Madam Chen heard Su Muqing's words and spoke with disdain. Did she really think she was someone who could boss around maids? Not showing any respect to elders at all.
“Oh, my dear Qing-jie! In this day and age, where can you find spoiled food? If you can't finish it, your cousins, like my Er Bao, can help you! We are all from the same ancestral line. We don't find you unlucky anymore. Don't let outsiders, who aren't even considered servants, waste this good grain!”
So, they don't find her unlucky anymore? That means they did find her unlucky before. Heh, how laughable. Did she consider herself someone extraordinary?
“So, this is how Aunt Chen Er thinks? Eldest Aunt, please remind Eldest Uncle later not to divide that bag of silver with Aunt Chen Er's family. Lest they be tainted by my bad luck. And if any other families feel I bring bad luck, you can mention it all. I'll keep the silver for myself. I certainly won't spread my bad luck to your homes!” Su Muqing said loudly, her eyes sweeping across the entire hall as she finished.
Madam Wang, being an adult, would certainly not rashly respond. But Su Cui Ping didn't care. "Muqing, don't worry, I'll tell my father later."
Upon hearing that she wouldn't receive any silver, Madam Chen immediately became anxious. She quickly explained, "Hey! You girl... When did I say you were unlucky? I just said we don't mind..."
Su Muqing interrupted her. "No! I don't need your aunt's acceptance. Just consider me being extra cautious. I worry about spreading bad luck to you all. Wouldn't that mean I've offended you? It's better not to divide the silver then. I'll keep this bad luck to myself!"
Now, because of Madam Chen, the anger of the crowd was truly ignited. The people in the hall heard this and realized they wouldn't get any silver either? What did this have to do with them? They hadn't said anything at all. The mood of watching the show was gone, and the crowd immediately erupted.
“Qing-yatou, this has nothing to do with us~”
“Exactly! Qing-yatou. How can you change your words so easily?”
“That’s right, whoever finds her unlucky can choose not to take it! I don't find her unlucky anyway!”
...
“Madam Chen, are you bored and looking for trouble? What business is it of yours regarding Young Miss Qing’s food?”
“Exactly! Lazy and greedy all day long, with eyes always fixed on other people’s rice pots.”
“Madam Chen, did the food you just ate not block your stinky mouth?” Third Grandma, supported by her eldest daughter-in-law, walked in from outside and immediately heard that lazy woman bickering with Muqing-yatou. She then let out a loud reprimand.
Her second daughter-in-law was truly foolish. Muqing-yatou had just found a large bag of silver yesterday and was planning to distribute it to the villagers. Now everyone was trying to please Qing-yatou, and this lazy woman was still arguing with her. Was she trying to cut off the family's fortune?
Seeing that everyone was targeting her, Madam Chen became a little anxious. Her mother-in-law already disliked her, and if she didn't handle this properly, she might truly be kicked out of the house.
“No, Mother. I really didn’t say those things... I was thinking of Qing-yatou’s well-being! I was afraid outsiders would eat all her food. I was truly doing it for her...” Madam Chen saw her mother-in-law’s expression and her explanation grew softer. She was almost crying from anxiety!
She had just seen how good the food was for the two girls and felt a bit unbalanced. She had said those few words out of spite, thinking that perhaps the two shy girls could be coaxed into giving her some food.
Since fleeing the disaster, the old hag of the family hadn’t let her cook. She was punished by not getting to eat last night, and the porridge she cooked today was so thin it could be used as a mirror. She was truly starving!
Seeing Su Muqing's unhappy expression, Third Grandma feared they would really not receive the silver. She quickly went to smooth things over. “Qing-yatou, Third Grandma apologizes to you. Don’t mind my foolish daughter-in-law. Xiao Rong, this girl, seems like a good one. Just ignore her, Third Grandma will definitely teach her a good lesson later.”
Su Muqing saw Third Grandma speaking this way and felt it wasn’t right to hold on to it any longer. “Since Third Grandma has said so, then we'll let this matter pass for today. However, I must say again, Xiao Rong will be my, Su Muqing’s, sister from now on, not some maid or servant. What is our situation now? Who can afford servants? Everyone is in a difficult situation fleeing. Life is already hard enough. Why should we try to make others feel bad? In such circumstances, we should help and support each other. Only then can we reach the end together in harmony. Don’t you agree?”
“That’s right, that’s right! Everyone is struggling now. And we are all from the same village. Let’s not say any more sharp and sarcastic words.” An aunt who couldn’t stand Madam Chen said, giving her a fierce glare as she spoke. She almost caused everyone to not receive any silver. What a harmful person!