Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

When the villagers heard this, they scoffed. "Just two little kids and a girl, and they want five hundred coins a month from them?"

That's half a tael of silver! Isn't that robbery?

"Liu Laogen, you're asking the two eldest brothers for 500 coins right off the bat. Aren't you deliberately making things difficult for Tiezhu and the others?"

"Exactly, I don't know what Liu Laogen was thinking!"

"It's so heartless to do this; you might as well just separate the eldest son's family."

"That's right, it also saves people from saying that you're being mean to the eldest son's family."

"What do you people know?"

Our family affairs are none of your business. Mind your own business!

Are you all so free that you've already finished all the work in the fields?

If you keep talking nonsense here, believe me, when my scholar brother comes back, you'll be in for a world of hurt!

"Roll, roll, roll..."

Liu Jiaojiao stepped forward and asked people to leave.

The villagers murmured amongst themselves and left, after all, he was a scholar with the title of Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the county level), and they dared not offend him.

Wang clapped her hands, stood up, and stopped throwing a tantrum. It was all just an act for others to see.

"Since the head of the household has said so, then let's do it this way. We will take care of the medical expenses for Da Niu and his wife."

The eldest son pays five hundred coins every month, but this is separate; it's for the two children's food rations.

Tie Zhu's earnings from selling firewood and Tie Chui's earnings from hunting and selling game must be handed over; these should not be mixed up!

"No, Grandma, my brother and I have already paid all the money we earned. Where would we get the extra five hundred coins?"

Liu Tiezhu said.

Why was Grandma so heartless towards the first wife's family?

His heart had turned to ice.

"I disagree. This is refusing to give us a way out..."

Grandpa, are you really going to listen to Grandma?

Liu Tiechui spoke directly, looking at his grandfather.

"Since Peach Girl wants to raise two children and this girl, she has to pay money."

Unless she sells both children and this girl, then she won't have to pay.

However, the money from the sale must be turned over to the public.

Wang pointed to the two children and said.

Upon hearing that she was to be sold, Huanhuan immediately hid behind Tao'er, tears streaming down her face.

Before Tao'er could speak, Qingge lashed out with her soft whip, pulling Wang Shi to the ground and lashing her several times with a sharp crack.

The whooshing sound of whips echoed in the air.

"Ouch, that hurts so much..."

Stop right now...

Stop hitting him...

"Old woman, you still dare to sell me and my little master? Don't you want to die?"

These lashes are a lesson for you.

Qingge stopped after seven or eight strokes, her movements clean, crisp, and controlled.

She's neither a member of the Wang family nor the Liu family, so it's no big deal for her to smoke.

"Qingge, you lowly servant girl, how dare you hit my mother."

Second brother, third brother, go and beat her up.

When Liu Jiaojiao saw her mother being beaten, she became furious and embarrassed.

Liu Erniu pretended not to hear, thinking to himself that his mother had gone too far, actually wanting to sell two such adorable children.

Liu Sanniu: I'm not going!

He can't beat him; he's not stupid.

"Jiaojiao, I don't dare!"

"Third brother, you're such a waste! If only fourth brother were here!"

Liu Jiaojiao even cursed the third brother.

"Jiaojiao, then go to the county town to find your fourth brother!"

What a piece of trash, a complete ingrate.

The third son's wife, Zhao, cursed.

"Third sister-in-law...

you……"

Liu Jiaojiao turned pale with anger.

Zhao snorted coldly and stood aside, having long disliked her domineering sister-in-law.

"Alright, stop making such a racket."

Peach Girl, what do you suggest we do? What do you want to do?

It's impossible not to pay a single penny; the whole family needs to eat.

I can't possibly prioritize your first wife's family over the rest of the other wives.

Once the fourth son passes the imperial examination, the first thing he'll do is separate you from the eldest son's family and leave you to fend for yourselves.

Just as Tao'er was about to speak, her father, Liu Daniu, struggled to walk out of the house, leaning against the wall.

He stumbled and almost fell, but his son Liu Tiezhu quickly caught him. "Dad, your leg is still injured, how can you get out of bed?"

"Tiezhu, your father can't watch your grandmother drive Tao'er away."

We can't let her sell her manhood!

Those two dolls belong to her benefactor. Even though I'm not very literate, I know that one shouldn't be ungrateful!

After saying this, Liu Daniu pushed his son away, struggled to walk to Liu Laogen, knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, "Father, I beg you, please don't force Tao'er anymore."

This girl has a hard life; she almost died.

If it weren't for her benefactor's rescue and shelter, she would probably be a pile of bones by now.

How could you be so heartless as to sell those two dolls?

"Mother, more than ten years ago you secretly sold Tao'er to pay for my eldest brother's tuition."

That girl's heart has been broken.

Why are you repeating the same mistake? Do you really not want me as your son anymore?

"Father and Mother, over the years, our family of four from the eldest branch has worked like cattle and horses for Old Liu's family, never complaining or uttering a single word of complaint."

They did the most work, but ate the worst and least food, often going hungry.

For decades, I humbled myself out of filial piety, which wronged my wife and my children.

It's because of this that neither of my two sons has gotten married yet.

"And it's even more heartbreaking that Tao'er has suffered so much outside all these years."

"I can't be a coward anymore. I'll risk my life to protect her."

If you insist on doing this, I will kill myself here today, as a way of repaying the kindness of giving birth to and raising me.

"The son is unfilial..."

Liu Daniu knelt there and kowtowed repeatedly, his head touching the ground.

My wife said the more realistic the acting, the better.

He was truly in tears; it was hard to tell whether it was acting or a genuine expression of emotion.

Perhaps it's half true and half false.

"Father, get up quickly, they dare not sell my people."

Don't worry.

I can protect both children.

You don't need to kowtow to someone like that.

There's no need to risk your life.

"If Wang really dares to do that, I'll make sure her whole family suffers!"

As Tao'er spoke, her sharp gaze swept over everyone present.

No one dared to look Tao'er in the eye, especially Liu Jiaojiao and the others, who felt a chill run down their spines.

"Boss, what are you doing?"

You're still injured, don't get so worked up.

Your mother only said a few angry words, but she has already learned her lesson.

You don't need to embarrass everyone like this.

And don't forget, you're also a member of the Liu family.

Liu Laogen felt very uncomfortable. His eldest son had always been honest, kind, and timid, but how come he had become so assertive after Tao Yatou came back?

He actually threatened to kill himself; that's quite something.

"Grandpa, I don't like hearing you say those things."

Since you know that my father is also a member of the Liu family, why are you so biased in your actions?

If you didn't want my father as your son, why did you give birth to him in the first place?

How dare you reprimand my father?

Tao'er retorted without hesitation.

Liu Laogen was speechless after being choked, and coughed a few times, "Grandpa didn't mean that, I just said the wrong tone just now."

After saying that, he turned to Liu Tiezhu and said, "Tiezhu, quickly help your father back into the house to lie down and rest."

Liu Tiezhu quickly came over and helped his father back into the house.

"Dad, are you feeling unwell? Does your leg hurt?"

Liu Tiezhu asked with a concerned expression.

"Tiezhu, don't worry, I'm fine. It's just a little pain. I'll apply some medicine in a bit and it'll be fine."

I was just acting, it wasn't real.

Liu Daniu explained in a low voice.

"Honey, you acted well!"

Zhang Su'e, who was lying to the side, smiled and praised.

Liu Tiezhu suddenly realized what was going on, said a few words, and then turned and left.

"Peach Girl, this has been going on all morning, it needs to be resolved."

"How about this, you, the eldest son's family, will pay less, four hundred coins a month, no less than that."

This is already a concession on his part; he can't ask for any less.

When the time comes, we'll have the old doctor prescribe some inexpensive medicine. It's just a minor skin injury; it's impossible for it not to heal.

"Old man, our eldest son's family can't afford this money."

However, I won't make things difficult for you.

The granddaughter had an idea that would both lighten everyone's burden and satisfy everyone.