Chapter 479: Chapter 479: Once and for All, Eliminate the Root
 

“Ahem, ahem, ahem…”

As Liu Sisi was in deep thought, the door curtain was lifted again, and a timid-looking Ms. Zhao walked in.

Her eyes shone like a mouse, taking in everything around her.

Especially that Granny Hu standing behind Liu Sisi, which quickly changed Ms. Zhao’s expression, but she composed herself in just a moment.

As soon as she entered, she aimed her attack at Liu Sisi: “Third Child’s daughter-in-law, do you despise me as your mother-in-law and want to deliberately humiliate me, treating me as an outsider?”

Liu Sisi was momentarily stunned, wondering what kind of act Ms. Zhao was putting on.

However, no matter what, Ms. Zhao still held the position of her mother-in-law, and with countless pairs of eyes from fellow villagers on them, she naturally had to handle the situation appropriately.

Almost as soon as Ms. Zhao crossed the threshold, Liu Sisi stood up from her seat and softly laughed at her words.

“Mother-in-law, what are you talking about? Sisi knows that you care about Little Brother, so I wouldn’t dare be unfilial and forcefully separate your mother and son relationship. Especially when Father ordered it, Sisi… Sisi really is, is…”

Her hesitant words naturally led people into wild speculations, and Ms. Zhao’s sensitive status immediately surfaced in their eyes.

Some even pointed at Ms. Zhao and whispered something behind their hands.

Ms. Zhao’s face changed, but then her eyes moved, and tears flowed down her face: “Heavens! How can you let me, Ms. Zhao, live like this? I know I am a stepmother and don’t dare to ask for anything. But look, even outsiders have a place to sit, but there is no place for me, the mother-in-law! Back then, I, as an old woman, cared for and raised the Third Son… You can do such a shameless thing, and still call yourself a sub-captain? It’s unfilial!”

These words immediately annoyed Liu Sisi!

She had seen shameless people before, but she had never encountered someone so shameless. Did Ms. Zhao think she was still the Liu Sisi from before?

No! Even if she was that Liu Sisi, she wouldn’t have let her off easy. Did Ms. Zhao think that if she made a scene here, Liu Sisi would change her mind?

Thinking about this, her face became colder, and she was about to speak when the Land Officer’s wife beside her stepped in faster.

“Ms. Zhao! Are you stuffed and looking to pick a fight?”

Land Officer’s wife didn’t mince her words: “At this age, don’t you care about face? In our Upper Village, who doesn’t know that you set your sights on your cousin’s husband, Di Defu, and plotted against your own cousin several times before marrying into the Di Family.”

The Land Officer’s wife’s words made the surrounding people gasp! Now they finally understood the root cause of the constant quarrels in the Di Family over the years.

Ms. Zhao’s face changed as well, “What nonsense are you talking about? Before I married into the Di Family, the old man and I were innocent!”

“Tsk! — I don’t care about the truth or falsehood of these matters. It’s only natural for a younger sister to marry her sister’s husband.”

It’s not helpful to pursue old matters further.

The Land Officer’s wife interrupted her: “Nevertheless, you shouldn’t have treated the bloodline left behind by your cousin like this. Nowadays, Ye Lei is an official. He is also a member of the Di Family, and in the future, even if your family is exempted from taxes and corvee labor, it will benefit you greatly. If you create any more trouble here, don’t blame me for being rude!”

Ms. Zhao shrank back but showed a hint of joy on her face.

“This is what you said, and from now on, the taxes and corvee labor for our Di Family are waived.”

So, this is the key reason Ms. Zhao came to make a scene!

Everyone suddenly understands!

Liu Sisi’s disdain for her is complete, and her upward-curving mouth is full of mockery.

What is the thing that officials fear the most? His Majesty values filial piety, and officials naturally fear that they will bear the sin of being unfilial.

Even if it’s for Di Yelei’s official reputation, today she must be treated well and respected as a distinguished guest. Maybe she will take the opportunity to put forward some other demands. This is also the reason why Ms. Zhao is making a fuss here without worrying about someone dealing with her.

“Since everyone is here today, I, Liu Sisi, would like to express my opinion and say a few words that I shouldn’t say.” She looked around at everyone, and her eyes fell on Ms. Zhao.

Ms. Zhao’s body suddenly tightened, and it was only at this moment that she really understood that things had changed from the past.

“Sisi, you can say whatever you want, we all stand by your side!”

Everyone is not a fool, they can guess what Liu Sisi wants to say, they just don’t know how she will say it.

Liu Sisi picked up a towel and gently wiped her mouth.

“Everyone should understand that although Ms. Zhao is my husband Yelei’s foster mother, at the same time, she is also the enemy who caused Yelei’s biological mother’s unexpected death. Treating Ms. Zhao as an enemy is unfilial because the grace of nurturing is as great as heaven. Treating Ms. Zhao as a foster mother is also unfilial, as a son cannot avenge his enemy; after a hundred years, how will we face our own birth mother? Thus, Yelei is troubled day and night, finding it hard to sleep.”

Having finished, Liu Sisi bowed respectfully towards everyone.

This startled everyone: “Sisi, why are you doing this?”

Only after performing the ceremony did Liu Sisi straighten her waist: “Sisi earnestly asks you for help, to come up with an idea for Yelei that will satisfy both sides and let him rest.”

As she spoke, a flash of light passed quickly through her eyes, and she bowed her head again.

No matter how much fuss Ms. Zhao made now, nobody would stand by her side!

As expected, Ms. Zhao didn’t think that Liu Sisi would tear her face and bring up this old matter!

Her face suddenly lost its luster, and she could no longer care about the others; she hurriedly defended herself.

“She’s talking nonsense! The incident was not like she said. My cousin slipped and fell off the eaves into the drain by herself while crying. This has nothing to do with me!”

“Right! She fell down on her own. But why don’t you tell us the reason for her losing footing?”

Liu Sisi’s mouth raised a smile as she continued to press on: “A certain cousin, regardless of her having just become a widow, knelt down in front of my cousin, wanting to serve the same man with her sister! My cousin was greatly shocked, for she never thought that the cousin she loved so much was always calculating to snatch her husband away!”

“Shameless! To treat her cousin like this!”

“Oh, my! I always thought that Elderly Mr. Di was a reasonable man. How could he just leave her with his young son and not care about her? So, there were so many secrets.”

“With your behavior, the fact that no one caught you and killed you yet is already considering the years you have raised him. Don’t push it further. Make more fuss, and you will be sent to the government office to pay for her life…”

Everyone was talking, making it too embarrassing for Ms. Zhao to raise her head.