USWHC -Chapter 314 Lucky Parents (Part 4)

“Don’t go. It’s only a thousand taels of silver, not much. Really, I’ll fetch it in a moment!” Ji Yi quickly grabbed Zhu Jie’s arm.

Only a thousand taels isn’t much? Elder Sister-in-law looked at Ji Yi in disbelief. Even he was saying that? Could it be that inflation had really gotten that bad?

“No need!” Zhu Jie insisted firmly. “I think something’s wrong. They can’t be my parents!”

“Not your parents? How do you know?” both Elder Sister-in-law and Ji Yi asked in unison.

Zhu Jie hesitated for a moment before saying, “First, my mother… well, officially speaking, my mother is already dead, so she couldn’t possibly have come.”

Officially speaking, her mother was dead… unofficially, could she have faked her death? Elder Sister-in-law rolled her eyes at Zhu Jie—her way of speaking was getting weirder by the day.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Jie continued, “My father wouldn’t be after money either. He has no concept of money. A thousand taels to him would barely buy a piece of clothing. How could he possibly offer such a low amount?”

What? Clothing worth a thousand taels? Who could even afford that? Elder Sister-in-law was even more stunned.

Zhu Jie went on, “Besides, the way you came here is strange. If my father had really come, you’d probably all have been arrested already. My mother? She’d just snap them in half. How could you even quarrel with her? Impossible!” She said this with absolute conviction.

Her parents… what kind of people were they? Bandits? That fierce? Coming straight in to grab and kill people?

“So they definitely aren’t my parents!” Zhu Jie declared with certainty.

“If they aren’t your parents, then who are they?” Elder Sister-in-law exclaimed in shock. Fake parents existed now? And Zhu Jie wasn’t a three-year-old child—she wasn’t going to just let people say anything without protest. This was outrageous!

At this point, Zhu Jie fell silent, hesitating, muttering softly, “I guess… they’re con artists.”

Con artists? Were con artists bold enough nowadays to openly come to someone’s home and snatch a bride? This was outrageous!

“Come on, let’s go check and we’ll know for sure!” Zhu Jie, now calm and collected, finally let out a sigh of relief.

Ji Yi looked at her, seeing her so certain, and found himself half convinced. He didn’t know exactly who Zhu Jie was, but he trusted her wisdom—she wouldn’t mistake her own parents.

When they reached the Ji family again, the place was still bustling. Before even entering, they could hear Old Madam Ji shouting, “Who do you think your daughter is? A thousand taels of silver? You’ve got some nerve! I’m telling you, your daughter is no longer a young maiden—she’s not worth a thing now. I suggest you speak nicely to us; maybe we’ll continue to take care of her. Otherwise? No money, and you take her back—you’ll see how you get out of that situation!”

At that moment, she looked up and caught Zhu Jie’s icy gaze. Well, Old Madam Ji immediately shut her mouth. It seemed she had offended Zhu Jie as well!

Zhu Jie didn’t respond, instead raising her voice: “Who are my parents?” She swept her eyes across everyone present, as if she genuinely didn’t recognize them.

Was she foolish? Not even recognizing her own parents?

Almost at the same time, the old lady staggered forward and grabbed Zhu Jie tightly, crying, “Zhu’er! What’s wrong? Have you lost your memory?”

“Rubbish! You don’t even recognize your father!” the old man said angrily, though his words were firm.

“Hmph, shameless! You dare impersonate my parents? Aren’t you afraid you’ll get your brains blown out?” Zhu Jie sneered contemptuously.

At this moment, she even had the leisure to scrutinize the elderly couple. The old lady was dressed in dark red patterned silk, her hair carefully tied in a bun with a jeweled silver hairpin, her face made up with powder, eyes looking large, cheekbones seemingly shaded to make them appear higher.