Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 449 - 411: Getting Promoted Isn’t as Easy as You Think

Li Mingtan was nearly exploding with anger, "Mother, my father-in-law and brothers-in-law have been good to me, how can I repay their kindness with betrayal? You must never say such things in the future. If Madam Wu hears this, how heartbroken would she be?"

The old Madam Li wanted nothing more than for Madam Wu to be upset. She had been tolerating Madam Wu for many years. If it weren’t for Madam Wu hogging the spot, her son would have had heirs by now. Why should he have had his first child at forty?

It’s all thanks to her cleverness in secretly bringing Hui Niang back. Otherwise, her son would still be under Madam Wu’s pressure, not daring to take a concubine!

"Heartbroken? That barren hen sitting in the position of a seventh-rank official’s wife should be secretly glad. If it weren’t for her father and brothers slightly backing you, do you think I could tolerate her until today?

Son, I’m now just hoping you can climb the ranks and become a high official, higher than your father-in-law and brothers-in-law, so that people from the Wu family will look up to us. Haven’t you seen your mother-in-law, always using her eyes to belittle people? If you become a high official, I’ll use my eyes to belittle her to death!"

Li Mingtan helplessly said, "Mother, you know it’s not that easy. Even my current seventh-rank position was arranged by my father-in-law. Climbing the ranks isn’t as easy as you think!"

Moreover, his father-in-law supported the right side, backing the Crown Prince’s ascension, and has now been promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, third-rank.

Third-rank! Li Mingtan couldn’t dare imagine such a position in his lifetime!

"Son, you must work hard. I’m getting old and I don’t know if I can hold out until the day you can be proud and stand tall," the old Madam Li put on a sorrowful expression.

Li Mingtan sighed, "Mother, with the fortune I have today, you should already be content.

I ask for nothing else but for you to mind your words, don’t say anything that shouldn’t be spread. This capital is full of nobles, if you start trouble that shouldn’t be started, please don’t blame your son for being unfilial!"

The old Madam Li couldn’t stand her son speaking to her in such a manner. Just as she was about to recount the hardships she endured in her youth, she was pulled away by her eldest son.

"Mother, go back and check on Father, he’s about to take his medicine again!"

Last winter, Li Mingtan’s father accidentally stepped on ice in an alley and fell, breaking his tailbone, and now can only lie on a warm bed being cared for.

The old Madam Li glanced at the sun, indeed it was time for her man’s medicine. She gave her youngest son a look, "Tell Madam Wu that your father’s medicine is finished, there’s only one dose left. Once Miss Yu leaves, have her quickly go to the pharmacy to get more!"

The old Madam Li left with a sour face.

Li Mingtan furrowed his brows deeply, at this moment truly realizing how challenging it was to support such a large family with his meager salary.

His annual salary was forty-five taels, which amounted to only three taels and seven qian per month. After paying for rent, only seven qian remained. How could he support such a large family with just that?

"If it weren’t for some monthly allowance grain, I really wouldn’t know how to feed this whole family!" Madam Wu was venting her troubles to Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Xiaolian listened to Madam Wu’s complaints, not interrupting, only occasionally agreeing with her.

After Madam Wu sighed deeply and appeared very distressed, Yu Xiaolian finally spoke, "Sister-in-law, actually, getting rid of them is quite simple."

Madam Wu sighed, "You don’t know, I’ve tried every method. Your brother Li is extremely filial, he would never drive his parents out.

Sigh, to speak the truth, I still miss the days back in Luocheng, those few years I was so in love with your brother Li, and although we had no children, there wasn’t a hint of resentment.

Now... sigh, I feel life is so discouraging."

Madam Wu considered that in order to get rid of her in-laws and her three elder brothers-in-law, she had almost annoyed Li Mingtan to death. She had even suggested giving each of his brothers’ households five hundred coins a month for free, but Li Mingtan rejected it.

Yu Xiaolian gave a sly smile, "Sister-in-law, if you want to separate from them, you shouldn’t rush it, making them squirm, my Brother Li would never allow that. You have to do it step by step, first separate those three households to live on their own, that way it would ease the burden on the family quite a bit!"

Madam Wu looked as if she was all ears, "Tell me more!"

Yu Xiaolian said, "Having such a large family living together is impossible. Just the rice consumed daily must be half a bucket, right?"

"Absolutely, the allowance grain your brother Li receives every month doesn’t even last until the next month, there are too many people. Just my eldest brother-in-law’s family, there are twelve of them, second brother-in-law has less, six people, third brother-in-law five, but both of his daughters-in-law are pregnant. By May, the household will add two more people."

When Madam Wu thought of so many people crammed into their small two-courtyard house, she felt suffocated. Sometimes, she even thought that it would be very nice if she could just drive them all out and live her life, but could not do such a thing. Ethics and morals would not allow her to do such a crazy act.