Old Mrs. Chen stood in the courtyard and watched Xie Rulan and the others leave before she turned back into the house.
"Chen," Old Mrs. Chen looked at Xie Liangchen, "tell Grandma, did your Second Uncle say something?"
Xie Liangchen's injuries hadn't completely healed, and talking too much made her a bit dizzy. She was about to close her eyes to rest when she sensed someone approaching.
Chen Zigeng tiptoed and placed the pillow behind Xie Liangchen.
Chen Zigeng said, "Sister, your injury hasn't healed yet, rest a bit."
Hearing her younger brother's tender voice, Xie Liangchen felt a warm wave course through her heart.
Chen Zigeng looked outside the door, his eyes flashed with anger and injustice: "Second Master Xie wants to marry his daughter to the Su Family, right? I noticed Second Madam Xie seemed very interested in the Su Family's housekeeper. When the housekeeper left, Miss Xie stopped her."
Old Mrs. Chen verified with Xie Liangchen: "Is it as your brother said?"
Xie Liangchen nodded, "Granddaughter also guessed so."
"That damned wretch," Old Mrs. Chen cursed, "doesn't know how to plot elsewhere and insists on reaching into her own family."
"The Su Family isn't any better," Chen Zigeng said, "I heard Sister wants to break off the engagement, and they're all hurrying out to report."
"They're bullying Miss Chen because she doesn't have parents to stand up for her." At this point, Old Mrs. Chen's eyes reddened, but she forced her wrinkled old face up and choked back the tears.
She couldn't cry; she had to stand up for Miss Chen.
"Grandmother," Chen Zigeng held Old Mrs. Chen's hand, "just listen to Sister, break off the engagement with the Su Family, and let Sister come home with us. Although we're poor now, I'll definitely earn a title in the future and make lots of silver coin..."
Old Mrs. Chen extended a finger and rapped Chen Zigeng on the head: "Stop boasting, child who wets the bed, talking about titles."
Chen Zigeng's face turned beet red.
Listening to Grandma and Brother speaking up for her in turn, Xie Liangchen couldn't help but smile—a feeling of being cared for which she hadn't experienced in a long time.
Old Mrs. Chen sighed, looking at Xie Liangchen: "Chen, do you really not remember the past?"
Xie Liangchen said, "I don't remember."
"Then do you know where we live?" Old Mrs. Chen feared that her granddaughter would hinder her future after returning home. The Xie Family might be lacking, but Second Master Xie is still a scholar and owns fields and shops; she only has two rooms and a few acres of thin land.
"No matter where Grandmother and Brother live, it's my home," Xie Liangchen understood her grandmother's worries, "Grandmother needn't worry, I may not remember my past, but I know I can read and write, perhaps even do other things. Someday, relying on this, we'll all live well."
Old Mrs. Chen was moved by her granddaughter's words, her nose tingled, yet she remained stubborn: "Children all love to boast, what can they do? In the end, it's still me, this old ox, who bears the burden."
Old Mrs. Chen seemed to complain, but her eyes constantly darted over the two children, soon growing red again.
"Grandmother," Xie Liangchen said, "do you still remember my mother's dowry?"
"I remember," Old Mrs. Chen replied straightforwardly, "they can't deny it. After your parents passed away, I sent your mother's dowry list to the Xie Family, agreed that we wouldn't take the dowry, and it's for your use when you return. During difficult times, I thought of retrieving it. Alas, if I had known the situation today, I should have acted sooner..."
Xie Liangchen knew her grandmother feared falling out with the Xie Family, worried they'd exclude her upon her return.
Xie Liangchen said, "Besides my mother's dowry, Grandmother, do you remember if Father left anything else when he left the Chen Family?"
Old Mrs. Chen pondered: "I don't know about that, I never asked, but I vaguely remember your father bought some mountain land; I don't know what for."
Luckily, Grandma recalled this matter, making Xie Liangchen sigh with relief; it's exactly her father's mountain land that she wants, knowing the Xie Family later earned quite a bit from it.
"Grandmother," Xie Liangchen said, "There's no proof of how much silver father left. Second Uncle might refuse to give it, but those mountain lands must be taken back."
She made her intentions clear to Grandma and Brother, so when discussing it later, she had a plan.
Old Mrs. Chen nodded, "Grandmother knows." Mountain lands may be barren, they harvest little grain all year round, but having some is always good.
Old Mrs. Chen said, "Back then, I told your father about buying good fields, why buy mountain lands? These years, wars have ravaged the land, regular fields barely get cultivated, who would consider mountains?"
"In my opinion, Uncle was clever," Chen Zigeng said in a crisp voice, "If Uncle had bought good fields, Second Master Xie wouldn't give them. Precisely because they are mountain lands, they might be willing to let go."
Chen Zigeng spoke earnestly: "Mr. Zhu said, people shouldn't aim too high. We'd be content retrieving Aunt's dowry and those mountain lands. Mr. Zhu also said General Song won a battle, the North is stable, future wars will be fewer, the court won't recruit soldiers, and fields will gradually get cultivated."
Xie Liangchen smiled at Chen Zigeng, knowing her brother felt they were at a disadvantage, trying to comfort her and Grandma.
She couldn't yet explain the full value of the mountain lands to Grandma and Brother, only said, "Brother is right, the property Father and Mother left me is those mountain lands."
In her previous life, Second Uncle's family seized those lands, wasting her father's efforts; this life, they won't claim a bit.
The trio formed a plan, and Xie Liangchen continued: "There's no time to lose, Grandmother, first retrieve the dowry list from the Xie Family, then invite the elders, I'm an unmarried daughter, legally can inherit part of Father's estate, we won't ask for much, just our due."
Old Mrs. Chen hadn't spoken, but Chen Zigeng said, "I'll go invite them, I know the Xie Family Patriarch, Green Second Grandpa."
Chen Zigeng was only seven, making Xie Liangchen anxious.
Old Mrs. Chen said, "The Patriarch's house isn't far from here, Brother Geng often accompanies me to inquire about you at the Xie Family, especially this year, I go to the West Market while Brother Geng goes alone over there, the Patriarch likes him, so let him go."
Chen Zigeng tidied his robe and quickly headed out.
Watching her brother's tiny figure, Xie Liangchen felt both certain nothing would happen but could not help worrying.
Old Mrs. Chen also observed her granddaughter, for some reason having Chen nearby made her feel much more at ease.
"Grandmother," Xie Liangchen came back to her senses, "please find pen and ink; I must write a letter to break off the engagement."
...
In Second Madam Xie's room, Xie Rulan glanced at her mother's Fish Scale Book.
Second Madam Xie examined each page, reluctant to give any.
"Mother," Xie Rulan suggested, "just find the worst plots to give them."
Second Madam Xie glared at her daughter: "Even thin land is silver, you say it so lightly. Such a forced departure, how can I not be heartbroken?"
Despite saying so, Second Madam Xie sorted the family assets into tiers, the worst being those mountain lands.
Even with the mountain lands, Second Madam Xie was unwilling to release them.
Just then, the housekeeper reported: "Madam, Madam Su is here."
"Who?" Second Madam Xie worried she heard wrong.
"Madam Su," Xie Rulan heard clearly and instantly pulled her mother, "Su Family's Elder Mother's Mother."
Second Madam Xie was stunned; Madam Su was unexpectedly in Zhenzhou Prefecture.
Second Madam Xie hurried to greet her, but the housekeeper said, "Madam Su first went to see the eldest Miss."
Xie Rulan grew anxious, urging, "Mother, let's hurry over." Not knowing what Madam Su and Eldest Sister would discuss.
Madam Su allowed the Xie Family housekeeper to lead her to Xie Liangchen's sickroom, not initially planning to visit, until she received news of Xie Liangchen wanting to break off the engagement.
Madam Su was utterly shocked; she thought Xie Liangchen would try everything to hold onto Huaiqing, marrying Huaiqing would be Xie Liangchen's best prospect. She hadn't expected her to act thus.
So, no matter what Xie Liangchen was up to, Madam Su had to make this trip.
The servant lifted the curtain, and Madam Su strode directly into the room, her gaze first landing on the simply dressed Old Mrs. Chen.
Despite everything, Old Mrs. Chen was an elder; Madam Su paid her respects and then looked at Xie Liangchen on the bed.
Although Xie Liangchen wore no makeup, her skin was as fair as jade, her features outstandingly beautiful yet not fully matured, already captivating.
Such a person definitely shouldn't marry into the Su Family; she would undoubtedly captivate Brother Qing.
Madam Su considered things as she sat by the bed, yet hadn't spoken before hearing Xie Liangchen's clear voice: "I wish to propose a deal, allowing the Su Family to break off this engagement. So when Su Family Elder Brother excels, you can seek a better match; would Madam Su agree?"