After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 574 Hu Brothers and Sisters
The Hu brothers and sisters can be said to be marginal figures in the second branch of the Jin family.

When their father Mr. Hu was first sent to jail for murdering his wife, they came to the second branch of the Jin family where their aunt Jin Liu lived. They were still quite respected and their food, clothing and other expenses were no worse than those of Jin Miao's daughters, only second to the precious baby Jin Wu.

But everything became different after they handed over the property left by their father to the "loving aunt", allowing Jin Xin and his wife to control the wealth that should have belonged to them.

The attitudes of Old Lady Jin Er and Jin Miao changed drastically, and they began to dislike them as burdens who ate for free, and often complained that they were the children of a murderer. However, Aunt Jin Liu considered that Mr. Hu was still alive and the Hu family still had people, and she needed to control the two children for a long time to ensure that Mr. Hu's family wealth would not be taken back by his clan members under an excuse. Therefore, she maintained a kind and friendly attitude in front of the Hu brothers and sisters, and Jin Xin did not reveal his ugly true face.

Xiao Liu, who married Jin Juren, was unaware of the truth and thought that her second sister had really died at the hands of Hu Yuanwai. She took good care of the two children left by Liu Dainiang and helped them from time to time, which was also considered to share the expenses of Jin Liu on the two children. As for the work of taking care of the children, Jin Dagu also shared part of it.

The Hu brothers and sisters were taken care of by their two aunts, and they thought their lives were not difficult. Although they were not as good as Jin Wu, they were much better than Jin Jiashu, who was still called Jin Tong at the time. Hu Yingyuan sometimes acted as a thug for his two aunts and Xiao Liu's son to bully Jin Jiashu.

When the second branch of the Jin family followed Jin Juren and left their hometown in Zunhua Prefecture, except for Jin Ergu who had another husband and did not go with them, the Hu brothers and sisters also went with them. However, when the second branch of the Jin family encountered various unpleasant things on the way and their lives fell into difficulties, some things that had been covered up before were inevitably exposed.

Jin Jiashu did not ask what happened specifically. He only knew that Hu Yingyuan, who was quite arrogant in his hometown last autumn, had become timid and followed Jin Wu as a follower when they met again in Chang'an in the spring of this year. Hu Yuzhi also became much quieter, dressed in a simple way, and started to do odd jobs like a little girl. Jin Liushi was no longer a kind and good aunt, and ordered them to do things without hesitation, wishing that they were slaves of her beloved son.

Jin Jiashu felt sad at the time. Later, he heard that Jin Xin's family left his mother and sisters and left Chang'an. He thought they would not take the two burdens of the Hu brothers and sisters with them. Unexpectedly, when Jin Dagu came to ask for help, she clearly said that she was alone and had no other help. Although Jin Liu was a mean aunt, she did not abandon the Hu brothers and sisters. Maybe she really had some family affection in her heart?
However, no matter how much the aunt Jin Liu cares about family affection, she cannot compare to the biological father Hu Yuanwai. Although he had been domestically violent many times and was falsely accused of murder by the second branch of the Jin family, and almost lost his life, since he could no longer have children, he should value the brother and sister Hu Yingyuan and Hu Yuzhi very much, right? Now that the second branch of the Jin family has withered and fallen, and its members have scattered, it would be better for the Hu brothers and sisters to return to their family instead of wandering outside. The floating wealth squandered by the second branch of the Jin family cannot be taken back, but the Hu family still has clansmen, houses and fields, so they can at least have food to eat.

Thinking of this, Jin Jiashu said to Ma Shangyi, "From the news sent back from Yunyang Prefecture, we only heard that Jin Xin and his wife were killed by bandits, and their son Jin Wu became a son-in-law to a butcher in order to bury his parents, but no one mentioned the whereabouts of the Hu brothers and sisters, and no one knows where they are now. Madam, have you heard any news about them from Guard Lin?"

Ma Shangyi did not answer him, but smiled and asked: "Brother, you don't hold a grudge against this brother and sister. I heard that you have been bullied by them since you were a child."

Jin Jiashu paused and said, "They are just poor people who are taken advantage of. I was really angry when I was bullied, but afterwards I felt a little sympathy for them. They lost their mother and their father was in jail. They thought they were adopted by kind-hearted relatives, but in the end they just jumped into another big kang. They may not know that they have been fooled, but since they have fallen out with their father and clansmen, where can they go if they leave the second branch of the Jin family? If they stay and pretend to be deaf and dumb, and live like a fool who is easily deceived, at least they can have food and clothing. Even if they want to leave, it will be after they grow up. Hu Yingyuan came to bully me, not necessarily because he really wanted to. But if he didn't come, he and his brother and sister would be bullied. Instead of suffering yourself, it is better for me to suffer this!" When Hu Yingyuan was not instigated by Jin Liu and Xiao Liu, mother and son, he would at most say a few sarcastic words to him, but he never fought with him for no reason. Every time Hu Yuzhi was bullied by Jin Miao's daughter or scolded by the people from the second branch of the Jin family, Hu Yingyuan would find an excuse to come and beat him up, so that his sister could get away easily.

This kind of thing happens so many times that smart people can see some clues. Jin Liu and Xiao Liu may be complacent, but Jin Wu has long advised them not to do unnecessary things. The arrogance of the second house and the complacency of Xiao Liu are all thanks to Jin Juren. If Jin Jiashu is bullied too much and Jin Juren, his biological father, can't stand it and gets angry, who can benefit?

As for Jin Jiashu, he has learned his lesson in recent years. Once he heard that Hu Yuzhi had suffered a loss in the second branch of the Jin family, he would quickly find a place to hide to avoid being used as a tool by Hu Yingyuan. He has not been beaten by Hu Yingyuan for several years. As for whether the latter would be more annoyed with him without a tool to help his sister escape, that is not Jin Jiashu's business.

He just felt that the mother of the Hu family had been a substitute for his mother for more than ten years, and would definitely continue to be buried in the capital under the name of "Xu Qiuniang" in the future. The Hu family brothers and sisters would probably never know where their mother was buried, so he didn't need to take it to heart. If they could return to their hometown in Zunhua Prefecture, live with their biological father and family again, and live a stable life, then he would have repaid Liu Dainiang's kindness.

Jin Jiashu explained his thoughts to Ma Shangyi tactfully. Ma Shangyi was silent for a while after listening, and then said: "Mrs. Xu reported to the Queen Mother as early as last year, and secretly sent people to the temple outside the capital to dig out Liu Dainiang's coffin and bury her in another auspicious place. Although the name "Qiuniang of Xu of Jinmen" is still engraved on the tombstone, there is a tablet for Liu Dainiang in the temple, and a perpetual lamp is invited. There are incense, candles, flowers and fruits for offerings in all seasons. Mrs. Xu intends to bury Liu Dainiang after the situation stabilizes in the future. , to inform the Hu brothers and sisters of Liu's whereabouts. But the emperor was worried that someone would discover the truth, so he rejected Empress Xu's request and only promised the envoys who went to Zunhua Prefecture to tell the Hu brothers and sisters when the time was right that Liu was beaten by her husband that day and caught up with the carriage of the second branch of the Jin family, but she was too seriously injured and could not bear the pain of the long journey, so she died on the way. Naturally, only the people of the second branch of the Jin family knew where her bones were buried. But at that time, no one knew that Aunt Jin would go back alive..."

If Aunt Jin went back alive and met the Hu brothers and sisters, and was pressed to answer questions and revealed the real burial place of Liu Dainiang, how would the situation end?
Ma Shangyi looked at Jin Jiashu without saying anything. But without her saying anything, Jin Jiashu knew what she wanted to say.

Are you blaming yourself for meddling in other people's business?

He pursed his lips and asked Ma Shangyi the same question again: "Has Guard Lin sent any letter? Where are the Hu brothers and sisters right now?"

(End of this chapter)