Let's Pawn Those Jewelry Sets!

Madam Cui felt incredibly aggrieved; why should she treat this ungrateful wretch so well?

She treated these children as her own, but she never expected them to be ungrateful wolves and tigers.

Cui Shaoyu frowned and said, "Mother, sister, they've both fainted from the pain, and you've only just shown up. Isn't that going too far?"

Cui Shaoting couldn't help but speak up, "Mother, Zhiyi has grown up in front of you, and she's much more considerate and obedient than Zhining. You shouldn't treat her like this."

Madam Cui smiled faintly and said:

"No matter how sweet and obedient she is, she's not my biological daughter. Of course, I have to keep an eye on my own daughter."

You all know Ningning needs constant care; her father and two brothers are here. What do I have to worry about?

Cui Wenyuan suddenly shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting? I'm just her uncle, not her father!"

Madam Cui scoffed, "So she's not her father! I thought she was your biological daughter!"

Cui Wenyuan wasn't in the mood for arguing with her. He suddenly said, "You should still have a lot of money, right? Hiring a famous doctor costs a lot of money these days. Take out all the money you have on you!"

Madam Cui looked at him calmly and said, "Where would I get money? I'm penniless now. Didn't I already give you my dowry?"

Cui Wenyuan frowned and said, "Why do you always like to bring this up? Now that you've married into the Cui Family, isn't your dowry part of the Cui Family's?"

Good heavens, this Cui Wenyuan is a real scoundrel.

Madam Cui smiled faintly and said:

"I treat Cui Zhiyi like my own daughter. If I still have any money on me, I will definitely give it to her."

But I'm really penniless right now. Why don't you borrow some money from the relatives here?

Cui Wenyuan glared at her and said, "How can I ask them for money? Don't I have any shame?"

Madam Cui said helplessly, "Then there's nothing we can do."

Cui Wenyuan looked at her and said, "I remember you still have a few sets of jewelry. Why don't you pawn them?"

Madam Cui smiled wryly, "I only have two sets of jewelry left. I need to attend banquets regularly, so what am I supposed to wear?"

Cui Wenyuan replied matter-of-factly, "Is Cui Zhiyi's illness more important, or are your two sets of jewelry more important?"

Madam Cui was silent for a moment before saying, "Alright, I understand. I'll go out and pawn the item in a bit."

She turned and went back to her room, staring blankly at the two sets of jewelry. These were Madam Cui's most treasured dowry, and the only dignity she had left.

One is a headdress made of red gold, kingfisher feathers, and inlaid with pearls, featuring five phoenixes holding pearls in their mouths.

The other piece is a filigree headdress inlaid with rubies and begonias for a spring banquet.

Madam Cui sneered, "Utterly shameless to the extreme."

The old nanny beside her stepped forward and said, "Madam, are we really going to pawn these two pieces of jewelry to cover his debts?"

Madam Cui snorted coldly and said:

"Pawning? Why should I sell my dowry to fill the hole left by this hypocrite?"

I had already written back to my parents' home and told my brother everything that had happened here.

I want a divorce from him. From now on, I'll sever all ties with this hypocrite.

"Over the years, the Cui Family has squandered all of my dowry, and now they want to take what little dignity I have left."

I will not only divorce them, but I will also make sure the Cui Family has a good time.

He owes me, and what he's swallowed, I will make him return with interest, every last penny.

"So what should we do now?"

Madam Cui placed the gold and kingfisher feather inlaid pearl headdress with five phoenixes holding pearls into the box and said, "Let's go find Zhou Wanwan and ask her what to do."

"But... but she's only six years old!"

Madam Cui smiled slightly and said:

"So what if she's six? Don't you think she knows too much?"

This is my sincerity.

When Madam Cui arrived at Zhou Wanwan's residence, she saw Cui Zhining diligently practicing martial arts.

Madam Cui smiled and said, "Ningning, are you doing well here?"

Cui Zhining smiled and said:

"Mom, I'm doing great here. I eat well and live comfortably."

This morning I ate three meat buns, a bowl of plain noodles, and a bowl of wontons. So delicious!

Madam Cui patted her head and said, "Ningning, stay obediently by your mistress's side and listen to her, understand?"

Cui Zhining quickly nodded and said:

"I'm very obedient! I'll do whatever Miss tells me to do."

My martial arts master also said that I have great talent, and that given time, my skills will surpass those of many people.

Madam Cui looked at her, wiped away her tears, and said:

"Ningning, it's all my fault for delaying you."

If you were a child, I would have hired a martial arts instructor for you; you might be quite skilled by now.

Cui Zhining looked at her and said:

"Mom, are you unhappy?"

If you're unhappy, why don't you live with me and we'll serve the young lady together, okay?

The young lady is very easy to talk to; she even tells us stories at night.

Madam Cui smiled and said, "Alright! We'll talk about it later!"

Zhou Wanwan came out and looked at her, saying, "Madam Cui, is there something you need?"

Madam Cui took out the set of jewelry and said:

"Miss Wanwan, this is a gift for you, a small token of my appreciation."

I'm currently facing some difficulties; could you please help me?

I don't know what to do.

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said:

"I won't accept this jewelry; it's quite important to you."

"You want me to help you, but have you thought about what you actually want?"

Madam Cui looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"I want to find out the truth. I want to know whose children Cui Zhiyi, Cui Shaoting, and Cui Shaoyu are?"

Where are my two sons?

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said:

"Madam Cui, since you've made Ningning my maid, we're in the same boat."

I'll be frank with some things: back then, the Cui Family was after your dowry.

As for your two children, they are dead; they were drowned.

Cui Zhining was under a spell, but she was exceptionally gifted and survived.

Madam Cui's face turned deathly pale. "How could this be? Who exactly is that woman, that Cui Wenyuan would do such a thing?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said, "You should also know this woman; she's Cui Zhiyi's mother, Liu Meiniang."

Madam Cui's face changed drastically. "It's her? Isn't she my uncle's aunt?"

Zhou Wanwan sighed and said:

"Aunt? No, she is Cui Wenyuan's mistress, and everyone in the Cui Family knows this."

Everything they do is aimed at squeezing every last drop of your dowry.

And you have to willingly hand over these dowries.

Therefore, Cui Wenyuan feigned deep affection.

Madam Cui, covered in sweat, said:

"Hahahaha... All these years, I've been completely open and honest with him. What kind of people have I been raising?"

What a family of beasts! What am I supposed to do now?

Zhou Wanwan led her to the back storeroom and said, "Take a look and see if these are your dowry? I found them at the Cui Family's old house."