My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 28 Part 4

Though no one dared to criticize them openly out of respect for their status, behind their backs, people sneered at their character. No one wanted anything to do with You's mother and her son anymore.  

If they could treat their benefactors like this, how would they treat ordinary folks? Who knew when they might stab you in the back?  

The You family was furious but didn’t dare scold You Lingxiao openly. Swallowing their anger, they found themselves suffering scorn without having enjoyed any benefits.  

When they finally went looking for Wang niangzi and her son, Li Jinhu had already taken the money and fled with his mother that very afternoon, leaving the You family to scream curses outside their empty house.  

Seeing that the relationship between the two families had deteriorated beyond repair, Ji Yangzong decided there was no point holding back. He went to the You family and demanded repayment for all the money he’d lent You Erlang over the years.  

Before, out of consideration for the Xue family, Ji Yangzong had thought of letting the debt slide, hoping the You family would remember past kindness and stop their schemes. But after You Lingxiao’s despicable actions, what kindness was left to remember?  

Since the You family now had money to spare - enough to pay for dirty deeds, Ji Yangzong might as well take back what was his.  

You's mother cursed up a storm, but under the villagers’ watchful eyes, she had no choice but to hand over the money.  

The You family could only swallow their broken teeth and admit defeat. Though the other branches of the family disapproved of You's mother and her son’s actions, the Ji and You families had been rivals for years - they’d just never clashed so publicly before.  

[打碎了牙往肚子里咽 (dǎsuìle yá wǎng dùzi lǐ yàn): lit. to swallow broken teeth; fig. to endure humiliation silently.]  

This time, the You family was completely in the wrong. Privately, they criticized You's mother’s poor character, just like when she’d first married into the You family. But outwardly, they still relied on You Lingxiao’s status to reduce their taxes, so they reluctantly comforted the mother and son.  

"No matter how ugly the rumors get, Lingxiao earned his title fair and square. It’s recorded in the prefectural records, no one can take that away."  

"The Ji family won’t take this to court. The engagement was mutually dissolved, and even if they did sue, it’d just be a village dispute. The witnesses are gone, the authorities won’t bother."  

"That’s right. With good days ahead, there’s no need to listen to gossip. Those who achieve great things don’t sweat the small stuff. The Ji family has been throwing their weight around for years, always acting like Lingxiao’s saviors. Who wouldn’t be annoyed? Teaching them a lesson wasn’t wrong."  

Seeing her in-laws’ attitudes, You's mother seized the moment:  

"Since you understand Lingxiao’s position, I’ll speak plainly. The imperial exams are approaching, and with all this nasty gossip, how can he focus on studying?"  

"If Lingxiao had a quiet place in the city to stay and prepare, it’d make all the difference. It doesn’t need to be big, just what other scholars have. If he succeeds in the exams, he won’t forget his uncles and aunts. He’ll take care of the whole family."  

The You family elders immediately grasped her meaning. But buying property in the city wasn’t cheap, even a modest two-courtyard house would cost three to four hundred taels. Split among the branches, each family would still need to contribute dozens taels, if not over a hundred, taels.  

Though they could technically afford it, it was a significant sum. Who would willingly cut into their own flesh?  

"Fourth Sister-in-law, you know our branch’s farmland hasn’t been doing well these past years. The harvests have been poor."  

"Exactly. Fourth Aunt, our third son isn’t even married yet. These days, weddings aren’t like before, you can’t get a decent match without thirty or fifty taels."  

You's mother scoffed at their excuses:  

"Eldest Uncle, your family’s woods yield plenty. Don’t act so poor."  

"Fifth Uncle, you’re joking. Thirty taels is more than enough for a respectable wedding these days. With taxes rising yearly, weddings will only get cheaper. It’s not like we’re marrying an official’s daughter, who would spend fifty taels?"  

Having silenced two branches, You's mother pressed on:  

"If my uncles and aunts aren’t willing to help Lingxiao, then we can’t just keep shielding those who won’t lend a hand. Right?"  

The elders fell silent.  

You's mother added: "Lingxiao isn’t a fool. The reason he broke things off with the Ji family is that he has a better option now."  

"Let me be blunt, this is your chance to help him. If you can’t, we understand. But when Lingxiao rises to glory, don’t complain that he’s forgotten his family."  

The You family’s eldest branch, recalling Ji Taoyu’s words at the gathering, guessed that You Lingxiao must have connections with someone influential. After a moment’s thought, he forced a smile:  

"Fourth Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Lingxiao is the most promising child in our lineage. As his uncle, no matter how tight things are, I’ll support him."  

Seeing the eldest branch concede, the others reluctantly followed suit, though it pained them:  

"Nothing is more important than Lingxiao’s future. Our third son can wait a few more years to marry. We’ll use his wedding funds for his cousin first. Once his cousin succeeds, our son can benefit too, maybe even marry into a better family."  

After much discussion, You's mother convinced the family to pool money for a city house for You Lingxiao.  

"Once the house is ready, we’ll move immediately, far away from these villagers. Even if they want to gossip, they won’t see us. In the city, it’ll be easier to interact with the Xue family too."  

You's mother spoke gently to You Lingxiao, who had been lying in bed in a daze for two days, her heart aching for him.  

You Lingxiao didn’t respond. It was unclear if he’d even heard her.  

"Lingxiao, if you give up now, what will become of me?"  

The man on the bed finally spoke, his voice hoarse:  

"Don’t worry, Mother. Since things with the Ji family are over, I’ll focus entirely on the Xue family’s marriage."  

You Lingxiao’s unfocused gaze suddenly sharpened with determination.  

He would climb higher. He would reclaim everything that was rightfully his.