171: Chapter 171: Return to Maternal Home 171: Chapter 171: Return to Maternal Home As dawn broke, Lady Lin rose and began to pack.

She collected her own clothes and packed two sets for Jinguan; finally, she retrieved a small purse hidden against the wall by the cupboard.

Inside the purse were a pair of silver bracelets passed down to the eldest household by the auntie, who was also the matriarch, before her dying breath.

The bracelets were said to have been a Wang Family heirloom for the daughter-in-law, but since her own mother-in-law had never won the auntie’s favor, the auntie secretly kept them for her instead.

No one knew about these bracelets except for the auntie and Lady Lin.

It was said that at one point, her father-in-law had asked about them, but the auntie lied that the family was in dire straits and had pawned them, though in truth, she had stashed them away.

The pair of bracelets weighed a full two ounces, and Lady Lin had kept them hidden behind the cupboard ever since she got them, not even telling Wang Yongfu.

Now, since the mother-in-law had taken her private savings, she decided to take the bracelets with her.

At worst, they could be passed on to Jinguan’s future daughter-in-law, thus they would still end up with the Wang Family.

With this thought, Lady Lin felt she had no reason to feel guilty towards the Wang Family anymore.

At the breakfast table, Lady Lin, who hadn’t eaten for two days, hadn’t noticed due to the events of the previous evening, but now that she had made up her mind, she couldn’t resist the sight of food.

Thinking she would never return to her marital home again after enduring so much there over the years, she decided she had to eat her fill before leaving.

Not waiting for Old Granny Zhang and Wang Laozhu to arrive, she hastily slurped down two bowls of vegetable porridge.

Lady Jiang couldn’t stop her; she was so flustered she could only shed tears, losing even more respect for her big sister-in-law.

She thought it disgraceful, as Lady Lin was eating before her parents even sat down, gobbling like she hadn’t eaten in three days and showing no manners at all.

When Old Granny Zhang arrived and saw Lady Lin reviving herself with two bowls of porridge, even confronted with her mother-in-law’s murderous gaze, she was unusually defiant.

Old Granny Zhang’s face turned colors; she had set the rules for the Wang Family that no one was to eat before she served the food, a rule that had been strictly followed for over a decade.

Today, Lady Lin had the audacity to break it.

Old Granny Zhang suspected the worst; Lady Lin must be trying to provoke her into a physical confrontation so she could run back to her maiden home with the excuse of being beaten by her in-laws.

But why should she accommodate Lady Lin’s wish?

With a cold snort, she indirectly scolded Lady Jiang without mentioning Lady Lin, but it left Lady Lin’s face burning.

Fuming, Lady Lin went back to her room, grabbed her bags, took Jinguan by the hand, and marched out.

In the courtyard, she ran into Wang Laozhu.

Fueled by her irritation, her tone was stiff, “Father, mother, my eldest brother went to town the other day and told me that my mother is nearing her end.

She wants to see me before she dies.

Usually, I wouldn’t leave at such a time, with so much going on at home and the family head needing care, but my mother truly doesn’t have many days left.

As her daughter, I can’t let her pass away without seeing her face one last time, can I?

So, I must go home for a few days.”

“What about Eldest Brother then?” Wang Laozhu was startled.

Denying a daughter-in-law the chance to see her mother one last time was indeed inexcusable.

“`

But wasn’t this all too coincidental?

Wang Laozhu’s heart harbored suspicions as he recalled the words his wife had spoken the night before, his gaze upon Lady Lin now tainted with a hint of doubt.

Lady Lin’s heart skipped a beat but she feigned composure, “As for the head of the household there, with Jindou and his brothers around, isn’t their diligent care assured?

I will return after a few days.

Originally, it should have been me accompanying the head of the household with the children, but given his current state, the two older brothers, being elder, should stay to look after him.

Jinguan is still young, so I’ll take him back with me for a visit, to fulfill their filial duties on their behalf.”

Wang Laozhu, listening to Lady Lin’s well-structured and reasonable words, thought perhaps he was overthinking, for there was no rationale in stopping a daughter-in-law from returning home when her mother was in trouble.

If Lady Lin made a fuss about it, wouldn’t the villagers talk behind their backs, criticizing the Wang Family for lacking reason and human decency?

Old Granny Zhang walked over and spat, “Pah!

If your mother was truly at death’s door, why didn’t you mention it yesterday?

You only told Jindou and the others you were coming back to change clothes, right?

Are you just making an excuse to be lazy and avoid serving your husband, trying to run off to your parents’ house?

To curse your mother-in-law as being on her deathbed out of the blue, if she were my daughter, I’d slap her twice for sure!”

The unwitting target of these words, Wang Yongzhu glanced helplessly at Old Granny Zhang, thinking, with how much you spoil me, if I truly were so unfilial, you’d probably just end up clutching a quilt corner and crying by yourself; I doubt you’d ever bring yourself to lay a hand on me!

After Old Granny Zhang spoke, Wang Laozhu looked back at Lady Lin.

Under Old Granny Zhang’s gaze, Lady Lin couldn’t help but shudder, striving to appear calm, “Yesterday, I didn’t want to worry Jindou and his brothers, so I didn’t mention it.

It’s true my mother is not well, otherwise why would I bring Jinguan back home with me?”

Jinguan was still looking forward to tasty treats at his uncle’s place; hearing this, did that mean grandpa and grandma didn’t want mom and him to go to the uncle’s?

That won’t do.

A crafty glint in his eye, Jinguan clung to Lady Lin and began to cry, “Mom, I miss Grandma, I miss Uncle!

Is Grandma really going to die—”

With the child saying as much, how could they speak lies?

Wang Laozhu had nothing to say but to wave his hand in agreement.

Completely forgetting Jinguan’s past trickeries.

Lady Lin, dragging Jinguan along, was about to leave.

Jinguan hadn’t had breakfast yet, but upon seeing the vegetable porridge Lady Jiang was carrying out from the kitchen, he immediately lost interest.

The thought of getting delicious food at his uncle’s place had him trotting happily behind Lady Lin as they left.

Old Granny Zhang remarked indifferently from behind, “Cursing your own parents as being near death for no reason will bring retribution someday!”

Before the words had even faded, Lady Lin, just stepping over the threshold, nearly toppled into a face-first fall.

Scrambling up awkwardly, she snatched up Jinguan and without looking back, hurried away.

With Lady Lin gone, the Wang Family members exchanged glances for a long time.

After a while, Wang Laozhu finally said, “Laosi, go to town and inform the Eldest Brother.” After all, it was the Eldest Brother’s wife who had returned to her mother’s house; he should be informed.

Wang Yongping agreed with a nod, ready to leave, only to be caught by Wang Yongzhu clenching his clothes, rendering him immobile, fearful that a strong tug from his little sister might spell the end for his attire.

“Wait for me a minute, I need to go to town too, to buy some things!” Wang Yongzhu, having spent days cooped up indoors sewing, felt the need to step out for some air.

She happened to have some money on hand, enough to pull out a new bolt of fabric for each, Old Granny Zhang and Old Wang, planning to make them new clothes upon her return and to practice her needlework as well.

Upon hearing this, Old Granny Zhang felt that lately, the household had been in disarray due to the Eldest Brother’s matters, nothing was going smoothly, and she was feeling cooped up too.

She guessed her eldest daughter wanted to clear her head with a trip to town as well.

That would be fine.

“`