Chapter 13 : Elder Brother, how can you do this to Ah Pu

Once back home, Cui Yunzhao changed into a more comfortable outfit before sitting down in the main room.

Huo Tan went directly to the master bedroom, possibly to discuss Huo Chengpu’s matters with Aunt Lin Xiu.

Li Qing and Tao Fei entered with a booklet and placed it in front of Cui Yunzhao.

Cui Yunzhao slowly leafed through the pages in silence.

Ten years ago, when she had just married, life with Huo Tan had been quite discordant. Additionally, since they were still family, she thought that the issue of her dowry could be dealt with slowly, without rush.

Moreover, she was concerned about her younger siblings and feared that they would be lonely and unsupported in the Cui family, so she didn’t press the issue of the dowry.

As a result, despite her reluctance to mention it, her second uncle and second aunt had blatantly taken her dowry, and not only did they fail to treat her younger siblings well, but they also put her sister in a dire situation.

Her brother was also misled, consumed by ambitions for fame and fortune.

Cui Yunzhao’s eyes darkened slightly.

She couldn’t allow history to repeat itself.

Although the Cui family was no longer as grand as it once was, with only the direct line of her family and her second uncle’s family remaining, there were still many other branches and clan elders.

Not all clan members were like her second uncle.

Cui Yunzhao closed her eyes, recalling what her brother had said during his visit in her past life, and searching her memory for familiar clan members.

Li Qing and Tao Fei quietly observed her, exchanging glances, not daring to speak.

Cui Yunzhao had always been strict with the maids around her.

In this regard, she was actually quite similar to Huo Tan, the couple had their similarities.

After thoroughly thinking everything through, Cui Yunzhao slowly opened her eyes and continued reviewing the dowry list in her hands. The dowry prepared by her second uncle and second aunt seemed quite generous.

The two rental properties on Linquan Street, the Fushi Grain Shop and the Linlang Silk Shop on Ting Shui Street were all under her name.

To outsiders, it would seem like a significant gesture from the Cui family. But these things rightfully belonged to Cui Yunzhao.

She said , “I remember that on the dowry list from my mother, there were also six shops in Fulu?”

Tao Fei didn’t know, but Li Qing, who had been instructed by Mother Xia, was aware of some details.

“Yes, Miss. The old lady also mentioned a manor and a hundred acres of fertile land.”

Cui Yunzhao’s slender fingers lightly tapped the dowry list, and she smiled faintly.

“I see.”

When she was at home, Cui Yunzhao never asked about the chores. She never did anything.

Her mind had always been occupied with poetry, romance, and the elegant pursuits of life.

When she was at home before, household matters were managed by Mother Xia. After marrying Huo Tan, she didn’t bring Mother Xia with her due to the Huo family’s limited space. Consequently, household duties continued to be handled by Mother Xia.

However, Mother Xia suddenly fell gravely ill, and the shops she managed went out of business one after another, eventually closing down, leaving only rental income to sustain her.

At that time, her second uncle had tried to buy the shops from her, but Huo Tan had blocked his attempts.

Cui Yunzhao slowly opened her eyes.

She asked Li Qing and Tao Fei, “Is it crowded in the side room?”

The side room in the East Cross Courtyard was half the size of the one in the West Cross Courtyard, with only two rooms. Currently, Li Qing and Tao Fei were living in the inner room.

Since there were only two rooms, the outer room also had its doors and windows open, and they had created a partition to divide the space into another room.

Li Qing, being perceptive, immediately understood and her eyes lit up.

“It’s not crowded, Miss. I can move to the outer room.”

Tao Fei didn’t understand and looked at Cui Yunzhao in confusion.

Cui Yunzhao smiled and said, “I miss Mother Xia a bit. Let’s bring her to live with us this time when we return to the family home.”

In her previous life, she hadn’t taken Mother Xia with her because her second aunt had “kindly advised” her, saying that Mother Xia was too old to follow her to the Huo family and that there was no proper place for her to stay.

At that time, she was young and uncertain about her future, so she agreed without much thought.

Although Mother Xia had repeatedly offered to come serve her, Cui Yunzhao felt reluctant due to the cramped quarters in the Huo household.

Who could have known that a grand household, with its intricate carvings and splendid architecture, could hide such darkness and sharp edges?

When she heard that Mother Xia was coming, Tao Fei was also pleased.

“That’s wonderful! I really miss the snacks Mother Xia made. That maid, Qiao, is so clumsy and can’t make anything. Even if you teach her, she won’t learn.”

Li Qing immediately glared at Tao Fei.

Tao Fei quickly covered her mouth and gave Cui Yunzhao a flattering smile.

“Please don’t punish me, Miss.”

Cui Yunzhao merely glanced at her and said nothing.

When Huo Tan returned, Cui Yunzhao had already finished reviewing the dowry list.

Huo Tan took a casual glance at it and said, “I’ll make up for the two hundred pounds of grain later.”

Cui Yunzhao was taken aback.

She looked up at Huo Tan and didn’t pretend to be generous. “Alright, thank you, my wife.”

Huo Tan grunted and said, “With the year-end approaching, consider it as…”

“Consider it as a New Year’s gift for the brothers.”

As soon as the New Year was mentioned, Cui Yunzhao was reminded of Huo Chengpu.

“How is the matter with the twelfth brother? What does Mother mean?”

Huo Tan was somewhat surprised that she still cared about this issue and noticed how perceptive she was, understanding his intentions without him needing to elaborate.

“Mother said it depends on me, and also on the twelfth brother.”

“He lost our father when he was four years old. At that time, I was busy, and there was no one to guide him at home, so his temperament became rather weak.”

“Regardless of whether he is suited for scholarly pursuits, I know he is not suited for martial arts training.”

Huo Chengpu was a very reserved person. He never spoke of his grievances or suffered silently without saying a word at home.

Huo Chengzhang was still a child himself and was in a different class from Huo Chengpu. He was focused solely on martial arts practice and, despite going to and from school with his younger brother, was unaware of the bullying Huo Chengpu endured in school.

In her previous life, the family had been oblivious to this issue until Huo Chengpu’s hand was broken by his classmates, only then realizing what had happened.

That day, Huo Tan had taken willow branches and struck Huo Chengzhang on the back repeatedly. He had failed as a brother, allowing his younger brother to be bullied right under his nose for so long.

Cui Yunzhao recalled those scenes, Huo Chengzhang’s pale face, and Huo Chengpu’s hands, which could no longer hold a pen or a sword. She couldn’t help but feel a bit of hope.

She didn’t know if history could be changed, if fate was immutable, or if old issues could be resolved. So, she decided to start slowly, from the small matters.

She would carefully deliberate and cautiously try, to see if she could alter her destiny, if she could live a long life filled with peace and joy in this lifetime.

Huo Tan was unaware of Cui Yunzhao’s thoughts and simply said, “After dinner, Mother has asked the whole family to gather in the main house to discuss the matter of the twelfth brother.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded in agreement.

At noon, only Aunt Lin Xiu, Huo Xinzhi, Huo Xinliu, and the couple had lunch together.

Qiao’s cooking skills seemed to have deteriorated again after briefly improving yesterday. Even the boiled vegetables were overcooked, tasting like raw grass.

Cui Yunzhao only ate the preserved vegetable stir-fry with meat, slowly finishing a bowl of rice.

Aunt Lin Xiu, used to difficult times, didn’t find anything wrong with Qiao’s cooking. However, Huo Xinzhi cast several glances at Cui Yunzhao.

She snorted and said, “If you don’t like the food, you can go and cook for yourself. There’s no need to force yourself to eat this.”

Cui Yunzhao was momentarily taken aback but smiled at her, saying, “Thank you for your concern, elder sister.”

Huo Xinzhi, who hadn’t expected her to respond so warmly, and her cold face became even more stiff. She lowered her head and fell silent.

Aunt Lin Xiu, not noticing any discord between the sisters-in-law, cheerfully said, “Oh dear, I forgot to ask what you like to eat. Just let Qiao know what you want.”

Cui Yunzhao responded obediently, “Yes, Mother.”

Upon hearing this address, Aunt Lin Xiu glanced at her cautiously, then looked again.

Cui Yunzhao: “?”

She looked at Aunt Lin Xiu with confusion as Aunt Lin Xiu awkwardly said, “My dear daughter-in-law, please don’t call me ‘Mother’ in such a fancy way, it feels a bit uncomfortable.”

Cui Yunzhao thought for a moment and then smoothly replied, “Alright, Mother.”

Aunt Lin Xiu immediately brightened up and responded with a raised voice, “Ah!”

Cui Yunzhao gently pressed her ear and smiled helplessly.

After the meal, Cui Yunzhao and Huo Tan went back to rest.

In these past few days, Cui Yunzhao had been quite exhausted. Only after organizing her thoughts about the matters at hand did she feel the weariness catch up with her.

She lay down for her afternoon nap and ended up sleeping for over an hour, waking only when the sun had begun to set in the west.

In the evening, Cui Yunzhao did not join for dinner.

She had Tao Fei buy twenty meat buns from the street and had Li Qing make a pot of red bean and millet porridge. Accompanied by Qiao’s only decent pickled radish, they had a pleasant meal together.

Of course, out of the twenty meat buns, she ate one, Huo Tan had five, Li Qing and Tao Fei each had two, and the remaining ten were sent to the main house.

After their meal, they waited a bit. Without needing to be called, Huo Tan led her to the main house.

Since the old lady was not home, Huo Tan took the seat of honor directly. Cui Yunzhao then sat across from Huo Xinzhi, and the family gathered around. Huo Chengpu, unaware that the meeting was specifically about him, looked puzzled but kept his head down, silent. This child, even his confusion was not expressed.

Cui Yunzhao looked at him and sighed helplessly in her heart.

Aunt Lin Xiu, not very adept with words, knew a bit about the situation, so she looked at Huo Tan.

Huo Tan cleared his throat and asked Huo Chengpu, “Twelfth Brother, would you like to go to the academy to study?”

Huo Chengpu was surprised that he was the first to be asked. He stiffened for a moment, then abruptly looked up.

With the fading sunlight and the warm glow…

The setting sun painted the sky with fiery red clouds, and Cui Yunzhao clearly saw a red mark on the sharp chin of the young boy.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow, it was the most beautiful time of day, but Cui Yunzhao’s mood was heavy.

Seeing him, she couldn’t help but think of her younger sister from her past life.

Huo Tan immediately noticed the red mark on Huo Chengpu’s face.

He narrowed his eyes but did not immediately inquire about it. Instead, he calmly said, “Twelfth Brother, your sister-in-law knows of several prestigious academies. After discussing it with her, we’re planning to send you to one of them to study.”

This time, he wasn’t asking.

He had made a decision.

The matter was settled.

However, it wasn’t Huo Chengpu who opposed the decision the most.

Beside the young boy, Huo Chengzhuang, who had already started to look more like a young man, jumped up in disbelief.

He looked at Huo Tan with astonishment and said, “Elder Brother, how can you do this to Ah Pu?”