her name. Then choose a good day and inform the whole family to worship the late Second Wife together."

Cheng Cheng pointed at herself and said, "Me?"

"You are the head of the family. If you don't go to worship the heaven and earth and file a complaint with the ancestral temple, then why should I?" I couldn't help but glare at her. I stood up and touched my chest to suppress my excitement. I walked to Lan Lan in a daze and said, "It's almost time. When this is done, you can ask a few managers to go up the mountain to clean up the cemetery. When Shenghua Court is completely quiet, put those people in. The people in the outer courtyard complained to me, saying that it was noisy all night long and they couldn't sleep."

Lanlan paused, then immediately understood. After a brief sigh, she bowed and went out.

I was still mumbling to myself, and after a long while I wiped away a tear that had fallen: "Second Uncle probably can't sleep either."

Zhizhi came over to support me. Although Chengcheng didn't understand yet, he couldn't stand staying when he saw me like this, and hurried to prepare what I asked. But before leaving, I held him back, squeezed his palm, and swallowed hard.

"It's okay. If you're done, come back early. We'll go shopping. Otherwise, we won't be able to go shopping for a long time. Also, Gao Hanseng is coming tonight, and we need to be polite when entertaining guests. All the business that can be related to our family and the Gao family is in his hands. You just pretend to do something, and I'll take care of the rest."

Cheng Cheng nodded and left with full of doubts.

And I just waited, sitting there steadily, waiting, looking at myself in the mirror, and suddenly took the most colorful lipstick and threw it on, leaving a touch of red in the middle. I waited for an unknown amount of time before the bell of the ancestral hall began to ring. I knew that Kou Qiaolan, this despicable loser, had completely ruined Second Grandma's last hope of being buried next to Grandpa, and I felt relieved. I even thought about not mourning today. The turquoise suit that Chengcheng chose according to my bottom line was not festive enough, so I changed into a bright red one, put on my makeup, and wore the tread of snow to find plum blossoms.

Look at myself like this, I look better than when I’m married, especially today.

Zhizhi was silent for a long time, then slowly put his hand on my shoulder. But he didn't need to comfort me anymore. I didn't want to cry anymore. I was really happy.

"Second Grandma told me that all of them, concubines, whether for honor or true love, hope to die sooner, because Grandpa's tablet is in the middle of the top row of the ancestral hall, and my grandmother must be on his left. The right side is the only position that can be regarded as a co-wife, which is the last bit of dignity they can fight for. But if they want to fight for it, they have to follow a certain order, right?"

Zhizhi patted me gently, leaned closer to me and let me lean on him. He took a deep breath and said, "Shishi, the medicine left by Fu Yunyan is very effective. In fact, you don't have to do this. She will definitely die."

"I don't want her to die, I want her to be sad." I looked up at him. I was so determined when I looked up, but I felt so guilty when I looked down.

I remained silent until night fell. News came from the gate and Yifeng Courtyard that Gao Hanshen had arrived. My second uncle also came down the mountain at this time. I went out to greet the guests and invited Gao Hanshen and Cheng Xiaorui to have dinner. I held their two children and played with them, trying to get closer to them. Unexpectedly, the two children were even more familiar with me. The older girl wanted to sit on my lap, and the younger boy opened his mouth and called me aunt.

I frowned and could only make a funny face to the children. The two little devils laughed loudly. I looked up at the couple. Cheng Xiaorui covered her mouth and almost couldn't hold it in, while Gao Hansheng looked at her and smiled. I roughly understood what was going on.

Gao Hansheng coughed and said, "Mr. Fu, our two families were relatives before. If we are too distant now, is it meaningless?"

"That's true, but I really can't bear the title of 'aunt'." I raised my glass and drank it all, then lowered my head to give the two children some snacks. After thinking for a while, I pinched their faces and said, "Call me aunt. There are many children your age at my aunt's house. Do you want to make friends with them?"

"Think..." they said in unison.

I signaled to the manager outside, Cheng Xiaorui signaled to Gao Hanseng, and the manager took Mrs. Cheng and the children to the backyard. We were the only two left at the dinner. I handed over the contract that had been prepared earlier, and Gao Hanseng signed it after taking a glance at it. He couldn't help but tell me something about Gao Xinci, and I responded reluctantly. Anyway, he wouldn't be able to say anything for a while.

I know Ying Qi is not an extreme person, but he is also in a difficult situation when faced with such a thing. So he rushed into my yard in a hurry while the guests were still there, paused, bowed and told me: The second wife has passed away.

Oh—my second uncle passed away right after my second wife passed away.

The son killing the mother is more interesting than mine.

Ying Qi suppressed his worry and despair, gritted his teeth and said, "Second Master is very sad. He drinks heavily when he returns to the courtyard. The young masters can't persuade him. He is too sad to care about the funeral. So I ask Miss to go out with me to discuss the mountain..."

Unfortunately, he was interrupted by me before he could finish. I raised my head and laughed twice, then lowered my eyes to look at him with a happy expression: "That's a good thing."

Ying Qi was stunned.

I know what he is afraid of. I also know that not only are all the members of the second branch dead, but there are also other main families without the head of the family and their descendants. The funeral of Yifengyuan has been prepared long ago, and the coffin has been made. All they have to do is put the body in it, carry the coffin to the ancestral tomb, dig a hole and bury it. Is there anything I can do for them?

I just need to show up. I just need to tell him the truth about how Ying Qi poisoned the Second Madam. It's actually very simple. I asked him to burn incense for grandma. How did he know that the incense was soaked with medicine that contradicted the medicine for the Second Madam? The Second Uncle only brought him to humiliate the Second Madam. They quarreled for so long, so they should have a cup of tea, right? As long as he touched his hand with a drop of water, the medicine would dissolve in the water. He would die soon after drinking it.

This plan also has a high chance of failing, what a pity, God is helping me.

Firstly, Ying Qi's sincerity in atonement to my grandmother was too deep. Second uncle expressed his hatred too hastily, dragging him away from the ancestral hall, and the medicine entered his stomach too early. Second, during the process of the poison taking effect, Second grandmother was furious because Kou Qiaolan took her place, which accelerated the poison entering her internal organs. Thirdly, the time, place and people were all right, so the person died, and everyone was happy.

I explained this to Ying Qi in this order. His eyes widened wider and wider until he became mad. However, he didn't know what to be mad at me for. After his impotent rage, there was only bottomless fear, astonishment and regret.

But none of that worked.

I stood up straight, calming down. "If you really think I'm wrong, go ahead and sue me! If you think I'm not wrong, go to the ancestral hall and kneel down and kowtow to my grandmother. She raised you for a few years, so you should kowtow a few times. You will sever all ties with our eldest branch, and from now on I will never ask you to betray your second branch again."

Ying Qi looked up at me. He was almost like a ghost at this moment. He looked at me quietly, turned around quietly, and walked away quietly. But he probably had no strength left. Finally, he stopped at the gate of my outer courtyard. There was a big red lantern hanging on the gate, which I specially prepared. However, he did not look festive under the red light.

He is not happy for me, not happy for my grandmother, and not happy for his adoptive mother.

Gao Hansheng had seen enough of the excitement and understood everything. He finally came over and sighed softly, "My sister-in-law is a little tired. Outsiders look at us with envy and wealth, but only when we look out can we see what kind of world we are really in. Just like now, standing under the gate of the house, it really looks like a big 'prisoner'."