Let Lily Evans Pay

Opposite Helen Parker's room was Samuel Evans's study.

Samuel Evans stood gloomily by the window of his study, peering through the half-open window at the bickering Evans family, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt and disgust.

Susan Evans barged in and turned Helen Parker's room upside down. Helen wailed and tried to pull Susan away, but in the end, Susan found twenty taels of silver sewn into the quilt at the bottom of Helen's chest.

Grandma Evans saw the twenty taels of silver and was so furious that her eyes rolled back. She slapped Helen Parker hard across the face. "Well, well, eldest daughter-in-law, you've learned to be a thief and hide money! I really underestimated you!"

Just then, David Evans and Sam Evans came back from the fields, carrying hoes as they walked into the yard, only to find the house in utter chaos.

As soon as Grandma Evans saw her eldest son come home, she rushed to complain: "David, look at your good wife! She hid a whole twenty taels of silver! Samuel Evans wants to get married but has no money, and she can't bear to take it out! David, how do you manage your wife?"

"What? Helen, when did you hide so much money?" David Evans was learning about Helen Parker's stash for the first time. He froze, then instantly flew into a rage and kicked Helen hard. "You wretched woman! Not living properly—what are you hiding all this money for? What are you scheming?"

David Evans was both angry and disheartened. Helen Parker usually sweet-talked him, making him feel she was a good wife. But now, knowing she hid money even from him, his heart turned cold.

After all these years as husband and wife, Helen Parker was still guarding herself against him, not confiding in him. How could David Evans not feel hurt?

Helen Parker took the kick and collapsed to the floor, unable to voice her grievances.

Susan Evans snatched the silver from Helen Parker and handed it straight to Grandma Evans.

Grandma Evans counted the silver, then glared fiercely at Helen Parker. "If you dare hide money again, I'll throw you out!"

Helen Parker sobbed uncontrollably, clutching her chest as if her heart had been torn out.

May Parker stood in the corner, trembling, not daring to make a sound.

Samuel Evans stood at the window, his face expressionless as he watched the scene unfold. He didn't try to stop it, nor did he say a word.

He knew that no matter how much money Helen Parker hid, it would ultimately be used for the Evans family's benefit. Grandma Evans would never let her keep a single copper for herself.

The Evans family's drama was never-ending. Samuel Evans felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He turned away from the window, closed his eyes, and tried to block out the chaos.

No matter how much he tried, he couldn't escape the suffocating grip of the Evans family's endless disputes.

Samuel Evans sighed. This was his fate—bound to the Evans family, no matter how bitter the ties.