Chapter 4: The Reasons for Living Under Someone Else's Roof

Thinking positively, she only needed to eat and drink while waiting to marry and start a new life. Thinking negatively, since the fourth house already had an heir, if she were disobedient, it would be easy for her to fall ill and pass away, saving the third house several years of expenses and dowry. Cen Sanniang stared at the intricately painted ceiling for less than an hour before making the most pragmatic choice

The three elderly ladies made a promise in front of the clan elder. Cen Sanniang would live in the third room, enjoying the same food and provisions as the young ladies of the third room. In the future, a portion of the dowry would be provided for her. Once the adopted Ninth Young Master comes of age, the assets of the fourth room will be entrusted to him for management, allowing him to inherit the lineage of the fourth room

Cen Sanniang, having just arrived, glanced at her own slender arms, resembling bamboo poles, and realized that she could not compete with the thick thighs of the third room.

Li passed away due to a sudden illness when Cen Sanniang was nine years old. Lord Cen observed a year of mourning for his first wife, falling ill from his sorrow over the changing seasons. Before he could take a new wife and have a son to support the family, he left behind the ten-year-old Cen Sanniang, following his wife into the afterlife. Thus, Cen Sanniang became the orphan of the fourth household.

She summoned the herbalist to attend to her, and as soon as she recovered and got out of bed, the first thing she did was change her clothes and go to bow and express her gratitude to the Third Old Lady. She also joyfully took off the collar she had worn since childhood and gave it to her four-year-old "brother," Young Master Cen Zhilin.

From then on, she moved into this small courtyard of the third house with her wet nurse, Madam Xu, and her maid, Baicao

The four households have three hundred acres of rice fields, one hundred and fifty acres of mulberry fields, and a two-entry courtyard residence, along with two shops. In Longzhou City, they can be considered a moderately affluent family.

The Cen family of Longzhou divided their household during the time of Cen Sanniang's grandfather. Cen Sanniang's family consists of four branches.

Cen Sanniang's grandfather and the elder of the third branch are biological brothers. The grandfather and grandmother, as well as the elder of the third branch, have passed away one after another. The elder matriarch of the third branch is still alive and has three sons and one daughter. The eldest son of the third branch is currently the clan leader of the Cen family in Longzhou.

In the blink of an eye, three years have passed

When Cen Sanniang recovered from her illness, this matter had already been settled

The third household adopted a son, provided a dowry and several years' worth of sustenance, and in return took away all the assets of the fourth household. They also ensured the continuation of the family line for the fourth household and took care of the orphaned daughter. The matter was handled in a dignified and commendable manner, leaving no room for criticism.

After the successive passing of her parents, Cen Sanniang felt as if the sky was about to collapse. After keeping vigil for a night, she developed a high fever.

The matriarch of the third branch declared that the fourth branch must not be allowed to sever its lineage. Consequently, the elder master opened the ancestral hall and invited the clan elders to serve as witnesses. In accordance with the matriarch's wishes, the four-year-old son of the fourth elder of the third branch, known as Young Master Jiu, was adopted by the fourth branch. Until Young Master Jiu reaches adulthood, the third branch will manage the assets of the fourth branch, receiving thirty percent of the profits as a management bonus

The third branch assisted in managing the funeral arrangements for Lord Cen. Upon witnessing the dire situation of the fourth branch, the matriarch of the third branch exclaimed in pity and took Cen San Niang back to their residence, instructing someone to invite a doctor to attend to her illness