Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands

Chapter 470 - 0445 Zhao Family Follow-up (2)_2

Li Yuzhu agreed.

They then took a detour to the old lady’s residence.

When Old Mrs. Zhao saw them coming, she was taken aback at first and asked the person beside her who had arrived.

Before the person beside her could answer, she herself said, "Isn’t this Tian Lang’s mother? Has Tian Lang cried recently after being weaned?" Old Mrs. Zhao pointed to Sister-in-law Chai and laughed.

Sister-in-law Chai, "..." She was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Was the old lady clear-minded or confused?

"He has been weaned and hasn’t cried anymore. He eats with such joy now, great-aunt." Sister-in-law Chai said with a smile.

"Oh, that’s good, that’s good," Old Mrs. Zhao nodded, then asked Li Yuzhu, "Which family’s young lady is this?"

Everyone looked at Li Yuzhu, their expressions turning somber.

"Old lady, my surname is Li. I am Sister-in-law Chai’s sister-in-law’s sister-in-law." Li Yuzhu smiled.

"Sister-in-law’s sister-in-law?" Old Mrs. Zhao tilted her head, thinking, "What kind of relative is that?"

Li Yuzhu laughed again, "Just call me Yu Zhu, old lady. I might come to visit you often."

Old Mrs. Zhao was delighted and said, "Good, good. I just love you young girls. Let me tell you, I was really good at dressing up; none of the girls who played with me could dress up as well as I did..."

She rambled on randomly, with no logic.

Names and relationships were all mixed up.

Everyone listened, laughed, and agreed, yet no one corrected her.

Because even if corrected, she would forget later on.

She only remembered her logic, her world.

As she spoke, Old Mrs. Zhao started to doze off, closing her eyes to rest.

Beside her, the nanny waved at everyone, signaling to Sister-in-law Chai and the others that they could leave.

Fifth Miss Zhao stood up and said softly, "It might be several days before I can come to see Grandmother again."

The nanny sighed and said, "It’s important for Fifth Miss to get treatment. No need to come every day, the old lady is confused and won’t remember."

Fifth Miss Zhao pursed her lips, glanced at Old Mrs. Zhao, and nodded lightly.

Sister-in-law Chai and Li Yuzhu left with Fifth Miss Zhao.

Upon leaving the old lady’s courtyard, as if waking from a trance, Fifth Miss Zhao noticed another maid following them, and her gaze turned colder.

This was her mother’s maid, coming here alone without her mother? Is she busy again?

"Why are you here? Did Mother have any instructions?" Fifth Miss Zhao glanced at the maid and asked coolly.

The maid smiled and said, "Fifth Miss, Mrs. Zhao said she has to go out now and doesn’t have time to see you get treatment, but rest assured, Miss, whatever you need, she has instructed the housekeeper, and you will not be wronged."

Why was she wronged before? She even had to buy a pot outside because the kitchen said there weren’t enough pots to brew her medicine?

Fifth Miss Zhao had seen too much over the past few days, and her heart had grown a bit numb. She said with a cold expression, "Understood."

They returned to the small house where Fifth Miss Zhao lived.

Li Yuzhu checked the bedroom and said, "Let’s first bring a screen."

Even though Fifth Miss Zhao was a daughter of a wealthy family, she didn’t even have a screen to shield her bed for privacy.

Opening the window revealed the bed immediately.

Fifth Miss Zhao slightly curled her lips, looking at her mother’s maid, "Did you hear clearly?"

The maid was startled and replied, "Yes, I heard clearly."

Once the screen was brought in, Li Yuzhu asked for a brazier, a basin for hot water, and a basin for cold water.

She also requested several clean cloths and some menstrual cloths.

When everything was prepared, she placed everyone outside the bedroom, "I will open the door in about half an hour." After speaking, she closed the door.

Standing in front of the bed, Fifth Miss Zhao, a bit nervous, her face pale, asked, "Can we start now?"

Li Yuzhu came forward, held her hand, and comforted her, "Don’t be afraid. I’ll apply the powder for anesthesia, it won’t hurt, it will only take less than half an hour."

Then she explained some post-surgery instructions, like avoiding moving around, resting quietly indoors, eating light foods, and avoiding constipation, etc.

Fifth Miss Zhao nodded, "I remember."

Li Yuzhu smiled slightly, "Then let’s start, take off your clothes and lie on the bed."

Fifth Miss Zhao bit her lip, "...Okay."

When she lay on the bed, Fifth Miss Zhao secretly thought, there’s nothing good about staying in this house. She wanted to take Grandmother back to the old mansion outside the city to live.

After all, no one here took care of Grandmother; she might as well.

.

Fifth Miss Zhao’s operation was very successful. Seven days later, Li Yuzhu came to tell her that she could go out normally now.

Besides the exceptional reward of a hundred taels from Mrs. Zhao, Fifth Miss Zhao also gave a consultation fee, a box of jewelry.

She said with bitterness, "I have no money, all my money was taken by my mother, and only these items are left with me. I hope Miss Li doesn’t mind."

Although it was just a box of pearl hairpins and earrings, not particularly exquisite, there were about a dozen pieces, filling half the box, worth about two to three hundred taels.

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Are you giving me your dowry?"

Fifth Miss Zhao said, "I don’t plan to marry, what do I need a dowry for?"

Li Yuzhu asked, "What do you plan to do from now on?" Not marrying, staying in the Zhao family forever?

Her mother, Mrs. Zhao, was so indifferent to her. It was said that the marriage alliance with the Qian Family was orchestrated by Mrs. Zhao herself; perhaps Fifth Miss Zhao already harbored resentment towards Mrs. Zhao. Could she live here in peace?

Li Yuzhu worried about her mental and physical well-being.

Fifth Miss Zhao said, "We have an old mansion outside the city, I will take Grandmother there to live tomorrow. There, the house has over a dozen rooms, enough for us and some servants."

This arrangement seemed good; living in the countryside could calm the mind.

Moreover, Old Mrs. Zhao needed rest, and having Fifth Miss Zhao accompany her would be considered a blessing in her later years.

"I will see you off tomorrow," Li Yuzhu said.

Fifth Miss Zhao gratefully held her hand, "Thank you, Miss Li."

.

The next day, at the break of dawn, Li Yuzhu and Sister-in-law Chai arrived at the Zhao family home.

In front of the Zhao family’s residence, two carriages were already parked, along with two mule carts loaded with luggage boxes.

Two servants on horseback escorted the vehicles, one in front and one behind.

Fifth Miss Zhao was already seated inside one of the carriages. She lifted the curtain and waved at Li Yuzhu and Sister-in-law Chai, "We are about to leave for the countryside."

Through the carriage window, Sister-in-law Chai said, "We will see you off."

Fifth Miss Zhao gave them a slight smile and lowered the curtain.

Led by the Zhao family servants, the vehicles and horses began to move towards the city gate.

In the foremost carriage sat Old Mrs. Zhao and Fifth Miss Zhao.

Old Mrs. Zhao had her eyes closed resting, while Fifth Miss Zhao held a copper box in her arms.

Also inside the carriage was the old lady’s nanny. The nanny said, "Fifth Miss, this is from the old lady to you. She said to open it outside the family gate. Now that we’ve left the Zhao family’s main gate, you can open it and see. The key is with you; it’s the one she gave you when you were a child."

Fifth Miss Zhao glanced at Old Mrs. Zhao, full of doubts. How could the confused old lady think of gifting her something? And still remember the key given to her at the age of ten?

Back then, she was perplexed as to why only a key was given without a lock, and what the key opened for. Old Mrs. Zhao never said, and she, being always obedient, didn’t ask much. So it was for this box today?

What was inside the box?

Fifth Miss Zhao was full of curiosity, removed the small key from the red string around her neck, and unlocked the box.

Upon seeing the contents, she was shocked.

Inside the box was a thick stack of silver notes and some land deeds.

She counted, there were silver notes of fifty thousand taels and five hundred acres of land deeds.