My domineering ex-husband is living off his wife in ancient times.

Chapter 24: Has he already been sold into servitude?

Cheng Ruoan crossed his arms and watched with amusement as Zhao's old face turned from green to white, a spectacle more captivating than a Sichuan opera face-changing act.

"Mother, are you planning to coax me into doing things for the second wife's family first, and then turn your back on me afterward?"

Zhao scolded her: "I'm talking to your second brother-in-law, how dare you interrupt? Get out!"

"Fine, I'm going out now, don't beg me to come back." Cheng Ruoan sneered and reached out to ask Si Shaoheng to carry her on his back.

As soon as Si Erlang woke up, he heard Cheng Ruoan about to quit, and immediately called out weakly, "Third sister-in-law, you...you wait a minute!"

He was the most shrewd person in the Si family, so how could he not know that the only way to bring his son and daughter-in-law back from the Li family was through the method his third brother had mentioned?

Cheng Ruoan is an indispensable part of this method.

After all, it's true that Li stole her dowry and jewelry before.

Furthermore, Li took all the stylish clothes that she couldn't wear in the village back to her parents' home.

Not only did he know this, but the Li family also knew it.

Cheng Ruoan said impatiently, "Let it go."

Si Shaoheng raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. She explained to him in a low voice, "It's a simplified version of 'spit it out'."

"Pfft." Si Shaoheng couldn't help but laugh.

It's clear that Cheng Ruoan is very annoyed with the second wife's family; she doesn't want to say a single word to Si Lao Er.

Si Erlang smiled apologetically, "What I wanted to say was, sister-in-law, don't worry. As long as you can bring your second sister-in-law and two nephews back, I'll make sure she returns all the jewelry she mistakenly took from you. You two hurry up..."

Cheng Ruoan interrupted him: "Words are useless. You sign this document and I will go with Sanlang to pick up the person. If you don't sign it, then there's no point in talking."

“Sister-in-law, it’s not that I don’t want to paint. It’s just that I’m injured and can’t even hold a brush properly right now. As for whether or not to sign the painting… we’re all family, why be so serious? Do you think your second brother would renege on your promise?”

"My husband, carry me on your back~"

"Draw! Can I sign it?"

Si Lao Er gritted his teeth, took the pen and paper, and signed and sealed the document.

She glanced at Si Shaoheng several times with a hint of resentment, but Si Shaoheng remained standing to the side, eyes downcast and not uttering a single word.

Si Lao Er was furious.

Over the years, they had become accustomed to the Cheng family being a pushover, allowing them to manipulate and take whatever they wanted.

I don't know about the other rooms, but their second room is right next to the third room. The couple is used to it; if they don't have anything to eat or use, they just go to the third room to get it.

Back when Si Sanlang was still lame, as long as they didn't touch his things and flattered him, Li could take whatever she wanted, including Cheng's dowry and gifts from her family.

Now they're asking them to vomit it up? What's the difference between that and tearing out their heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys?

Forget it. Getting them out of here is the priority. We'll figure out a way to scam the third brother later...

Si Erlang reluctantly handed the document to Cheng Ruoan, saying, "Here, keep it safe and hurry up and rescue the people."

Cheng Ruoan was very satisfied to see that there was not only his signature but also his handprint on it.

"My husband, let's go!"

Si Shaoheng carried Cheng Ruoan on his back and left without saying a word, like a "well-behaved" mount.

As soon as the person left, Zhao sat by Si Erlang's bedside, pounding her chest and stamping her feet: "Look at your brother, look at how that little hussy Cheng has manipulated him now."

It's all your brothers' fault for not having enough money to help him with his scientific expedition. It's also the fault of the heavens for being angry, with either severe drought or earthquakes causing a complete crop failure at home. And then there's your father..."

Si Erlang listened as his elderly mother cried and muttered beside him, blaming everything and everything, even their father for dying too early, but never blaming herself.

She has always favored the third son, and over the years she has been beating and scolding Cheng Shi, yet she still hasn't managed to control her.

Otherwise, how could the Cheng family have taken advantage of the earthquake to turn the tables and seize power?

"Alright, Mom, stop crying, it's giving me a headache."

Even if you cry, you can't make it seem like we bought that whole cartload of grain outside.

"We're obliged to help them, and since we're going to be traveling with the Cheng and Xia families, it's only right that we listen to our third sister-in-law."

But the journey is the journey. Once they arrive at the Si family's territory, with the old Si family's relatives there, he doesn't believe that Cheng Ruoan can still run the family.

The Cheng family only made money because Aunt Cheng had the skill of making tofu, so they had a strong backbone.

Once he gets his hands on the Cheng family's tofu-making recipe, and his second branch makes money, won't the entire Si family be under his control, Si Erlang?

*

The Li family lived in one or six villages on the outskirts of the city.

The village is small, but because it is close to the county town and near the official road, it has become as lively as a town over time. Unlike other villages, the houses here were not built randomly, but rather three alleys were built around the only well in the village.

The Li family courtyard is located in Jingqian Lane. If you turn left after leaving the courtyard and walk straight through the lane, you will be able to reach the main road leading to the county town.

At that time, the gate of the Li family's courtyard was open, and there were some neighbors by the gate, looking inside and chatting amongst themselves.

Cheng Ruoan and Si Shaoheng came from the end of the alley and saw the commotion in front of the Li family's house from afar.

She patted Si Shaoheng on the shoulder: "I feel like something's happened. Why don't you put me down and go ask the villagers who are watching the commotion?"

Si Shaoheng frowned and gave a deep "hmm": "You can wait for me under the tree by yourself, leaning on your cane."

As they were talking, Si Shaoheng had already carried her to the big willow tree in front of the gate of the neighboring courtyard.

"Alright, I'll sit here and wait for you. Go check on Old Li's family and see how they are. Be careful." Cheng Ruoan, holding her crutch, sat on the stone bench.

"Ah."

She watched as Si Shaoheng went over and asked an old man by the door, but after only a few words, Si Shaoheng took off running towards the alley entrance and quickly disappeared from sight.

"Si Shaoheng!" Cheng Ruoan, unaware of what had happened, stood up and called Si Shaoheng's name, leaning on her cane as she tried to chase after him.

Before they could take two steps, a disheveled woman rushed out of the Li family's courtyard.

The woman looked like she had rolled on the ground; her clothes were tattered and dirty, and her hair was disheveled. She pushed through the crowd and saw Cheng Ruoan under the big willow tree. She then ran over shouting.

"Third sister-in-law, help!"

Cheng Ruoan was startled and stopped, staring wide-eyed at the woman rushing towards him.

Oh, it's her second sister-in-law, Li.

"Third sister-in-law, please save Ershuan and Erzhu! They've been taken away!"

Li was crying loudly, and after she had only said one sentence, three more women squeezed out of the Li family's courtyard.

Judging from their attire, they should be Li's mother and Li's two sisters-in-law.

"Li Xianglan, where are you running off to?! Hurry up and go with your master, don't run away from work on your very first day of being sold into servitude!"

As they spoke, they reached out to grab Li.

Startled, Li shrank back and hid behind Cheng Ruoan.

Cheng Ruoan: ...

No, Ms. Li, are you being polite?

She was limping, using crutches, and looked unsteady on her feet, yet Li was hiding behind her?!

But she still reached out to stop the woman who wanted to grab Li, and asked, "Wait, you're saying Li Xianglan has already sold herself?"