Chapter 202 Old Mrs. Yang
Zi Yisheng found out the specific situation of the old woman the next day, but felt uneasy holding the report.
It turned out that the old woman's husband's family was surnamed Yang, and they were the richest family in Qi City back then. They owned many factories and almost provided jobs for the people of Qi City. Even the current coal and textile factories were from the Yang family.
But as times changed, what was bound to happen still couldn't be avoided. The Yang family was destroyed. They only managed to send away one son and grandson. The rest died in that chaos. Old Mrs. Yang was severely injured and was presumed dead. In fact, she was rescued by people she had helped before.
When Old Mrs. Yang woke up, she was in the wilderness. She desperately returned home to collect the bodies of her family members. The people who helped her were the same ones who helped collect the bodies and bury them.
After everything was over, Old Mrs. Yang hid in a secret passage in one of the houses and lived there. The Yang family's century-old foundation was still hidden in various places. It wasn't until the great drought that Old Mrs. Yang went to see the people who had helped her.
When she saw that these people and her family were about to starve to death, Old Mrs. Yang knew what was the use of holding onto a large amount of money. It was better to save these people, at least it could accumulate merit for her son and grandson who were far away.
This was why Old Mrs. Yang had been demanding so many supplies. However, Zi Yisheng did not agree with the old woman's actions. While these people had helped her before, she had also helped them first.
Moreover, it was not necessary to provide so much fine grain to help people. Such behavior would only spoil their appetites. As soon as the grain supply failed once, they would resent her. The old sayings made sense, the principle of "a ladle of rice brings kindness, a peck of rice brings hatred" remained unchanged throughout the ages.
However, none of this was his business, as long as the little girl was not harmed. But the future cooperation should end.
Zi Yisheng told Ye Shengge about Old Mrs. Yang that night. Ye Shengge never expected that the old woman spent a large sum of money every month to support people who had hands and feet.
"Are those people just lying there waiting for the old woman to support them every day?"
Zi Yisheng raised an eyebrow. Wasn't that exactly what they were doing, lying there waiting to be supported?
"Yes, they used to work, but now they've all learned to slack off and be lazy."
Ye Shengge knew something would go wrong. She had always supplied goods from the haunted house. Those people must have known the ins and outs of it.
"Brother Zi, quickly get rid of my house and erase any traces as much as possible, to prevent those people from jumping over a wall in desperation."
Zi Yisheng was very pleased; the little girl had a good sense of crisis.
"Alright, the house will be transferred to Old Mrs. Yang tomorrow, so that it cannot be traced back to you. Do you still want to see Old Mrs. Yang? You can break off cleanly with her now."
Ye Shengge thought for a moment and decided to see Old Mrs. Yang. At least she needed to give the other party a reason for stopping the cooperation. As for whether she would try to persuade her, she certainly wouldn't. Many things could only be understood after experiencing them oneself.
"I'll still see her. I want to make things clear, to have a proper beginning and end."
"Alright, then I'll bring her here tomorrow, to prevent her from being followed."
"Yes, let's meet outside. Don't bring her to the house."
Ye Shengge was in low spirits that night. She couldn't understand the old woman's actions. She was already living a dangerous life, so why make herself even more dangerous?
At ten o'clock the next morning, Zi Yisheng personally drove Ye Shengge out. When they arrived at a wasteland on the outskirts, they saw A Can and Old Mrs. Yang waiting there.
Old Mrs. Yang visibly relaxed when she saw Ye Shengge get out of the car and quickly walked over.
Zi Yisheng gave up his car, and he and A Can waited outside.
Old Mrs. Yang got into the car and looked at Ye Shengge affectionately.
"I always felt you weren't a simple girl before, and now it seems you really aren't."
Old Mrs. Yang touched the car. How long had it been since she last sat in one?
"Old Mrs., I've come to inform you that we won't be trading anymore."
Ye Shengge was direct, not wanting to reveal more of her information.
Old Mrs. Yang was not surprised by Ye Shengge's words. Instead, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"I expected it. You sent someone to investigate me, didn't you?"
"Yes, your frequency of wanting goods was too high. I was worried, so I investigated. I apologize for investigating you without authorization."
Old Mrs. Yang waved her hand, not caring.
"What's there to apologize for? I know my actions have caused you a sense of crisis, so you're stopping the trade, right?"
"Yes, you must understand the logic behind this, old Mrs."
Old Mrs. Yang looked out of the car window at the distant mountains, as if recalling something.
"I understand everything, but my life in this world no longer has any meaning. My only remaining son and grandson will never have a chance to meet again in this lifetime. I help those people just to find a bit of false warmth for myself. However, my dear, don't worry. I wasn't planning to continue trading anyway. The Yang family used to be rich, but after years of depletion and forced contributions in the past, there's not much left."
Ye Shengge frowned. What was wrong with this old woman? Was she planning to leave herself no way out?
"What are your plans for the future? I haven't touched the wealth hidden in the secret passage. You can still live very well with it."
Old Mrs. Yang reached out and patted Ye Shengge's hand. How long had it been since she felt genuine care?
"Don't worry, I don't have many days left to live, and I'll never see my relatives again. The remaining things are for you, and it can be considered as us having met."
Ye Shengge really didn't expect that the old woman was nearing her end. What kind of fate was this? No relatives by her side even when she was dying.
"Is there anything I can help you with? After all, I'm going to receive a batch of your treasures for free. I can help you with one thing that I can do."
Old Mrs. Yang laughed heartily, looking at the girl in front of her with affection.
"Okay, I actually have one thing to trouble you with. My body can only last for half a year at most. After half a year, will you come to the haunted house to collect my body for me? As a thank you, I will give you all the remaining assets of the Yang family."
Ye Shengge didn't care about these things. She already had a lot, and she didn't want to earn money from someone who was dying.
"Is there really no chance of treatment? I know someone with excellent medical skills. Would you like to ask them to take a look for you?"
Old Mrs. Yang sighed and shook her head resolutely.
"I don't want to live like this anymore. I'm really tired. Dying would be a release. You don't need to save me."
Ye Shengge actually saw a plea in the old woman's eyes, a plea for her to die. Ye Shengge suddenly felt choked up, but she couldn't help someone who wished to die.
"Alright, I'll come and collect your body myself."
"Hahahaha, good, this old woman didn't choose the wrong person. I will send all the remaining things of the Yang family to the haunted house soon. Hurry and take them away, I don't want them to benefit those people. Also, I will be temporarily staying at the haunted house from now on. Please have someone check on me every three days, in case I die unnoticed and start to smell."