Grandma Evans's Worries

Grandma Evans drove Helen Parker and May Parker away, her face looking rather odd as she entered the courtyard. She called out to Margaret Evans, "Second daughter-in-law, come here, I have something to discuss with you."

Lily Evans stepped in front of Margaret Evans, eyeing Grandma Evans warily. "Whatever you want to say, say it in front of me."

Grandma Evans snapped, "You little brat, watch your mouth! Do you think I want to eat your mother? Move aside!"

Margaret Evans quietly said to Lily Evans, "Lily, let me talk to your grandmother."

Lily Evans looked at Margaret Evans suspiciously, but seeing her mother's determination, she stepped aside and stood at a distance, ready to rush in if Grandma Evans tried to hit her mother.

Once Lily Evans was far enough away, Grandma Evans lowered her voice and said, "Second daughter-in-law, have you heard about Arthur Evans coming back?"

Margaret Evans responded with a simple hum. How could she not know?

Seeing Margaret Evans' indifferent reaction, Grandma Evans felt a bit awkward but pressed on, "Arthur has been wandering for so many years, it hasn't been easy for him. Now that he's finally come home and recognized his family, all I want is for our Evans family to live in peace. I don't want any gossip spreading around. If anyone tries to make life hard for our family, I won't let them off easy."

Margaret Evans was much calmer facing Grandma Evans now, no longer as fearful as before. She replied steadily, "I'm not one to gossip or spread rumors. But I'm not the only one who knows the truth. If someone else talks, there's nothing I can do about it."

Grandma Evans saw that Margaret Evans agreed, and her expression softened a little. "Good. Just keep it to yourself and don't let Arthur hear about it. As long as you keep quiet, there will be benefits for you in the future."

Margaret Evans shook her head and said, "I don't need any benefits. My daughter, son-in-law, and I are doing just fine. You live your life, we'll live ours, as long as we don't bother each other."

Grandma Evans glanced at Margaret Evans, hesitated, but ultimately said nothing and turned to leave.

Margaret Evans watched Grandma Evans's back, a hint of sarcasm in her smile. Lily Evans came over, worried, and took her mother's hand. "Mom, what did she say to you? Did she bully you?"

Margaret Evans shook her head, "Her? I bet she hasn't slept well these days."

"Why? Her wealthy youngest son has returned to the family, why would she lose sleep?" Lily Evans asked curiously.

Margaret Evans pulled Lily Evans to sit down. "Not many people know about this, but I'll tell you. Back then, your fourth uncle wasn't kidnapped as a child—your grandparents sold him."

"When your fourth uncle was born, he had an illness from the womb. The doctor said it would take five taels of silver to cure him. Your grandparents couldn't bear to spend the money. They already had three sons and didn't care about the fourth, so they left the newborn by the roadside. It was winter, snowing heavily, and they wrapped him in a rag and abandoned him. Luckily, fate was kind, and a merchant couple passing by rescued him."

"The merchant couple had been childless for years and were kindhearted. They decided to raise the abandoned child as their own. The couple managed to save up five taels of silver to treat the boy's illness. But when your grandparents found out, they showed up at the merchant couple's door, accused them of kidnapping, and demanded twenty taels of silver, threatening to report them as human traffickers if they didn't pay."

"The merchant couple was innocent and refused to admit to kidnapping. But your grandparents saw how much the couple cared for the boy, so they said, 'If you don't pay twenty taels, you can't take the child. You can just watch him die from his illness.'"