Chapter 92: Where’s Your Conscience?
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Ning Fengnian, who was forcing himself to stay alert, did not understand, but Ning Dalang’s expression had already changed.
Madam Song pondered carefully, and her expression turned even uglier.
Although the little tiger’s design was not complicated, it was impossible for it to be made according to a finished product on the same day even if the person did not eat or drink. Hence, the Peony Clothing Shop must have obtained the design in advance!
However, she had not left the house for the past few days. Other than delivering food to the head of the household and her sons, she only stayed in the house and embroidered. She had never let anyone see her designs… Suddenly, her face turned as pale as snow—the day she delivered food!
Her gaze wandered through the crowd and finally landed on Second Aunt Ning, who was trying her best to hide. She was so angry that her entire body was trembling. Xiaoxiao’s heart ached when she saw this, but she gritted her teeth and did not say anything.
The person Shopkeeper Liu found was reliable. She was sarcastic and shrewd. She grasped the main point very accurately.
The woman raised her chin at Madam Song arrogantly. “Looks like you’ve already thought it through. Then this matter will be much easier. I think you’ve already heard about the importance of keeping the designs a secret when you took on this embroidery job back then. Our boss never suspected you at first and only thought that our shop had someone unreliable. She didn’t think of investigating it all the way, but she found out that the person who sold the designs to the Peony Clothing Shop was your second sister-in-law.”
Madam Song felt like a basin of cold water had been splashed on her head. Ning Fengnian was also stunned. The surrounding villagers turned to look at the protagonist.
The woman didn’t look at their reactions. She only asked Madam Song from the corner of her eye, “You know the rules. 1 don’t want more from you. According to the contract, 20 taels of silver. Hand it over.”
Madam Song held back her tears and took a deep breath to return to her room. She took out the silver and placed it in the woman’s hand. Although she was poor, she knew how to keep her word. No matter how Second Sister-in-law stole the designs, she would accept the punishment since the things leaked out from her.
Because of her shame, her face turned pale. “I’m ashamed. This is all the money I have in my family. Can you give me some time to repay the rest? I promise that I’ll do my best to return it as soon as possible.”
The woman casually looked at Xiaoxiao. Seeing her shake her head slightly, she continued to put on a straight face and say the words she had prepared. “Then write an 1OU. 1 see that you’re not an unreasonable person, so I’ll give you a year’s time, but…”
She narrowed her eyes and said, “If you still can’t pay it back in a year, we can only meet in court.”
Madam Song’s hands were trembling when she took her copy of the 1OU papers. After sending the woman away, Madam Song’s legs went weak and she almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Ning Dalang and Ning Erlang were quick and strong enough to support her.
Tears fell from her eyes and rolled down her chin to the ground. Every drop left a mud mark, but Ning Fengnian felt that it was a needle tip that pierced his heart.
Xiaoxiao wiped her mother’s tears with a handkerchief and didn’t even look at Ning Fengnian. “Second Aunt, you’re really capable!”
Second Aunt Ning kept retreating. “Don’t slander me! Let me tell you, this has nothing to do with me. Sister-in-law must have gone out to show off herself!”
Old Madam Ning did not know that her second daughter-in-law had done such a thing, but she still placed her hands on her hips. “That’s right. You’re slandering us! Don’t think that we’re fools!”
The villagers sighed. The Ning Family’s eldest branch and the old residence’s behavior were worlds apart when they were also chased after. Thinking about it again, the ones who caused trouble were the old residence’s people. The Ning Family’s eldest branch only suffered an undeserved calamity. The villagers immediately looked down on everyone in the old residence.
Madam Song’s eyes were red. “Sister-in-law, where’s your conscience?”
Xiaoxiao sighed and said softly, “It was probably eaten by a dog..”
