USWHC -Chapter 319 Lucky Parents (Part 9)

“Forget it. Seeing as the in-laws aren’t easy to deal with, and our daughter will have to live here anyway, let’s compromise. Four hundred taels of silver it is!” Old Madam Zhu spoke up. This was essentially breaking even—the four hundred taels were theirs anyway! Not even counting lost labor, right?

But Old Madam Ji shook her head with murderous intent, as if guarding her life itself: “No! That worn-out woman isn’t worth that much. If you insist, ten taels of silver—that’s just buying a servant!”

“Ten taels?” Zhu Shishi burst into tears. After all these years of being a con artist, she realized for the first time: she had no bargaining skills at all! Look at them—offering a thousand, and she only demands ten. And she herself… had just been swindled out of five hundred taels!

She suddenly felt disheartened. Had she been a reckless con artist all these years? Forgive me, Master Ancestor!

“Are you kidding? Ten taels of silver? You couldn’t even marry a wife in your village with that!” Old Zhu also got serious.

Just then, Zhu Jie spoke calmly, almost reproachfully: “Are you really my parents? Why are you always worrying about money and never about me?”

Her words stirred the villagers into discussion: “Is the Zhu family really just here to extort money?”

“Are these really her parents? Why don’t they care about their daughter’s illness? She finally recognized them, and now they don’t want her?”

But Old Madam Ji was still indignant: “Ten taels is ten taels. Not a single tael more. If you don’t agree, fine—take her away and save yourself a meal. I’ll even save some grain!”

What?! This bargaining tactic is ruthless! Offering a grown woman for just ten taels? Is this even allowed?

Old Zhu looked at her stingy face and realized he must have misjudged the situation. Choosing her as the main con artist had been the first wrong step!

He clenched his teeth, stomped his foot, and threatened in a deep voice: “Really not giving it? Then I’ll really take her home!”

“Oh, good! I can go home and eat meat!” Zhu Jie cheered. She couldn’t wait!

Old Zhu glanced anxiously at the Ji family. Wasn’t there anyone reluctant to let Zhu Jie go? She was practically walking toward him—taking her away now would be a loss, right?

“No!” Finally, someone truly cared about Zhu Jie. Old Zhu looked hopefully at that person—turns out it was Ji Yi. Great! He had been generous earlier; maybe they could recover the loss.

Unfortunately, Ji Yi didn’t look at him, but instead whispered something to Zhu Jie.

“You’re really going? If you go crazy, I won’t watch. You’re not allowed to!” Ji Yi said softly into her ear.

Zhu Jie suddenly revealed a mischievous smile: “Don’t worry, I know martial arts. They won’t be able to touch me!”

“Even knowing martial arts won’t help! It’s just a bit of money! I’ll give it to them!” Ji Yi insisted.

Their conversation was so quiet that no one nearby could hear. Old Madam Ji waved Zhu Jie’s hand aside: “Erhan, see? She’s just going back to her parents’ home. Why are you so worried?”

“Exactly! Yi, let her go see her family. Maybe it’ll jog her memory. Even with you here, Zhu Jie has no family—how lonely must that be!” Old Zhu truly believed now that Zhu Jie and those con artists were family. He wanted them to be happy together!

Ji Yi was anxious, but while Old Madam Ji held his hand, Zhu Jie took the initiative to walk toward the con artists. She held Old Madam Zhu’s arm with one hand and Zhu Shishi’s hand with the other, laughing: “Come on, let’s go home!” She looked so excited and happy.

The villagers, seeing her enthusiasm, murmured: “Oh my, has Erhan’s wife really lost her memory?”

“What a lovely family! It almost made me cry! I hope they live well!”

“Dad, aren’t you going?” Old Zhu hesitated, but Zhu Jie turned back with a bright smile, urging him to go.

He sighed long and hard. Fine. Riding a tiger now—he’d go along, play the kidnapper this time, maybe there’s a bright future in it.

By the time Ji Yi freed himself from Old Madam Ji’s grip and turned back, everyone had already left? That was fast! What exactly was Zhu Jie thinking? Was this boldness, skill, or just plain craziness?