Are you crazy? Trying to trick him into military service? He's the number one dragon on the fro

Wang Qingqing was stunned. The thoughts that she had suppressed before began to grow wildly again and quickly became uncontrollable.

This time, the main reason she personally went out to do business was that after resolving the Zhao family's troubles, her family sent another letter.

As Liu Xianya's childhood friend, Wang Qingqing's family background is also quite impressive.

Otherwise, the two of them simply wouldn't get along.

In this environment, she experienced the brutal struggles among the children of a large family from a young age.

Over the years, Wang Qingqing has single-handedly supported the legacy left by her husband's family, not only facing criticism from her husband's relatives but also guarding against the ill intentions of her own family.

A person who can casually give away 10,000 bushels of grain must be very wealthy; otherwise, they would feel the pinch.

This will inevitably attract the covetous eyes of many relatives and friends.

After all, she was a widow.

In the eyes of ordinary people, the best thing she should do is stay at home to be a good wife and mother, or obediently remain a widow for her deceased husband, and do nothing else.

Wang Qingqing really wanted to yell—

When my husband had just passed away and I was facing countless difficulties, what were you people doing?

As she pondered this, Wang Qingqing sighed with a complex expression, forced to admit that Fan Changrui was right:

"Indeed, if there is a boy in the family, even if he is young, others will not look down on him too much."

"Because the ways of the world and people's hearts are the most unpredictable."

"Your sister understands you."

Fan Changrui nodded heavily, and as she spoke, she grasped Wang Qingqing's hand:

"When I was still a young girl, many people in my clan thought it was a rebellious act because I disliked needlework, and they would often use it as an excuse to lecture me."

"If it weren't for my brother's support and his shielding me from so many unpleasant comments, I wouldn't have been able to persevere until today."

At this moment, she was almost truly expressing her emotions:

"Sister Wang, we are both business people, and no one understands the hardships we have endured or can empathize with each other's feelings better than us."

"So, while you're young and still have some looks, choose a good husband to support you."

Even if your husband is not as wealthy or as learned as you, as long as he is genuinely good to you and stays by your side when you are in distress, he can still be of great help.

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingqing wavered, but then shook her head, seemingly thinking of something else:

"My sister's words certainly make sense, but I still think it's too early to talk about these things now."

"I can still earn a living with my own hands, and even if I squander the money I've earned every day, I can live comfortably until I'm old."

"When the day comes that I get old and lose my beauty, I can just hire a few hardworking and meticulous nannies to take care of my daily life."

This has been her mindset all these years; making money is a way for her to prove herself and secure a way out for herself.

However, saying it now brings a different feeling to my heart.

Ultimately, it's because people have too much prejudice against women. But living in such an environment, no one can change anything. They can only rely on their own hands to live a better life.

Seeing that her expression wavered slightly, Fan Changrui knew that her words had worked, so she pressed her advantage:

"Sister, you must have someone you like too, right?"

"Or is it that you still can't forget your husband from all these years?"

"It's not that I can't forget it, it's just..."

Wang Qingqing responded hesitantly:

"Back then, my late husband and I only met for the first time on our wedding day. Later, because of his poor health, we were never able to consummate our marriage, so our relationship wasn't particularly deep."

"I've been able to get through these years entirely thanks to the dying wishes of my late husband and in-laws."

Fan Changrui was overjoyed upon learning of this.

She thought that Wang Qingqing's heart and soul had long been devoted to the person who had died many years ago, and that only the moral influence in her heart had kept her in her position until now.

In this way, her husband was essentially just a virtuous woman bearing the title of widow.

In this world, survival is more important than reputation.

So she simply opened up and said:

"Sister Wang, if you don't mind, why don't you just marry your husband?"

"what?"

For a moment, Wang Qingqing was in a state of confusion, and shook her head repeatedly after seeing her burning gaze:

"This matter is quite inappropriate!"

"Lord Lu is a young and talented man with a bright future. If he is to take a concubine, he should look for a lady from a respectable family, not a merchant's wife like me."

"Besides... Xianya and I are like sisters. If I were to snatch Lord Lu away while she's not around, it would hurt her feelings."

"This is absolutely unacceptable!"

After saying that, she broke free from Fan Changrui, turned to the side, lowered her head slightly, and remained silent.

Now she finally understood why the other party was so enthusiastic; it turned out they were helping her husband take a concubine.

Seeing this, Fan Changrui smiled:

"Sister Wang, you just said that when you get old, you'll find two reliable nannies to take care of you in your old age. But have you considered why the government's orphanages are failing?"

The Almshouse was a welfare institution set up by the Great Zhou Dynasty to care for the widowed and lonely. The elderly and children who had reached a certain age but were still widowed and lonely could enter the Almshouse to live.

The policy was good, but it couldn't overcome the greed in people's hearts.

Fan Changrui patiently and persuasively guided:

"Although the orphanage is supported by the laws of the imperial court, there are still people who embezzle and break the law, mistreat the elderly people living alone, and there are even occasional reports of the elderly being beaten."

"Nowadays, the almshouse is just a decoration; it's an empty shell used for those people's corruption."

"Even the imperial laws can't make those people do their jobs properly. Do you really think the nanny you chose will refrain from having evil intentions?"

"Based on their moral conscience?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingqing fell silent, and after a long while, she shook her head and said:

"But I can't let Xianya down!"

"Sister Wang, when you marry your husband, Sister Xianya will not only not be angry, but will be grateful to you."

Fan Changrui smiled, knowing she had successfully persuaded the other party; all she needed to do was reassure them to finalize the matter.

"To be honest, my husband came from humble beginnings, and the Lu family was small. By his generation, he was the only one left."

"Now, there are marquises nearby, and with Sister Xianya's relationship with the current emperor, it's not impossible for her to be made a king or prime minister in the future. But my husband still doesn't have any children of his own."

"If my husband is still like this after he passes away, wouldn't it be like I've just handed over all my wealth and glory to someone else?"

She took Wang Qingqing's hand again:

"Moreover, my husband has already sent a letter to the capital informing me that I accepted the gift. Just two days ago, the lady from the county office sent back a letter. Not only was she not angry, but she also specially embroidered an orchid handkerchief for me."

"Sister Xianya said that she couldn't help her husband much from far away in the capital. Besides praying for his safety, her biggest wish was for the Lu family to prosper."

"She instructed me to keep a close eye on things and help my husband find a few suitable women to bear him children."